Ferrari Dominates Opening Practice Sessions at Imola

Robert Kubica led an impressive performance for Ferrari in the opening practice session of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season at Imola. Driving the No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P, Kubica clocked a best lap of 1:31.739, narrowly edging out teammate Antonio Fuoco in the No. 50 car by just 0.023 seconds. Antonio Giovinazzi completed the top three for Ferrari in the No. 51 entry with a time of 1:31.982. This strong showing mirrored Ferrari's dominance in the official Prologue test earlier in the week, where they also secured the top three positions.

Kubica Leads Ferrari 1-2-3 in First Imola Practice – Sportscar365

The session, held under fair weather conditions, saw the No. 12 Hertz Team JOTA Cadillac V-Series R, driven by Will Stevens, emerge as the best of the rest, finishing fourth with a time of 1:32.183. The two Peugeot 9X8s followed closely behind, with Malthe Jakobsen and Stoffel Vandoorne securing fifth and sixth places, respectively. Other notable performances included Toyota's new TR010 Hybrid, which finished seventh, and the best of the Alpine A424s in eighth.

Kubica Leads Ferrari 1-2-3 in First Imola Practice – Sportscar365

In a turn of events during Free Practice 2, Alpine's Charles Milesi ended Ferrari's dominance by setting the fastest time of the session at 1:30.898. This performance came just half an hour into the session and was 0.114 seconds quicker than Nyck de Vries in the No. 7 Toyota TR010 Hybrid. Ferrari's best time in this session came from Antonio Fuoco, who managed a 1:31.036, placing the team in third overall for the session.

Alpine Ends Ferrari’s Dominance by Topping FP2 – Sportscar365

The top five was rounded out by Malthe Jakobsen in the No. 94 Peugeot and Robin Frijns in the No. 20 BMW M Hybrid V8. The third Ferrari, driven by Kubica, finished seventh, indicating a competitive field as the teams prepared for the upcoming race.

Kubica Leads Ferrari 1-2-3 in First Imola Practice – Sportscar365

In the LMGT3 category, the Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evos showcased strong performances, with Kobe Pauwels clocking the fastest time in the No. 23 car during Free Practice 2. His time of 1:42.081 narrowly surpassed Hadrien David in the No. 78 Akkodis ASP Lexus RC F GT3. The session saw minimal disruptions, allowing teams to focus on performance.

Alpine Ends Ferrari’s Dominance by Topping FP2 – Sportscar365

Ferrari has expressed caution regarding its status as a favorite for the Imola race, despite its strong start. The team acknowledged the competitive nature of the field, emphasizing that they do not take their early success for granted.

Alpine Ends Ferrari’s Dominance by Topping FP2 – Sportscar365

The next practice session is scheduled for Saturday at 10:30 a.m. local time, leading up to the season-opening 6 Hours of Imola race. Teams will continue to refine their setups and strategies in preparation for the event.

Alpine Ends Ferrari’s Dominance by Topping FP2 – Sportscar365

“Ferrari’s form from the Prologue continued this morning in Free Practice 1 ahead of the 6 Hours of Imola.” — Robert Kubica, Driver, AF Corse Ferrari

Kubica Leads Ferrari 1-2-3 In FP1

“Alpine ended Ferrari’s domination of the FIA World Endurance Championship timesheets at Imola as Charles Milesi set the pace in second free practice at the wheel of the No.” — Charles Milesi, Driver, Alpine A424

Alpine Ends Ferrari’s Dominance by Topping FP2 – Sportscar365