PRACTICE 1: Pin hits the ground running in Miami

Doriane Pin set the pace in the opening Free Practice session, as the Mercedes driver topped the timing sheets thanks to a time of 1:59.949.

Drivers’ Standings leader Abbi Pulling followed closely behind in P2, with the Alpine driver only seven thousandths adrift, whilst Bianca Bustamante rounded out the top three for McLaren.

Greeted by the early morning sunshine, it was critical that the field got as many laps under their belt as possible in the first track action of the day.

Pulling started proceedings, getting a 2:04.601 on the board and quickly improved to inside the 2:02s. Meanwhile, Pin wasted no time in pushing on her first visit to the Miami International Autodrome, lowering the benchmark down to a 2:02.039.

The two would continue to trade personal best efforts throughout the first half of running, with Pulling posting a 2:00.699 to return to the top by five tenths with 25 minutes remaining.

Navigating their ways around the streets of Miami, the long bend through Turns 6, 7 and 8 did prove to be a challenge to perfect, with Lia Block locking her rear tyres and spun. Fortunately, the Williams driver was able to rejoin, whilst Carrie Schreiner, Chloe Chambers and Hamda Al Qubaisi had off-track excursions of their own.

Time was still left to be found in the final quarter. Pulling broke half a second clear of the pack on 2:00.186. Pulling regained the top spot momentarily by 0.167s, but Pin continued to post eye-catching times. The only driver to break into the 1:59s, the French driver’s effort remained untouched in P1 to the chequered flag.

Bustamante finished Practice in third, 0.319 down on Pin’s best lap time. Tommy Hilfiger’s Nerea Martí led Campos Racing’s charge in fourth ahead of Maya Weug, Chambers and Emely De Heus.

Making their Miami debuts Jessica Edgar slotted her American Express car into P8 ahead of PUMA’s Aurelia Nobels, whilst Block completed the top 10 on home soil. One more 40-minute Free Practice session awaits the field this afternoon, with running getting underway at 15:20 local time.