Hanley Fastest in Opening Imola Practice

Ben Hanley set the fastest time for United Autosports in the opening Free Practice session ahead of this weekend’s 4 Hours of Imola.

The British racer steered the No. 22 Oreca 07 Gibson to a best lap of 1:31.878, outpacing Algarve Pro Racing driver Theo Pourchaire by 0.266 seconds.

Nick Yelloly was third in the No. 43 Inter Europol Competition machine, followed by Maceo Capietto and Esteban Masson for Iron Lynx-Proton and VDS Panis Racing, respectively.

Pietro Fittipaldi slotted into sixth in the No. 10 Vector Sport Oreca, followed by the No. 29 TDS Racing entry that led LMP2 Pro-Am in the hands of Mathias Beche.

Reshad de Gerus picked up eighth behind the wheel of the No. 30 Duqueine Team Oreca, with Luca Ghiotto and Daniel Juncadella completing the top ten.

In the LMP3 ranks, Duqueine outpaced Ligier as Griffin Peebles topped the class in the No. 12 WTM by Rinaldi Racing Duqueine D09 Toyota.

Peebles’ best lap of 1:39.787 was 0.064 seconds faster than the No. 68 M Racing Ligier JS P325 Toyota of Quentin Antonel, while Theodor Jensen was third in the No. 17 CLX Motorsport Ligier.

Charlie Eastwood put the No. 82 TF Sport Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R first in the LMGT3 category, leading the class with a best lap of 1:42.827.

He led a pair of Ferraris in the process, with Davide Rigon’s No. 51 AF Corse 296 GT3 second followed by the No. 57 Kessel Racing-entered example in the hands of Daniel Serra.

The second Free Practice session for the 4 Hours of Imola is scheduled for Saturday at 10:50 a.m. CEST (4:50 a.m. EST).

RESULTS: Free Practice 1