FP3 Imola: Fuoco quickest again for Ferrari; D’Station takes LMGT3 Top Spot
Below are the main headlines from the third practice session at the FIA WEC 6 Hours of Imola.
Hypercar
Ferrari AF Corse top the times for the second free practice session in succession at Imola with the No.50 Ferrari 499 Hypercar leading the way in the hands of Antonio Fuoco
He sets an early best lap of 1m31.238s in cooler conditions to yesterday’s session to ensure that the Prancing Horse tops all three of the FP sessions at its home race
The No.15 BMW M Team Hypercar places second after an impressive early session time of 1m31.272s set by Dries Vanthoor. His lap is just 0.034s off the outright pace set by Fuoco
BMW back up the promise with third place too with the No.20 Hypercar setting a 1m31.543s best accomplished by Rene Rast
Ferrari sandwich the two BMW’s as the No.83 AF Corse 499P driven by Robert Shwartzman peaks on a quickest lap of 1m31.577s
The yellow Ferrari heads the first of the Porsche’s which is the No.5 Porsche 963 in the hands of Matt Campbell. The Australian’s lap of 1m31.671 ensures the top five are covered by a mere 0.433s
Completing the top six is the No.51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P despite Alessandro Pier Guidi having a spin at the Villeneuve chicane after Alessandro Pier Guidi encounters the Iron Dames Lamborghini Huracan driven by Michelle Gatting.
2023 Le Mans winner Pier Guidi also has drama at the Rivazza 1 corner when he runs wide in to the gravel before pitting to hand over to teammate Antonio Giovinazzi
The fastest Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 is the No.8 car as Brendon Hartley posts the best time of the session and places seventh
Hartley just heads the No.12 Hertz Team Jota Porsche with Callum IIott again setting the quickest lap for the gold liveried Porsche 963 Hypercar and takes eighth
The top ten is completed by the No.7 Toyota GR010 Hypercar despite a brief run across the Villeneuve chicane gravel by Nyck de Vries, and the Qatar winning No.6 Porsche Penske 963 Hypercar as Kevin Estre is the first driver outside of the 1m31s bracket with a best of 1m32.028s
Session is red flagged with just three minutes remaining after Mikkel Jensen runs wide at Rivazza 1 and is beached in the gravel trap
LMGT3
The Japanese entered D’Station Aston Martin places P1 in the LMGT3 category after Marco Sorensen take the dark green Vantage LMGT3 car he shares with Clement Mateu and Erwan Bastard to a best of 1m42.474s
Fellow Aston Martin runners Heart of Racing had lead majority of session after a 1m42.992s lap set by Daniel Mancinelli in the opening exchanges of the 60-minute session. They place P2 at the chequered flag
Team WRT are third as Augusto Farfus sets a late time in the No.31 BMW M4 to head the Manthey Pure Racing Porsche 911 RSR LMGT3 car
United Autosports show improved pace to grab fifth position with Marino Sato peaking on a 1m43.193s lap in the McLaren LMGT3
No.54 VISTA AF Corse Ferrari 296LMGT3 car places sixth as Francesco Castellacci posts fastest lap for local favourites
This afternoon’s qualifying session is scheduled to start at 14.45 local time with LMGT3 beginning the action followed by Hypercar
Click HERE for session results
