The third Free Practice session (FP3) at Imola for the FIA World Endurance Championship was perhaps the most dramatic of the weekend so far. Under sunny skies, the session saw two red flags, multiple incidents, and a fierce battle in both Hypercar and LMGT3 classes. Ferrari’s #51, driven by Antonio Giovinazzi, led the way in the Hypercar category, while Akkodis ASP’s #78 Lexus topped the LMGT3 times. Let’s dive into the data to analyze the standout performances.

FP1 REPORT | FP2 REPORT

Hypercar: Ferrari’s #51 Sets the Pace

Antonio Giovinazzi in the #51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P posted the fastest lap of the session at 1:30.272, edging out the sister #50 Ferrari by just 0.063 seconds. Peugeot TotalEnergies’ #94 secured third with Stoffel Vandoorne’s 1:31.670, showcasing strong recovery after a gravel trap incident at Tamburello. Cadillac’s #38 and Toyota’s #8 followed closely, with Sébastien Bourdais (1:31.735) and Ryō Hirakawa (1:31.743) separated by a mere 0.008 seconds. Peugeot’s #93, driven by Jean-Éric Vergne, rounded out the top six with 1:31.814.

The session wasn’t without drama. Alex Lynn’s crash in the #12 Cadillac at Rivazza and Robert Kubica’s gearbox issue in the #83 Ferrari triggered red flags, while Marco Sørenson’s gravel excursion in the #009 Aston Martin added to the chaos. Despite these incidents, the top six cars demonstrated remarkable pace.

LMGT3: Lexus #78 Leads the Way

In the LMGT3 category, Akkodis ASP’s #78 Lexus, driven by Esteban Masson, set a blistering 1:42.852, outpacing Vista AF Corse’s #21 Ferrari (1:43.058) driven by Alessio Rovera. The #54 Vista AF Corse Ferrari followed with 1:43.201, while The Bend Team WRT’s #31 BMW (1:43.259), Akkodis ASP’s #87 Lexus (1:43.265), and Team WRT’s #46 BMW (1:43.274) completed the top six, showcasing tight competition with just 0.422 seconds separating them.

The LMGT3 session saw its share of incidents, including Célia Martin’s spin in the #85 Iron Dames Porsche at Tamburello. However, the rookie recovered to complete her program, showcasing resilience. The close margins in LMGT3 promise an exciting qualifying session.

An interesting insight from the data is the top speed comparison among Hypercar cars. Ferrari’s #51 not only excelled in lap times but also achieved competitive top speeds, as shown below.

Conclusion

The FP3 session at Imola highlighted Ferrari’s dominance in the Hypercar class, with the #51 car’s precise driving setting the benchmark. In LMGT3, Akkodis ASP’s #78 Lexus continues to impress, with Masson’s standout performance. The data reveals tight competition, particularly in Hypercar, where the top five were separated by less than 0.5 seconds. An unexpected highlight was Peugeot’s recovery, with the #94’s third-place finish despite an early incident, showcasing the team’s resilience.

With qualifying set for 14:30 CET, the stage is set for an intense battle. Will Ferrari’s #51 and #50 maintain their edge, or can Peugeot and Cadillac close the gap? In LMGT3, the #78 Lexus faces stiff competition from Ferrari and BMW. Stay tuned for what promises to be a thrilling showdown at Imola!