499Ps in action at COTA

The FIA World Endurance Championship returns to the spotlight with round six at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas. Today, the circuit hosted the first two free practice sessions, kicking off the Lone Star Le Mans weekend, the sixth event on the 2024 calendar. The World Endurance Championship returns to this track after a four-year absence, with Ferrari’s 499Ps competing in the Hypercar top class.

Free Practice 1. The timed session at the American track took place in the early afternoon, over 90 minutes on a dry track under high temperatures, with air and asphalt above 32°C and 49°C, respectively. The Ferrari – AF Corse team’s 499Ps secured the fourth and fifth fastest times with crews number 50 and 51. Antonio Fuoco (1’54”118) and Antonio Giovinazzi (1’54”186) set the best times for the two cars.

Free Practice 1 concluded with the AF Corse team’s 499P number 83 in second place, thanks to the time set by Robert Kubica (1’54”034). Kubica shares the Giallo Modena-liveried Hypercar with official Ferrari drivers Yifei Ye and Robert Shwartzman. The gap to the session leader, Porsche number 5, was 0”460.

Free Practice 2. In the late afternoon session, which took place in similar weather conditions to the first session, the official team Ferrari set the first and second fastest times with crew numbers 51 and 50 respectively. Antonio Giovinazzi set the best time of 1'52‘’268, ahead of team-mate Antonio Fuoco, just 0‘’052 off the pace.

Overall, over the course of the day, the Ferrari - AF Corse team Hypercars racked up 145 laps: 76 with Fuoco-Molina-Nielsen and 69 with Pier Guidi-Calado-Giovinazzi.

Fifth was the 499P number 83 with a best lap time of 1'52‘’705, signed by Robert Kubica.

The programme. On Saturday, 31 August, after the third free practice session from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., the qualifying sessions are scheduled to start at 3.40 p.m., followed by the Hyperpole at 4 p.m. The six-hour Lone Star Le Mans will start on Sunday, 1 September at 1 p.m. (local time).