The 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps provided an invaluable opportunity for teams to hone their cars ahead of the eagerly anticipated race and the forthcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans. The event comprised three free practice sessions, each marked by competitive times and notable incidents that tested the limits of drivers and teams alike.
Session Highlights and Key Incidents
Free Practice 1 opened with favourable conditions—dry and cool—with an air temperature of 13°C and a track temperature of 26°C. Ferrari emerged dominant, with Antonio Fuoco in the #50 AF Corse 499P Hypercar clocking a blistering lap time of 2:02.835, nearly three seconds quicker than last year’s fastest time in FP1. Robert Kubica followed closely in the #83 AF Corse Ferrari, just 0.222 seconds adrift, securing a Ferrari one-two finish in the session. Mick Schumacher in the #36 Alpine also showcased impressive pace, securing third position with a time only 0.259 seconds behind the leader. In the LMGT3 category, Finn Gehrsitz set the benchmark with a lap of 2:18.432 in the #78 Akkodis ASP Team entry.
However, the second practice session was marred by three red flags, significantly hampering long-run preparations. Notably, Antonio Giovinazzi crashed the #51 Ferrari at Raidillon, although he emerged unharmed. Miguel Molina in the #50 Ferrari also encountered difficulties, going off at Blanchimont and sustaining front-end damage. The session’s disruption led officials to extend the allotted time, allowing teams extra opportunity to refine their setups.
Free Practice 3 on Friday morning aimed to simulate qualifying runs, with teams eager to finalise their configurations before the race. This session was critical for teams to assess their race pace, particularly after the interruptions faced in FP2.
General Observations
Throughout the practice, teams focused on setup work and reliability checks, both of which are crucial in endurance racing. The incidents that plagued FP2 limited many teams’ capacity to conduct their planned long runs and assess race strategies effectively. While Ferrari showcased remarkable speed, the team also faced challenges that could impact their preparations moving forward.
The sessions at Spa hold particular significance as they serve as a “dress rehearsal” preceding the iconic Le Mans race, given the circuit’s famously challenging and variable conditions.
