Hamilton tops second free practice

McLaren driver thrills rain-soaked crowd at Silverstone.

SILVERSTONE:

Lewis Hamilton put on a solo show to thrill the rain-soaked crowds and top the times in the second free practice session for this weekend’s British Grand Prix.

On a soggy, puddle-strewn circuit at Silverstone, the 27-year-old Briton threw his McLaren around the track in thrilling fashion, frequently rescuing it and himself when he appeared to be sliding off.

His dramatic effort, during the final 20 minutes of the day’s action after heavy rain had wrecked all the previous practice time, provided bright, if limited entertainment for a good crowd that had been frustrated by appalling traffic problems before being soaked in the storms.

Japanese Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber was second fastest and also delivered several exciting laps ahead of seven-times champion Michael Schumacher of Mercedes, who showed flashes of his old mastery of such treacherous conditions.

The veteran German’s teammate and compatriot Nico Rosberg wound up fourth fastest ahead of Mexican Sergio Perez in the second Sabuer and Briton Jenson Button in the second McLaren.

The session offered few, if any, clues to the weekend ahead as more than an hour was lost to the weather before Bruno Senna, in a Williams, ventured out and was rewarded for his courage by losing control and crashing heavily on Hangar Straight, seriously damaging the left side of his car.

The session was red-flagged to a halt and it was only after the debris was cleared that the fans were given much to cheer with a clutch of cars taking to the track.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2012.