WEC: Porsche and BMW top practice sessions on day 1 at Fuji

The first day of running at the penultimate round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, the 6 Hours of Fuji, saw Porsche Penske Motorsport and BMW M Team WRT leading the charge

PORSCHE ON TOP IN THE OPENNING SESSION
In Free Practice 1, the #6 Porsche Penske 963 Hypercar, driven by Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, and André Lotterer, set the fastest lap with a time of 1:30.561, courtesy of Vanthoor. The trio, currently leading the championship, were a mere 0.010s ahead of the #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR010 Hybrid, piloted by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryō Hirakawa.

The two leading cars were the only ones to break into the 1:30s bracket. Third place went to the #50 Ferrari AF Corse 499P, with Miguel Molina, Antonio Fuoco, and Nicklas Nielsen clocking a 1:31.104 lap.

In the LMGT3 category, United Autosports McLaren led the session. Joshua Caygill, Marino Sato, and Nico Pino in the #95 car set the fastest time of 1:40.528 matched down to the thousandth of a second by the #55 VISTA AF Corse Ferrari, driven by Alessio Rovera. Davide Rigon in the sister VISTA AF Corse Ferrari completed the top three in class with a time of 1:40.793.

BMW SNATCHES TOP SPOT IN PRACTICE 2
In a surprising turn of events during Free Practice 2, BMW M Team WRT set the fastest time. Dries Vanthoor powered the BMW to a lap of 1:29.577, edging out the #5 Porsche Penske 963 by a razor-thin 0.009-second margin. Matt Campbell, driving the Porsche, continued his strong 2024 form.

Rounding off the top three was the #2 Cadillac Racing entry, with Alex Lynn lapping in 1:29.592, meaning the top three were separated by an incredible 0.015s. The AF Corse Ferrari, driven by Robert Kubica, placed fourth with a lap time of 1:29.904, making it the fastest of the Prancing Horse entries. Meanwhile, Toyota’s best result came from Hirakawa in the #8 GR010 Hybrid, despite battling illness, placing fifth. Robin Frijns in the second BMW completed the top six.

In LMGT3, Alessio Rovera took the top spot in the #55 VISTA AF Corse Ferrari with a 1:40.682 lap. TF Sport initially led the session with Hiroshi Koizumi posting a 1:40.851 in the #82 Corvette, enough to secure second in the class. Third place was clinched late on by Franck Perera in the #60 Iron Lynx Lamborghini Huracan, with just 0.027 seconds separating second to fourth place.