The weekend of the Monza 6 Hours, the fifth round of the FIA WEC, got underway with the first two free practice sessions held on Friday. In the morning, the number 51 Ferrari 499P of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi set the benchmark time in the top Hypercar class, while in the afternoon the best of the Prancing Horse entries was the number 50 crewed by Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen.
Free Practice 1. The Prancing Horse Hypercars took to the track at 11.30 with bright sunshine on the Brianza circuit and air and track temperatures at 27.7°C and 41.8°C respectively. By the end of the 90-minute timed session, Pier Guidi, in the number 51 Hypercar, had set the fastest time of 1’37’’533, lapping 13 of the 35 laps completed by the crew also made up of Calado and Giovinazzi. Seventh were their teammates in the number 50 499P, 0’’500 off the pace, with a best time by Antonio Fuoco, at the wheel for 14 of the total 38 laps.
Free Practice 2. In mid-afternoon, with air temperatures of 29.7°C and 44.8°C on the asphalt, the cars returned to the track for a second 90-minute stint, which allowed the Ferrari - AF Corse team to continue fine-tuning the 499Ps. The fastest of the Ferraris at the chequered flag proved to be the number 50, with Fuoco setting a time of 1’36’’533, just 0’’170 off the number 7 Toyota. Seventh fastest was the number 51 Hypercar, with Pier Guidi stopping the clock at 1’37’’204. The two cars completed 47 and 45 laps respectively.
The programme. A third free practice session is scheduled for Saturday, 8 July from 10.45 to 11.45 a.m., to be followed by Qualifying in the afternoon, with the 15-minute session set to start at 3.30 p.m. On Sunday, the Monza 6 Hours gets the green flag at 12.30 p.m.