Masson Leads the Way in Drying Second Spa Practice

Reigning European Le Mans Series champion Esteban Masson set the pace during a drying second practice session for the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

The session began with a wet track but conditions steadily improved and the lap times ended up just a second adrift of the pace in the completely dry FP1.

Two-time 2026 race winner Masson clocked a 2:03.143 in the final minutes to set the benchmark at the wheel of the No. 29 Forestier Racing by Panis Oreca 07 Gibson, which ended up nearly a second faster than the rest.

Second quickest was Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Program member Valerio Rinicella as the FP1 pacesetter managed a 2:04.273 in the No. 18 IDEC Sport machine.

He was two tenths faster than points leader Gregoire Saucy in the No. 22 United Autosports entry, while Matthieu Vaxiviere topped the Pro-Am competitors in fourth overall at the wheel of the No. 83 AF Corse Oreca with a 2:04.553.

Fifth was Mike Rockenfeller in the No. 9 Proton Competition machine on a 2:04.796, while the top-six was rounded out by the No. 37 CLX Motorsport entry of Theodor Jensen on 2:04.860.

The sole Duqueine D09 Toyota in the field topped the LMP3 division thanks to a late effort from Pierre-Alexandre Provost, whose 2:16.540 put the R-ace GP driver just over half a second quicker than his rivals.

Second-fastest was FP1 pacesetter Louis Iglesias aboard the No. 17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325 Toyota on a 2:17.145, while Sebastian Gravlund completed the top-three in the No. 35 Ultimate Ligier with a 2:17.385.

LMGT3 was also headed by a car that was the only example of its kind in the ELMS field as the sole United Autosports McLaren 720S GT3 Evo of Wayne Boyd ended up fastest on a 2:18.893.

Boyd was fractionally quicker than Riccardo Agostini in the No. 50 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, while another Ferrari — this time a Kessel Racing entry — was third fastest thanks to Fran Rueda’s 2:19.580 in the No. 74 example.

The Iron Lynx squad continued its strong form from FP1 with Maxime Martin occupying fourth in the No. 62 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo on a 2:19.654, while the No. 86 GR Racing Ferrari of Mex Jansen completed the top-five with a 2:19.729.

Despite the tricky conditions, there was only one major interruption when red flags came out at the mid-point of the session to retrieve debris from Blanchimont.

Attention now turns to qualifying, with LMGT3 competitors due to get proceedings under way at 12:30 p.m. CEST (6:30 a.m. EST).

RESULTS: Free Practice 2