2026/27 | ALMS | Le Castellet | FP1 | Fuoco leads Ferrari one-two as Varrone and Fleming top classes

Antonio Fuoco topped the opening Free Practice session of the 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS) at Circuit Paul Ricard, setting the fastest overall time for Cetilar Racing as the championship began its new Hypercar era. The Italian recorded a 1:51.114 in the #47 Ferrari 499P, finishing 0.640 seconds ahead of Nicklas Nielsen in the #90 AF Corse entry.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Varrone led LMP2 for AF Corse with a 1:52.353, while Tom Fleming secured the fastest GT3 lap for Garage 59. The British driver finished 0.725 seconds clear of GetSpeed’s Fabian Schiller, establishing a substantial advantage over the chasing GT3 field.

The 90-minute session took place in bright sunshine and dry conditions after heavy rain and dense fog forced organisers to cancel Thursday’s official test. Consequently, Friday morning provided the 46-car field with its first opportunity to complete representative running ahead of the opening double-header.

Fuoco leads Ferrari one-two in inaugural Hypercar session

Cetilar Racing established the early benchmark as the two Ferrari 499Ps made their first official appearance in the championship’s new Hypercar category. Fuoco recorded a 1:51.114 in the #47 Ferrari, securing the fastest lap of the session and leading the overall classification.

The Italian’s performance provided an encouraging start for Cetilar Racing, which has stepped up to Hypercar following its runner-up finish in the 2025/26 LMP2 championship. Fuoco shares the #47 with Roberto and Nicola Lacorte, bringing his experience as a Ferrari factory driver and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner to the programme.

Meanwhile, Nielsen finished second for AF Corse, recording a 1:51.754 in the #90 Ferrari. The Dane completed his fastest lap early in the session but could not match Fuoco’s benchmark, leaving 0.640 seconds between the two Hypercars.

The new Hypercar entries for the 2026/27 ALMS season introduce a third category alongside the established LMP2 and GT3 classes. Friday morning’s running provided the first comparison between the two Ferrari programmes, with Cetilar holding the early advantage.

Varrone puts AF Corse ahead in LMP2

AF Corse also led the LMP2 classification, with Nicolas Varrone recording a 1:52.353 in the #83 Oreca 07-Gibson. The Argentine finished 0.512 seconds ahead of August Raber, who secured second for Duqueine Team with a 1:52.865.

Jack Doohan completed the top three in the sister #55 AF Corse entry. The former Formula 1 driver recorded a 1:53.063, finishing 0.710 seconds behind Varrone and just 0.198 seconds away from Raber’s benchmark.

Nielsen Racing followed in fourth, with Scott Huffaker setting a 1:53.121 in the #24 Oreca. The American finished just 0.058 seconds behind Doohan, providing an encouraging start for Nielsen’s new driver combination.

Reigning champions CrowdStrike Racing by APR completed the top five, with Laurin Heinrich recording a 1:53.288 in the #4 entry. Team Virage followed sixth, ahead of Inter Europol Competition and Algarve Pro Racing.

However, Inter Europol encountered mechanical difficulties with its second car. A gearbox problem prevented the #34 Oreca from completing any running, leaving it without a representative lap time.

Consequently, only 15 of the 16 LMP2 entries recorded times during the opening session.

LMP2 midfield separated by narrow margins

Behind the leading five, the LMP2 field remained competitive as several teams established their initial benchmarks.

Team Virage finished sixth with a 1:53.311, just 0.023 seconds behind CrowdStrike Racing by APR. Inter Europol Competition’s #43 followed seventh, recording a 1:53.365.

Algarve Pro Racing secured eighth through the #25 Oreca, while Proton Competition finished ninth with its #11 entry. Just 0.002 seconds separated the two cars, highlighting the narrow margins in the middle of the classification.

United Autosports completed the top ten with the #22 Oreca, setting a 1:53.649. DKR Engineering followed in 11th, just 0.020 seconds behind, while CLX Motorsport finished 12th.

Further down the order, Proton Competition’s #66 secured 13th ahead of United Autosports’ #2 entry. Algarve Pro Racing’s #20 completed the list of cars that recorded a time.

With all 16 competitors using identical Oreca 07-Gibson machinery, qualifying and race strategy will play important roles as the teams prepare for the opening two four-hour races.

Fleming gives Garage 59 commanding advantage in GT3

Garage 59 emerged fastest among the 28 GT3 competitors, with Tom Fleming recording a 2:02.512 in the #58 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo.

The British driver’s lap remained unbeaten throughout the session, giving Garage 59 a 0.725-second advantage over the closest Mercedes-AMG.

Fleming shares the McLaren with reigning GT champions Dustin Blattner and Dennis Marschall, who joined Garage 59 for its 2026/27 ALMS programme following their successful previous season with Kessel Racing.

GetSpeed followed second, with Fabian Schiller recording a 2:03.237 in the #9 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo. Despite securing the manufacturer’s fastest time, Schiller could not match Fleming’s benchmark.

Ferrari occupied the next two positions, with Mathys Jaubert securing third for Car Guy Racing. His 2:03.442 placed the #57 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo just 0.025 seconds ahead of Alessio Rovera in the #51 AF Corse entry.

Winward Racing completed the top five through Marvin Dienst, who recorded a 2:03.569 in the #87 Mercedes-AMG.

Mansell and Edgar complete competitive GT3 top seven

Christian Mansell secured sixth for 2 Seas Motorsport, recording a 2:03.602 in the #46 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo. The Australian finished just 0.033 seconds behind Dienst, continuing the close competition among the leading GT3 entries.

Meanwhile, newly crowned WEC LMGT3 champion Jonny Edgar placed Car Blanche by RSL seventh. The Briton recorded a 2:03.661 in the #68 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, finishing 0.059 seconds behind Mansell.

Petrolife Racing Team followed eighth, with the #7 Mercedes-AMG setting a 2:03.668. Just 0.007 seconds separated the Mercedes from Edgar’s Aston Martin.

Craft-Bamboo Iron Lynx secured ninth with its #88 Mercedes-AMG, while the sister #33 2 Seas Motorsport entry completed the top ten.

The margins remained particularly narrow behind the leading McLaren, with just 0.586 seconds separating GetSpeed in second and 2 Seas Motorsport in tenth.

Further down the order, Team Qatar by Iron Lynx finished 13th, ahead of Haupt Racing Team’s leading Ford Mustang GT3 Evo. Heart of Racing completed the top 15 with its #27 Aston Martin.

Lamborghini Temerario makes first ALMS appearance

The opening session also marked the championship debut of the Lamborghini Temerario GT3, with Leipert Motorsport and DFYNE Racing Team introducing the manufacturer’s latest GT3 machinery.

Leipert Motorsport finished 23rd in class, recording a 2:04.823 in the #63 Lamborghini. The German outfit completed 28 laps as it began gathering data with its new car.

Meanwhile, DFYNE Racing Team finished 28th, with the #93 Temerario recording a 2:05.410 during its 26 laps.

The two teams are introducing the model as Lamborghini expands the Temerario GT3’s international racing programme, marking its first appearance in an Automobile Club de l’Ouest-sanctioned championship.

Elsewhere, both Manthey Porsches finished outside the top 15, with the #91 placing 20th and the #92 following in 21st. Proton Competition also faced a relatively difficult session, placing its two Porsche entries 19th and 27th.

Although the opening classification established the initial order, the teams will have another opportunity to refine their cars during FP2 before qualifying determines the starting grids.

Le Castellet weekend continues with FP2 and qualifying

Following the opening 90-minute session, the field will return to Circuit Paul Ricard for Free Practice 2 at 13:30 local time (CET). The additional running will provide teams with another opportunity to gather data following Thursday’s cancelled official test.

Qualifying begins at 16:05 with the first GT3 session, followed by a second session at 16:25. Hypercar and LMP2 qualifying will take place at 16:50 and 17:10, with separate sessions determining the starting grids for both races.

The first four-hour race will begin at 13:15 on Saturday, 14 November, before the second race concludes the opening double-header on Sunday, 15 November.

Cetilar Racing therefore concludes FP1 with the fastest overall time, while AF Corse leads LMP2 and Garage 59 establishes a commanding early GT3 benchmark.

Hypercar: 2026/27 ALMS Le Castellet FP1 results

1. #47 Cetilar Racing — Ferrari 499P — 1:51.114
2. #90 AF Corse — Ferrari 499P — 1:51.754 (+0.640)

LMP2: 2026/27 ALMS Le Castellet FP1 results

1. #83 AF Corse — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:52.353
2. #30 Duqueine Team — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:52.865 (+0.512)
3. #55 AF Corse — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:53.063 (+0.710)
4. #24 Nielsen Racing — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:53.121 (+0.768)
5. #4 CrowdStrike Racing by APR — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:53.288 (+0.935)
6. #16 Team Virage — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:53.311 (+0.958)
7. #43 Inter Europol Competition — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:53.365 (+1.012)
8. #25 Algarve Pro Racing — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:53.622 (+1.269)
9. #11 Proton Competition — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:53.624 (+1.271)
10. #22 United Autosports — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:53.649 (+1.296)
11. #3 DKR Engineering — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:53.669 (+1.316)
12. #37 CLX Motorsport — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:53.996 (+1.643)
13. #66 Proton Competition — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:54.426 (+2.073)
14. #2 United Autosports — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:55.307 (+2.954)
15. #20 Algarve Pro Racing — Oreca 07-Gibson — 1:55.511 (+3.158)
16. #34 Inter Europol Competition — Oreca 07-Gibson — No time set

GT3: 2026/27 ALMS Le Castellet FP1 results

The official ALMS FP1 classification confirms all 46 entries across Hypercar, LMP2 and GT3, with Inter Europol Competition’s #34 the only car without a recorded time.