Ferrari 499Ps conclude first day on track in Bahrain

The Ferrari 499Ps concluded the first day of track activities at the Sakhir circuit, which this weekend hosts the 8 Hours of Bahrain, the seventh and final round of the 2023 FIA WEC. During today's two free practice sessions, the best time for the Ferrari - AF Corse team Hypercars was registered by the number 50 crew during the session held in the late afternoon. Throughout both sessions, the cars from the Maranello manufacturer fell short of achieving a position higher than eighth place.

Free Practice 1. The session was brought to a halt with a red flag ten minutes after starting due to a sandstorm, before the 499Ps had the opportunity to complete any laps. When racing resumed, the Hypercars went back on the track with air temperatures of 25.7°C, and 31.9°C on the asphalt. The final phase of the session was marked by rain.

Setting the best time in the number 51 499P was James Calado, producing a lap of 1’51’’482, good enough to claim eighth position after completing 11 laps at the wheel of the car; Alessandro Pier Guidi, meanwhile, turned out 10 laps, while Antonio Giovinazzi did not enter the cockpit. In Free Practice 1 the car finished 1’’626 shy of the leading number 7 crew. Ninth position, elsewhere, went to the number 50 499P with Miguel Molina, who produced a benchmark time of 1’51’’722, and Antonio Fuoco (10 and 7 laps respectively), taking turns in the car shared with Nicklas Nielsen.

Free Practice 2. The second session got the green flag at 5:30 p.m. The air temperatures stood at 27.4°C, while the asphalt recorded a temperature of 30°C. These conditions mirror what the Hypercars are again likely to encounter in the mid-phase of the race. In the session, the 499Ps found themselves unable to break into the top ten with car number 50. This car completed a total of 38 laps and recorded a time of 1'50''588, with Fuoco trailing the leader by 3''737, confirming the same place as earlier in the morning. The eleventh spot was claimed by the 499P of Pier Guidi, Calado, and Giovinazzi, who completed 44 laps. The best time for the Italian, three-time world champion in the LMGTE Pro class, was 1'50''848.

The programme. Friday, 3 November sees Free Practice 3 from 12 p.m., with Qualifying scheduled from 5.05 p.m. On Saturday, 4 November, the race will get underway at 2 p.m. (times given are local).