The final round of the FIA WEC 2024 got underway with the first two free practice sessions at the Bahrain International Circuit, host to the eight-hour race that will conclude the year. Throughout the day, the Ferrari – AF Corse 499Ps completed a total of 77 and 78 laps with crews 50 and 51, respectively.
In the three hours of track action, equally divided between the two free practice sessions, the AF Corse Ferrari number 83 covered 79 laps.
Free Practice 1. The first session kicked off at 12:15 p.m. local time, on a dry track with air and asphalt temperatures of 31°C and 39°C, respectively.
Antonio Fuoco was first at the wheel of the 499P number 50, followed by Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen. Antonio Giovinazzi, James Calado, and Alessandro Pier Guidi completed a productive session in the “sister” car, number 51, helping the team to familiarise themselves with the Sakhir circuit’s asphalt.
At the end of the 90-minute session, Giovinazzi (1:51.041) and Fuoco (1:51.966) had set the benchmark times, placing third (0.204 seconds behind the session leader, Peugeot number 94) and 13th in the standings, respectively.
Robert Kubica and Ferrari official drivers, Yifei Ye and Robert Shwartzman, took turns at the wheel of the 499P number 83, completing 36 laps. The Polish driver finished 17th at the chequered flag with a best time of 1:52.262.
Free Practice 2. In the late afternoon, the Hypercars returned to action on Bahrain’s 5.412-kilometre track under conditions similar to those expected for the latter part of the race. Floodlights illuminated the circuit as air and asphalt temperatures dropped to 27 and 29°C.
The number 51 car was the fastest of the Ferraris, with Giovinazzi’s time of 1:48.472 securing third place in the standings at the end of the session, 0.215 seconds behind the leader, BMW number 15. The 499P number 50 was two places further back, with Fuoco’s best time of 1:48.701.
AF Corse’s 499P number 83 was 14th at the chequered flag, with Ye posting the best time of 1:49.709.
The programme. On Friday, 1 November, Free Practice 3 (12 to 1 p.m.) will precede Qualifying (starting at 4.40 p.m.) and Hyperpole (from 5 p.m.). The 8 Hours of Bahrain kicks off on Saturday, 2 November, at 2 p.m. (local time).