Ferrari’s factory 499Ps set the pace in the final FIA WEC practice session at Imola this morning ahead of qualifying, which was greeted by warmer temperatures. The best time came from Antonio Giovinazzi in the FP2-topping No. 51, a 1m30.272s, which is the quickest time of the weekend so far, while Antonio Fuoco put the No. 50 second with a 1m30.335. The Italian marque looks to be in the best shape to fight for pole for its home race, as the two 499Ps were the only cars to dip into the 1:30s ahead of Qualifying and finished more than a second clear of the field.
Peugeot’s No. 94 ended up a surprise third, with Stoffel Vandoorne reeling off a 1m31.670s. The No. 38 JOTA Cadillac also ran fast, with Sebastien Bourdais putting the V-Series.R fourth. Toyota’s No. 8 GR010 completed the top five. In LMGT3, AKKODIS ASP’s No. 78 continued the French team’s fine form, with Esteban Masson, who is substituting for Ben Barnicoat this weekend, setting the RC F LMGT3’s best time, a 1m42.852s. That flyer pushed the two Vista AF Corse 296 LMGT3s to second and third, with times two and three-tenths off. The No. 31 Bend WRT BMW slotted in fourth.
The session was red-flagged five minutes in when Alex Lynn had an off at Rivazza. The Briton lost the rear of the No. 12 JOTA Cadillac coming down the hill, sending him off track, hitting the barriers on the right-hand side and then head-on. Thankfully, he was able to climb out the V-Series.R unscathed. The car though, suffered substantial front-end damage.
Once the session returned green, a little over 10 minutes later, there were a pair of further incidents. The first was the Iron Dames Porsche spinning with Celia Martin at the wheel, just as the No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari of Robert Kubica suddenly stopped at Turn 11 in the gravel with flames licking the rear bodywork. “The gearbox has gone, completely on a downshift — I had to stop,” Kubica reported on the team radio as the second red flag came out. The AF Corse team has been left with a lot of work to complete to prep the car in time for qualifying later today, following the chassis’ return to the pit lane at the end of the session. The team is opting to “change engine as a precaution.” The smoke was believed to be caused by engine oil on a hot exhaust, not gearbox-related, as Kubica reported on the radio.
The action resumed with 30 minutes to go, when the other JOTA Cadillac had an off shortly after. This time it was Bourdais, causing a Full-Course Yellow after losing the rear of the No. 38 at the Tamburello Chicane. Fortunately, he avoided major damage. Qualifying is next up, at 2:30pm local time.
In another thrilling day of racing, Ferrari and BMW tied at the thousandth in free practice at Imola on Friday, April 18, 2025. Antonio Giovinazzi set the best time of 1'31"040 in the afternoon tests with his 499P number 51. Vanthoor on BMW matched Giovinazzi's time, setting the stage for an exciting showdown in the upcoming Hyperpole session.
The Alpine of Mick Schumacher was third, less than three tenths behind, while the Ferrari number 50 of Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen claimed fourth place. Robert Kubica signed the fastest lap in the morning with the yellow number 83 car of Af Corse. “We have improved, the benchmark was Toyota and I think we are all very close,” warned Pier Guidi, winner at Le Mans 2023, without hiding a certain confidence.
Fuoco echoed similar sentiments, stating, “I think the challenge will be with BMW and Cadillac, with Porsche and Toyota a little further back.” Molina, reflecting on the track's challenges, said, “This track is old school and does not forgive anything.”
In LMGT3, Valentino Rossi is looking for his first success of the season with his BMW M4 GT3 of Team WRT. Rossi arrived in third place in the first free practice and is eager to secure a strong result. “I hope it doesn't rain, it would be tougher,” said Rossi, who has a crowd of fans eagerly awaiting his performance.
As the sun finally broke through the clouds, the excitement continued to build at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, where fans gathered in droves to witness the action. The third free practice session is set for Saturday, April 19, 2025, leading into qualifying for the LMGT3 class at 2:30 p.m. and the Hyperpole at 3:30 p.m. The 6 Hours of Imola will take place on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. local time.
With teams making final adjustments and strategizing for the race, all eyes will be on the Ferrari and BMW showdown as they vie for supremacy in this iconic motorsport setting. The tension is palpable, and fans can expect a thrilling weekend ahead.
