Ferrari has once again showcased its dominance in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), securing the top three spots in qualifying for the Spa 6 Hours, which is taking place this weekend, May 10-11, 2025. The Italian manufacturer has been on a roll this season, and their performance at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit only solidifies their status as the team to beat.
Antonio Fuoco drove the #50 Ferrari 499P to claim pole position with an impressive lap time of 1m59.617s, marking his first pole of the year. His performance was a standout, as he managed to outpace Robert Kubica, who finished second in the customer entry #83 Ferrari 499P with a time of 1m59.964s, by 0.347 seconds. Antonio Giovinazzi rounded out the top three, finishing third in the #51 factory Ferrari with a time of 2m00.201s, 0.584 seconds off Fuoco's pace.
This achievement marks Ferrari's third consecutive pole position in the 2025 WEC, further emphasizing their stronghold in the championship. The team has been relentless, and their strategy appears to be paying off as they head into the race.
However, the competition is not far behind. The #94 Peugeot 9X8, driven by Stoffel Vandoorne, qualified fourth with a time of 2m00.218s, indicating that the team is ready to challenge Ferrari's supremacy. Vandoorne expressed optimism about his team's performance, stating, "The Ferraris are a little untouchable, but the new tarmac has helped bring the 9X8s into the fight for the first time this season. We’ll see if it is enough for a podium. Ferrari does make mistakes, so we need to play our cards here." His remarks highlight the competitive spirit and the unpredictability that can often characterize endurance racing.
Following Peugeot, Alex Lynn guided Jota’s #12 Cadillac V-Series.R to a respectable fifth place, while Mick Schumacher finished sixth in the #36 Alpine A424. Jean Eric Vergne in the second Peugeot finished seventh, with Robin Frijns in the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 coming in eighth. Charles Milesi and Earl Bamber completed the top ten, finishing ninth and tenth respectively.
In a twist of fate, the qualifying session was not as favorable for Toyota, which found itself struggling to find pace. The GR010 Hybrids, driven by Brendon Hartley and Kamui Kobayashi, ended up in 15th and 16th positions, highlighting a disappointing day for the reigning champions. Hartley acknowledged the challenges, saying, "I think we need to rely on others’ misfortunes, which is obviously not a great thing to say. We have to wait for opportunities and maximize our race." This sentiment reflects the frustration within the team as they navigate through Balance of Performance (BoP) adjustments that have affected their performance.
Speaking of BoP, Ferrari has not escaped its effects either. The team will carry a twelve-kilogram weight penalty, bringing their minimum weight to 1057 kilograms while their power output has been reduced to 489 kW. These adjustments were made to level the playing field among the various manufacturers, particularly after Ferrari's strong start to the season.
On the other hand, the #78 ASP Lexus RC F GT3 achieved a significant milestone by securing the first-ever pole position for the brand in LMGT3. Finn Gehrsitz delivered a stellar performance, clocking a time of 2m17.732s, which edged out Eduardo Barrichello's son, Dudu Barrichello, who finished second in the #10 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 with a time of 2m18.008s. Gehrsitz's performance is a testament to the hard work put in by the AKKODIS ASP team, which has faced numerous challenges in the past. Team owner Jerome Policand expressed his pride in the achievement, stating, "It’s an important step for all of us to be on Pole today, but the hardest part is yet to come."
Ben Tuck and Giammarco Levorato secured third and fourth positions respectively in the Ford Mustang GT3s, demonstrating that the competition in LMGT3 is heating up. The battle for supremacy in this category is fierce, and the Spa 6 Hours promises to deliver an exciting race.
As the teams prepare for the race, all eyes will be on Ferrari as they look to continue their winning streak. The Spa 6 Hours is set to start at 14:00 local time, and fans are eager to see if Ferrari can overcome the challenges posed by BoP adjustments and the fierce competition from Peugeot, Cadillac, and others.
With the Le Mans 24 Hours on the horizon, the outcomes of this race could have significant implications for the championship standings and the strategies teams will employ moving forward. As the clock ticks down to race time, the anticipation builds, and the stage is set for what promises to be a thrilling six hours of racing.
Stay tuned as we bring you live updates and results from the Spa 6 Hours, where the world of endurance racing will once again showcase its excitement and unpredictability.
