Milesi Fastest in Red-Flagged, Extended Spa FP1

Charles Milesi set the fastest time in a red-flagged opening Free Practice session for the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, which was extended by 40 minutes after a crash involving Iron Dames and United Autosports.

The Alpine Hypercar driver steered the No. 65 Panis Racing Oreca 07 Gibson to a best lap of 2:01.385, 0.622 seconds clear of the No. 37 Cool Racing Oreca piloted by Ritomo Miyata.

The pair of Inter Europol Competition Orecas ended the session third and fourth with Luca Ghiotto’s No. 34 machine narrowly ahead of the No. 43 sister car driven by Tom Dillmann.

Louis Deletraz completed the overall top five in the No. 14 AO by TF Oreca, 0.835 seconds behind pacesetter Milesi.

Friday’s opening practice session was halted for an hour when an incident on the Kemmel Straight involving the No. 23 United Autosports Oreca and No. 85 Iron Dames Porsche 911 GT3 R caused a red flag.

Both Bijoy Garg and Rahel Frey were reported to be uninjured after the crash, while the session was extended for an additional 40 minutes to compensate for the stoppage.

Garg’s United stablemate Filipe Albuquerque led the LMP2 Pro-Am ranks in sixth overall, while Manuel Espirito Santo went quickest aboard the No. 17 Cool Racing Ligier JS P320 Nissan in LMP3.

Daniel Serra led a Ferrari 1-2 in LMGT3 by steering the No. 57 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 to a best lap of 2:15.786, 0.211 seconds ahead of Formula Racing driver Conrad Laursen.

An additional red flag was triggered when Duncan Cameron hit the barriers at Blanchimont aboard the No. 55 Spirit of Race Ferrari 296 GT3.

The second Free Practice session at Spa is scheduled for Saturday at 10:15 a.m. CEST (4:15 a.m. EDT).

RESULTS: Free Practice 1