After Ferrari topped Free Practice 1 with a 1-2-3 in the Hypercar category, Free Practice 2 at Imola delivered a significant shift in the competitive order of the opening FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) weekend of 2026. As track conditions improved, lap times dropped rapidly, and new contenders emerged at the front in both Hypercar and LMGT3.
While Ferrari dominated FP1, FP2 told a different story. Alpine and Toyota stepped forward, and the field compressed dramatically, setting the stage for an unpredictable weekend.
2026 FIA WEC: 6 Hours of Imola: Free Practice 2: Hypercar
Alpine sets the benchmark
Alpine made a clear statement in FP2. Charles Milesi initially set the pace in the #35 A424 with a 1:31.122, already significantly faster than FP1. However, as the session progressed, the team improved further, ultimately lowering the benchmark to a stunning 1:30.898.
This performance not only placed Alpine at the top of the timesheets but also highlighted its growing competitiveness following last year’s podium at Imola. Moreover, the pace suggested that Alpine could genuinely challenge for victory.
Toyota responds strongly
Soon after, Nyck de Vries pushed Toyota into contention. The #7 TR010 Hybrid secured second place, just 0.114 seconds behind Alpine, confirming the effectiveness of its winter aerodynamic updates.
Importantly, Toyota’s consistency over multiple laps hinted at strong race pace, even if it narrowly missed out on the top spot.
Ferrari remains in the tight
Despite losing its FP1 advantage, Ferrari stayed firmly in contention. The #50 and #51 entries finished third and fourth respectively, separated by just 0.051 seconds. Therefore, although the Italian manufacturer no longer led outright, it remained a serious threat heading into qualifying.
Meanwhile, the #83 AF Corse Ferrari dropped to seventh, suggesting a shift in focus towards race setup rather than outright pace.
Tight margins define the field
Behind the leading trio, Peugeot, BMW and Aston Martin all delivered competitive performances. Peugeot’s #94 secured fifth, while BMW’s #20 climbed to sixth, showing improved speed compared to FP1.
Notably, the entire top 14 cars were covered by less than one second. This remarkable compression underlined the depth of the Hypercar field and ensured that even minor gains could result in major position changes.
Genesis Magma Racing also impressed. Led by André Lotterer, the team closed to within 1.4 seconds of the fastest time on its debut, marking a promising start.
Classification
- Alpine #35 – Alpine Endurance Team – 1:30.898 (47 laps)
- Toyota #7 – Toyota Racing – +0.114 (53 laps)
- Ferrari #50 – Ferrari AF Corse – +0.138 (49 laps)
- Ferrari #51 – Ferrari AF Corse – +0.189 (52 laps)
- Peugeot #94 – Peugeot TotalEnergies – +0.327 (47 laps)
- BMW #20 – BMW M Team WRT – +0.456 (50 laps)
- Ferrari #83 – AF Corse – +0.482 (45 laps)
- Aston Martin #007 – Aston Martin THOR Team – +0.534 (50 laps)
- Alpine #36 – Alpine Endurance Team – +0.640 (46 laps)
- Toyota #8 – Toyota Racing – +0.657 (52 laps)
- Cadillac #38 – Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA – +0.747 (54 laps)
- BMW #15 – BMW M Team WRT – +0.955 (40 laps)
- Peugeot #93 – Peugeot TotalEnergies – +0.959 (38 laps)
- Cadillac #12 – Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA – +0.984 (54 laps)
- Aston Martin #009 – Aston Martin THOR Team – +1.056 (41 laps)
- Genesis #17 – Genesis Magma Racing – +1.389 (50 laps)
- Genesis #19 – Genesis Magma Racing – +1.932 (50 laps)
2026 FIA WEC: 6 Hours of Imola: Free Practice 2: LMGT3
Aston Martin shines through Pauwels
LMGT3 saw a new leader emerge as Kobe Pauwels delivered a standout lap of 1:42.081 in the #23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin. The young Belgian’s performance not only secured top spot but also demonstrated impressive composure under pressure.
Lexus pushes Aston Martin all the way
The challenge came from Akkodis ASP Team, where Hadrien David set a 1:42.151 in the #78 Lexus. For much of the session, he led the field, only to be narrowly displaced by Pauwels late on. Meanwhile, the sister Lexus secured fourth, reinforcing the team’s strong overall performance and consistency.
Close battle across the top ten
The #27 Aston Martin completed a strong showing for Heart of Racing by taking third. In addition, TF Sport’s Corvette secured fifth, continuing its solid form across both practice sessions.
Despite an early setback, the #34 Racing Team Turkey Corvette recovered well. After resolving a technical issue, Salih Yoluç climbed to sixth, ensuring both Corvettes remained competitive.
Ferrari’s #21 entry placed seventh, while Mercedes, Porsche and McLaren entries filled out a tightly packed top ten.
Classification
- Aston Martin #23 – Heart of Racing Team – 1:42.081 (44 laps)
- Lexus #78 – Akkodis ASP Team – +0.070 (40 laps)
- Aston Martin #27 – Heart of Racing Team – +0.130 (44 laps)
- Lexus #87 – Akkodis ASP Team – +0.215 (44 laps)
- Corvette #33 – TF Sport – +0.345 (47 laps)
- Corvette #34 – Racing Team Turkey by TF – +0.446 (22 laps)
- Ferrari #21 – VISTA AF Corse – +0.473 (47 laps)
- Mercedes #79 – Iron Lynx – +0.497 (40 laps)
- Mercedes #61 – Iron Lynx – +0.533 (42 laps)
- Porsche #91 – Manthey DK Engineering – +0.596 (46 laps)
- Ferrari #54 – VISTA AF Corse – +0.642 (45 laps)
- McLaren #58 – Garage 59 – +0.681 (45 laps)
- BMW #69 – Team WRT – +0.713 (47 laps)
- Porsche #92 – The Bend Manthey – +0.864 (47 laps)
- McLaren #10 – Garage 59 – +0.882 (46 laps)
- Ford #77 – Proton Competition – +1.049 (49 laps)
- BMW #32 – Team WRT – +1.144 (43 laps)
A new competitive picture emerges after Free Practice 2 at the 2026 WEC 6 Hours of Imola
As FP2 concluded, the competitive order shifted significantly. Alpine and Toyota emerged as serious challengers, while Ferrari remained firmly in contention despite losing its early advantage.
At the same time, LMGT3 continued to deliver incredibly tight margins, with multiple manufacturers capable of fighting for pole position. Therefore, as qualifying approaches, the outcome remains wide open, and the stage is set for a thrilling start to the 2026 WEC season at Imola.
