Ferrari began the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) 6 Hours of Barcelona at the top of both categories, with Robert Kubica leading Hypercar and Alessio Rovera setting the LMGT3 benchmark during Friday’s opening Free Practice session.
Kubica recorded a 1:31.891 in the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P, finishing 0.107 seconds ahead of local driver Alex Riberas in the #009 Aston Martin Valkyrie. Ferrari AF Corse completed the leading four, with the #51 entry narrowly edging the #50 car as the Italian manufacturer established an encouraging early advantage.
In LMGT3, Rovera led a VISTA AF Corse one-two, recording a 1:41.420 in the #21 Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo. The sister #54 Ferrari finished 0.431 seconds behind, while Racing Team Turkey by TF completed the top three with its Chevrolet Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R.
The opening 90-minute session marked the beginning of competitive running for the 2026 6 Hours of Barcelona presented by Visit Qatar, with 35 cars taking to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The event represents the penultimate round of the championship, as Toyota and TF Sport arrive leading the Hypercar and LMGT3 title battles respectively.
Kubica leads Ferrari to top of Hypercar
AF Corse established the early benchmark through Kubica, whose 1:31.891 placed the #83 Ferrari 499P at the head of the 17-car Hypercar classification. The Pole shares the car with Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson, forming a crew that has regularly challenged for strong results throughout the 2026 season.
Kubica’s performance gave Ferrari an encouraging start at a circuit where he previously competed eight times during his Formula 1 career. The #83 crew completed 45 laps, gathering valuable data as teams began understanding the demands of Barcelona’s high-speed corners and technical sections.
However, Aston Martin THOR Team emerged as Ferrari’s closest challenger, with Barcelona-born Riberas recording a 1:31.998 in the #009 Valkyrie. The Spaniard finished just 0.107 seconds behind Kubica, delivering an impressive performance on home soil alongside teammate Marco Sørensen.
Ferrari strengthened its position behind the leading pair, placing its two factory entries third and fourth. The #51 Ferrari of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi recorded a 1:32.053, finishing 0.162 seconds behind Kubica.
The sister #50 entry followed just 0.013 seconds further back, with Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen recording a 1:32.066. Consequently, Ferrari secured three of the top four positions, demonstrating promising pace as the Italian manufacturer seeks to strengthen its championship challenge.
Aston Martin impresses as Toyota completes top six
Aston Martin enjoyed a productive opening session, placing both Valkyries inside the leading five. While Riberas secured second overall in the #009 entry, the sister #007 car of Harry Tincknell and Tom Gamble recorded a 1:32.716 to finish fifth.
The British manufacturer’s performance continued its recent improvements in Hypercar, with both entries demonstrating competitive pace as the programme approaches the conclusion of its second FIA WEC season. However, the #007 crew finished 0.825 seconds behind Kubica, highlighting the gap between the leading four and the remainder of the field.
Toyota Racing followed in sixth through its championship-leading #8 TR010 Hybrid, shared by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa. The trio recorded a 1:32.834, leaving the Japanese manufacturer 0.943 seconds behind Ferrari’s benchmark.
The result came after Toyota’s victory at the 6 Hours of Fuji, where the #8 crew moved into the Hypercar Drivers’ Championship lead. Toyota also strengthened its Manufacturers’ Championship advantage, entering Barcelona 23 points ahead of BMW.
However, its sister #7 entry finished further down the order. Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries recorded a 1:33.342, placing the car 11th overall and 1.451 seconds behind Kubica.
With both Toyota crews fighting for the Drivers’ Championship, the Japanese manufacturer will aim to improve its performance during the remaining sessions before Sunday’s six-hour contest.
Cadillac, Alpine and Genesis complete top ten
Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA emerged as the strongest challenger outside the leading Ferrari, Aston Martin and Toyota entries, with the #38 Cadillac V-Series.R securing seventh overall.
The car, shared by Earl Bamber, Sébastien Bourdais and Jack Aitken, recorded a 1:33.002, finishing 1.111 seconds behind Kubica. The result continued Cadillac’s competitive recent form after the manufacturer secured points with both entries at Fuji.
Alpine Endurance Team followed in eighth, with the #36 A424 of Jules Gounon and Victor Martins recording a 1:33.119. The French outfit arrived in Barcelona after narrowly missing out on victory in Japan, where Martins finished just 0.591 seconds behind the winning Toyota.
The sister #35 Alpine of Charles Milesi and Ferdinand Habsburg finished 13th overall, leaving the team with work to do before qualifying.
Meanwhile, Cadillac placed its second entry ninth, with Will Stevens, Norman Nato and returning Alex Lynn recording a 1:33.183 in the #12 V-Series.R. Lynn’s return follows an extended absence caused by a neck injury, restoring the team’s established driver combination for the final two rounds.
Genesis Magma Racing completed the top ten through the #19 GMR-001 of Mathieu Jaminet, Paul-Loup Chatin and local driver Dani Juncadella. The team recorded a 1:33.187, finishing just 0.004 seconds behind Cadillac’s #12 entry.
The close margins across the midfield suggested that small improvements could significantly change the competitive order ahead of Saturday’s qualifying sessions.
BMW struggles as Peugeot introduces Quinn
BMW M Team WRT endured a difficult opening session, finishing at the bottom of the Hypercar classification despite entering Barcelona as Toyota’s closest challenger in the Manufacturers’ Championship.
The #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 of Kevin Magnussen, Raffaele Marciello and Dries Vanthoor recorded a 1:33.990, placing 16th overall and 2.099 seconds behind Kubica.
The sister #20 BMW finished 17th, with Robin Frijns, René Rast and Sheldon van der Linde recording a 1:34.017. The entry completed 50 laps but remained 2.126 seconds away from the fastest time, highlighting the challenge facing BMW as it attempts to reduce Toyota’s championship advantage.
Peugeot also struggled to challenge the leading entries, with the #94 9X8 of Loïc Duval, Malthe Jakobsen and Théo Pourchaire finishing 14th overall. The trio recorded a 1:33.789, while the sister #93 entry followed in 15th with a 1:33.958.
However, the session marked an important milestone for Alex Quinn, who made his first official FIA WEC Hypercar appearance alongside Paul di Resta and Nick Cassidy.
Peugeot recently promoted Quinn into its race line-up earlier than planned, replacing Stoffel Vandoorne for the Barcelona and Monza rounds. The 25-year-old will use the final two races to gain experience ahead of his first full Hypercar campaign in 2027.
Although BMW and Peugeot occupied the final four positions, the opening session primarily provided teams with an opportunity to assess setups and tyre behaviour. Both manufacturers will therefore look to improve their performance during FP2.
Rovera leads VISTA AF Corse one-two in LMGT3
Ferrari also controlled the opening LMGT3 session, with Rovera placing the #21 VISTA AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo at the top of the 18-car classification.
The Italian recorded a 1:41.420 in the car he shares with François Hériau and Simon Mann, establishing a benchmark that remained unbeaten throughout the session. The result provided an encouraging start for a crew that enters Barcelona among the challengers to TF Sport’s championship-leading Corvette.
The sister #54 Ferrari followed in second, with Thomas Flohr, Francesco Castellacci and Davide Rigon combining for a best time of 1:41.851. The 0.431-second margin gave VISTA AF Corse a comfortable advantage over most of the LMGT3 field, although several rival manufacturers remained closely matched behind the leading pair.
Racing Team Turkey by TF emerged as Ferrari’s nearest challenger, placing third through its #34 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R. Peter Dempsey, Salih Yoluç and Charlie Eastwood recorded a 1:41.859, finishing just 0.008 seconds behind the second Ferrari and 0.439 seconds away from Rovera.
The result demonstrated the strength of the Corvette package as TF Sport attempts to secure another victory before the season finale. The team has already won twice in LMGT3 during 2026, with both of its entries contributing to a competitive campaign.
However, the championship-leading #33 Corvette finished only tenth in class. Ben Keating, Jonny Edgar and Nicky Catsburg recorded a 1:42.569, leaving the team 1.149 seconds behind the leading Ferrari as it continued preparing for Sunday’s race.
Garage 59 and Iron Lynx feature among LMGT3 frontrunners
Garage 59 secured fourth in LMGT3 through its #10 McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo, with Antares Au, Thomas Fleming and Marvin Kirchhöfer recording a 1:42.043. The result placed the British team 0.623 seconds behind Rovera and continued its strong performances with McLaren machinery.
Iron Lynx followed in fifth with the #61 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3, shared by Martin Berry, Rui Andrade and Maxime Martin. The team recorded a 1:42.219, finishing 0.799 seconds behind the class leader as it began preparations for the penultimate round.
Akkodis ASP Team completed the leading six through the #78 Lexus RC F LMGT3 of Tom Van Rompuy, Hadrien David and Esteban Masson. Their 1:42.235 placed the team just 0.016 seconds behind Iron Lynx, highlighting the close competition throughout the leading group.
Team WRT followed in seventh with the #32 BMW M4 LMGT3 Evo, which Darren Leung, Sean Gelael and Augusto Farfus share. The trio arrived in Barcelona following victory at Fuji but finished its opening session 0.853 seconds behind VISTA AF Corse.
Proton Competition’s #88 Ford Mustang LMGT3, Manthey DK Engineering’s #91 Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 and TF Sport’s #33 Corvette completed the top ten.
Further back, Heart of Racing endured a challenging opening session, with its #23 Aston Martin finishing 12th and the championship-contending #27 entry placing 18th. The latter car, shared by Ian James, Zacharie Robichon and Mattia Drudi, had secured podium finishes at the previous two rounds but finished 2.631 seconds behind Rovera’s fastest lap.
Barcelona weekend continues with FP2 and qualifying
The opening session ran in warm, sunny conditions, allowing all 35 entries to complete laps as teams began preparing for the inaugural 6 Hours of Barcelona. A brief procedural Full Course Yellow interrupted the running, but the session otherwise passed without major incidents or red flags.
Ferrari therefore enters the remainder of Friday with the early advantage in both classes, having placed three Hypercars inside the leading four and secured an LMGT3 one-two. However, Aston Martin’s strong performance in Hypercar and the competitive LMGT3 field suggest that several manufacturers could challenge during the remaining sessions.
The Barcelona weekend continues with FP2 at 16:30 local time on Friday, 16 October, giving teams another 90 minutes to refine their setups before Saturday’s FP3 and qualifying sessions.
LMGT3 qualifying begins at 11:50 on Saturday, followed by Hyperpole at 12:10. Hypercar qualifying starts at 15:40, with Hyperpole taking place at 16:00. Sunday’s six-hour race will then begin at 12:00 local time, concluding at approximately 18:00.
With Toyota leading the Hypercar championship and TF Sport holding the LMGT3 advantage, the remaining sessions will prove important as competitors prepare for a race that could significantly influence the final title battles.
2026 WEC 6 Hours of Barcelona FP1 Hypercar results
- #83 AF Corse — Ferrari 499P — 1:31.891
- #009 Aston Martin THOR Team — Aston Martin Valkyrie — 1:31.998 (+0.107)
- #51 Ferrari AF Corse — Ferrari 499P — 1:32.053 (+0.162)
- #50 Ferrari AF Corse — Ferrari 499P — 1:32.066 (+0.175)
- #007 Aston Martin THOR Team — Aston Martin Valkyrie — 1:32.716 (+0.825)
- #8 Toyota Racing — Toyota TR010 Hybrid — 1:32.834 (+0.943)
- #38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA — Cadillac V-Series.R — 1:33.002 (+1.111)
- #36 Alpine Endurance Team — Alpine A424 — 1:33.119 (+1.228)
- #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA — Cadillac V-Series.R — 1:33.183 (+1.292)
- #19 Genesis Magma Racing — Genesis GMR-001 — 1:33.187 (+1.296)
- #7 Toyota Racing — Toyota TR010 Hybrid — 1:33.342 (+1.451)
- #17 Genesis Magma Racing — Genesis GMR-001 — 1:33.486 (+1.595)
- #35 Alpine Endurance Team — Alpine A424 — 1:33.729 (+1.838)
- #94 Peugeot TotalEnergies — Peugeot 9X8 — 1:33.789 (+1.898)
- #93 Peugeot TotalEnergies — Peugeot 9X8 — 1:33.958 (+2.067)
- #15 BMW M Team WRT — BMW M Hybrid V8 — 1:33.990 (+2.099)
- #20 BMW M Team WRT — BMW M Hybrid V8 — 1:34.017 (+2.126)
2026 WEC 6 Hours of Barcelona FP1 LMGT3 results
- #21 VISTA AF Corse — Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo — 1:41.420
- #54 VISTA AF Corse — Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo — 1:41.851 (+0.431)
- #34 Racing Team Turkey by TF — Chevrolet Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R — 1:41.859 (+0.439)
- #10 Garage 59 — McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo — 1:42.043 (+0.623)
- #61 Iron Lynx — Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 — 1:42.219 (+0.799)
- #78 Akkodis ASP Team — Lexus RC F LMGT3 — 1:42.235 (+0.815)
- #32 Team WRT — BMW M4 LMGT3 Evo — 1:42.273 (+0.853)
- #88 Proton Competition — Ford Mustang LMGT3 — 1:42.354 (+0.934)
- #91 Manthey DK Engineering — Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 — 1:42.424 (+1.004)
- #33 TF Sport — Chevrolet Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R — 1:42.569 (+1.149)
- #92 The Bend Manthey — Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 — 1:42.755 (+1.335)
- #23 Heart of Racing Team — Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3 — 1:42.846 (+1.426)
- #69 Team WRT — BMW M4 LMGT3 Evo — 1:43.011 (+1.591)
- #87 Akkodis ASP Team — Lexus RC F LMGT3 — 1:43.102 (+1.682)
- #79 Iron Lynx — Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 — 1:43.146 (+1.726)
- #77 Proton Competition — Ford Mustang LMGT3 — 1:43.858 (+2.438)
- #58 Garage 59 — McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo — 1:43.979 (+2.559)
- #27 Heart of Racing Team — Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3 — 1:44.051 (+2.631)
Ferrari therefore leaves FP1 with the advantage in both categories, although Aston Martin remains close in Hypercar and several manufacturers have demonstrated competitive pace throughout LMGT3. With the opening running complete, teams will now focus on improving their performance during FP2 before Saturday’s qualifying sessions determine the grid for the inaugural 6 Hours of Barcelona.
