Masson Sets the Pace in First Imola Practice

Reigning European Le Mans Series champion Esteban Masson set the pace during a disrupted first practice session for the category’s Imola round.

Masson clocked a 1:31.580 in the No. 29 Forestier Racing by Panis Oreca 07 Gibson in the opening stages of the 90-minute FP1 to finish up with the fastest time by nearly half a second.

Second quickest was Jake Hughes at the wheel of the No. 25 Algarve Pro Racing entry on a 1:32.029, while he was in turn fractionally faster than Jack Doohan in the No. 27 Nielsen Racing machine — the Australian having posted a 1:32.117.

Fourth place went to the best of the Pro-Am entries, the No. 14 TDS Racing car of Scott Huffaker, who registered a 1:32.314, while the top-five was completed by the No. 28 IDEC Sport Oreca of Job van Uitert, thanks to his 1:32.337.

However, van Uitert was in strife shortly after posting that time as he stopped on track, bringing out the red flags roughly a third of the way through the session with the IDEC entry not subsequently returning to the circuit.

No-one inside the top-six improved after that stoppage, which was followed by two brief full-course yellow periods.

Notably in 12th spot, and sixth in Pro-Am, was Maceo Capietto, who was a late call-up to replace Sebastian Alvarez aboard the No. 3 DKR Engineering Oreca.

In other DKR news, its No. 4 Ligier JS P325 Toyota of Wyatt Brichacek enjoyed a half-second advantage at the top of the LMP3 leaderboard, thanks to a 1:39.514 time posted early in the session.

Matteo Quintarelli climbed up to second in the No. 8 Team Virage Ligier after being one of a few drivers to improve following the red flag.

Quintarelli’s 1:40.058 headed a cluster of times that were very evenly-matched, with it being just five thousandths faster than Henry Cubides Olarte in the points-leading No. 13 Inter Europol Competition Ligier.

Series debutant Louis Iglesias in the No. 17 CLX Motorsport Ligier also clocked a 1:40.081 to round out the close trio.

There was a slightly smaller gap at the head of the LMGT3 rankings with the No. 59 Racing Spirit of Leman Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo of Marius Fossard leading the way with a 1:42.492.

That was two tenths faster than the 1:42.728 that Charlie Eastwood managed later in the session at the wheel of the No. 33 TF Sport Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R.

Third quickest was LMGT3 points leader Daniel Serra in the No. 57 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, who was half a tenth adrift of Eastwood.

The top-five in the class was completed by the No. 77 Proton Competition Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo of Harry King and the No. 62 Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo of Maxime Martin.

King, who was back on ELMS duty at Imola after missing the previous Paul Ricard event due to an IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship clash, had a new teammate in the form of Martin Berry, who was a late call-up to replace ‘Bankcy’.

There will be a further half-hour session for FIA-graded Bronze drivers this afternoon, before the whole field returns to action with another 90-minute practice on Saturday at 10:50 a.m. CEST (4:50 a.m. EST).

RESULTS: Free Practice 1