The excitement reached a fever pitch at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari on April 19, 2025, as Antonio Giovinazzi secured pole position for the Ferrari 499P number 51 in the 6 Hours of Imola, clocking an impressive lap time of 1'28"920. This remarkable achievement marks Giovinazzi's second consecutive Hyperpole of the season, following his victory in Qatar just weeks prior. The atmosphere was electric, with passionate fans filling the stands, eager to support their homegrown hero.
Joining Giovinazzi on the front row is the Ferrari 499P number 83 from the AF Corse team, driven by the trio of Robert Kubica, Ye, and Hanson, who managed to clinch the second-best time in the session. This dominant performance sets the stage for a thrilling race on Sunday, with two Ferraris poised to challenge for victory.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Ferrari. The third official entry, the Ferrari 499P number 50, driven by Antonio Fuoco, faced a disappointing setback. Fuoco, who had previously triumphed in Qatar, saw both of his qualifying laps disqualified due to violations of track limits, relegating him to the 18th position on the starting grid. In a candid moment, Fuoco expressed his disappointment, stating, "There’s not much to say after this Hyperpole except to apologize to the team and my teammates. We had the potential to do well and start with three Ferraris at the front. Due to my mistake, we didn’t make it into Hyperpole, and now, starting from the back, we have to recover many positions. But our car is fast; we know that. Personally, I will try to make up for the mistake I made today."
Giovinazzi's stellar performance was a testament to the synergy he found with the car and the track. He remarked, "It’s always a special emotion to get into a Ferrari knowing that so many fans are cheering for us. Securing the second Hyperpole in a row here in Imola, in such a beautiful and passionate context, makes this day even more precious. I thank the team for their fantastic work and for providing us with an amazing car. Sometimes we talk about the ‘ideal lap’ concept: it’s hard to reach perfection, but today I think we got pretty close. Starting at the front on this track helps a lot in reducing risks in the early phase of the race: that’s a very positive fact, and tomorrow we will do our best to bring great joy to our fans."
Giovinazzi's lap time was a clear signal to the competition, nearly eight tenths faster than the 499P in Giallo Modena livery, a significant margin in a sport where races are often decided by mere tenths of a second. Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Ferrari Endurance and Corse Clienti, echoed the sentiment of pride, stating, "Starting with two Ferraris at the front in our home race is very important and fills us with pride. Congratulations to the team for their work and to Giovinazzi for his memorable Hyperpole lap, and to Kubica, who completed the front row all under the sign of the Prancing Horse. The only regret is that Fuoco couldn’t access the decisive session due to track limits when he was showing to be very competitive. Tomorrow we face a long and complex race, but our goal is to continue this pace, doing everything perfectly to give great joy to the Ferrari fans who will support us in Imola."
The atmosphere among the fans was palpable, with banners, chants, and scarves creating a vibrant backdrop reminiscent of Italy's rich motorsport culture. The significance of Ferrari returning to pole at their home circuit for the second consecutive year cannot be overstated, as they did last season with cars 50, 83, and 51 leading the pack.
As the countdown to the race begins, the anticipation grows. The 6 Hours of Imola is set to start on April 20, 2025, at 13:00. Ferrari enters the race with confidence, knowing they have the speed and skill to secure a victory, but they will face fierce competition on a challenging track where overtaking is notoriously difficult.
The technical specifications of the Ferrari 499P #51 are impressive: it features a hybrid V6 biturbo engine combined with a front electric motor, delivering a total power output of 680 CV. The car is built on a carbon fiber monocoque chassis with integral traction, designed for endurance racing. The estimated price of the Ferrari 499P is around 2.8 million euros, making it a formidable competitor on the track.
In the lead-up to the race, the two Ferrari 296 GT3 cars from Vista AF Corse will start from fourth and eleventh positions, respectively. Car number 21 performed admirably in qualifying, with François Heriau recording the second-best time in the first session, while Simon Mann secured fourth in Hyperpole. Meanwhile, car number 54 narrowly missed the Hyperpole by just 41 thousandths of a second, placing them in eleventh position for the race.
Simon Mann expressed optimism about their starting position, stating, "Francois Heriau did a good job in the first qualifying session, and the Hyperpole went well. I think fourth is a good starting position for tomorrow’s long and complex race, which may also be characterized by variable weather conditions. Being in the leading group is positive; the car is competitive, has a good balance, and I’m personally very satisfied and confident."
As the race day approaches, the excitement is palpable, with predictions of rain adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the event. The 6 Hours of Imola promises to be one of the most thrilling races of the season, with Ferrari fans hoping to see their beloved team cross the finish line first once again.
