Cadillac and Ferrari Top Practice Sessions at Lone Star Le Mans

The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) officially kicked off its Lone Star Le Mans event at the Circuit of the Americas on Friday, with teams facing a day of technical delays and tricky track conditions. Cadillac and Ferrari dominated the two free practice sessions for the Hypercar class, setting the stage for a tight battle ahead of qualifying.

The day began with an hour-long delay to the first practice session (FP1) due to a technical issue in race control that also led to a brief red flag. Once the green flag finally waved, it was Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA (#12) that emerged on top. Driver Will Stevens set the fastest lap of 1:53.584, just 0.129 seconds ahead of the Heart of Racing Aston Martin(#007). The AF Corse Ferrari (#83) rounded out the top three.

Conditions changed dramatically for the second practice session (FP2). Light rain showers made the track surface slippery and treacherous for all competitors. Despite the challenging weather, it was the AF Corse Ferrari (#83) that found its pace, topping the session with a blistering lap of 1:51.967. The factory Ferrari AF Corse (#50) followed in second, just 0.190 seconds behind, completing a strong showing for the Italian manufacturer. The Alpine Endurance Team (#35) took the third spot.

LMGT3 Teams Adapt to Slippery Conditions

In the LMGT3 category, the light rain during FP2 also made for a difficult session as teams worked to find the ideal car setup for the Circuit of the Americas’ mix of corners and high-speed braking zones. The #95 United Autosports McLaren rose to the challenge, with Sean Gelael setting the fastest time for the class.

However, it was a more difficult session for others. The championship-leading #54 VISTA AF Corse Ferrari had a spin at Turn 12, causing a brief Full Course Yellow period. The reigning champions from Manthey 1st Phorm also had a tough time, finishing well down the order. On a more positive note, Dennis Olsen in the #88 Proton Competition Ford Mustang showed strong pace, positioning his team as a potential contender for a podium finish. The Akkodis ASP Team Lexus (#78) also improved its performance from FP1 to FP2, moving up from sixth to fifth.

With qualifying on the horizon, teams will have to quickly translate their practice data into a fast, reliable setup for what promises to be an exciting weekend of endurance racing.