Kubica Tops Imola FP1 in Ferrari Sweep

Photo: Javier Jimenez/DPPI

Robert Kubica paced the opening Free Practice session for Sunday’s 6 Hours of Imola, putting Ferrari atop the time charts on home soil and all three of the 499Ps in the top-four.

Kubica’s 1:32.065 lap time in the third-string No. 83 Ferrari came on the final flying lap of the session, which began in damp but drying conditions.

It was 0.236 seconds quicker than the No. 50 Ferrari of Antonio Fuoco, whose 1:32.301 lap time held as the benchmark time for much of the second half of the 90-minute outing.

The No. 12 Hertz Team JOTA Cadillac V-Series.R of Alex Lynn was third on the time sheets, followed by the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari in fourth in the hands of James Calado and the sister No. 38 JOTA entry of Jenson Button completing the top-five.

Nearly all competitors started the session on wet weather tires before moving to slicks roughly 30 minutes into the running.

Augusto Farfus topped the time charts in LMGT3 in his No. 31 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

The Brazilian reeled off a best lap of 1:43.330 in full dry conditions to edge out the No. 78 Akkodis ASP Team Lexus RC F GT3 of Esteban Masson by 0.093 seconds.

WRT’s sister No. 46 BMW, featuring Italian hero Valentino Rossi, was third quickest in class with Kelvin van der Linde credited with setting the time.

A Full Course Yellow procedure was called roughly halfway into the session, in the only reported interruption or incident.

Free Practice 2 gets underway at 4 p.m. CEST (10 a.m EST).

RESULTS: Free Practice 1