2023 6 Hours of Spa: Practice Session Highlights
In the opening practice session of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of Spa, Antonio Fuoco clocked the fastest lap in the No. 50 AF Corse Ferrari 499P, achieving a time of 2:02.835. This effort placed him two tenths ahead of the sister No. 83 AF Corse entry, driven by Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, and Phil Hanson, which recorded a best time of 2:03.057.
The No. 36 Alpine Endurance Team A424, featuring drivers Jules Gounon, Frédéric Makowiecki, and Mick Schumacher, secured third with a time of 2:03.094. The top five positions were rounded out by the No. 93 and No. 94 Peugeot 9X8s, which trailed behind by 0.2 and 0.5 seconds, respectively.
The championship-leading No. 51 Ferrari 499P, piloted by Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi, finished eighth with a time of 2:04.149. Teams continued to adapt to the newly resurfaced sections of the circuit, employing Michelin’s soft and medium tire compounds.
Notably, incidents involving the No. 35 Alpine A424, driven by Paul-Loup Chatin, and the No. 38 Hertz Team Jota Cadillac V Series R, brought out full-course yellows. Chatin’s car required a nose replacement following a stoppage at Les Combes, while the Cadillac halted at Fagne.
In the LMGT3 category, Finn Gehrsitz set the fastest time at 2:18.432 in the No. 78 Akkodis ASP Team Lexus RC F LMGT3. He was closely followed by Francois Heriau in the No. 21 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3, who achieved a time of 2:18.528. The top three was completed by the No. 87 Lexus, driven by Petru Umbrarescu, Clemens Schmid, and José Maria López, posting 2:18.619.
Completing the top five were the No. 88 Proton Competition Ford Mustang LMGT3 with a time of 2:18.969 and the No. 10 Racing Spirit of Leman Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3. The championship-leading No. 33 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R, carrying an additional 36 kilograms of success ballast, finished 16th with a best lap of 2:21.056.
As teams prepare for the race, adjustments and strategies are expected to evolve over the subsequent practice sessions.
