Photo: MPS Agency
Robin Frijns set the quickest time of the FIA World Endurance Championship Prologue in Qatar during the fourth and final session.
The Dutchman steered the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8 to a best lap of 1:38.971, producing a time that was not only quicker than all previous three sessions, but also faster than last year’s pole position time for the Qatar 1812km set by Matt Campbell.
Sebastien Bourdais was second in the No. 38 Cadillac V-Series.R, 0.145 seconds behind Frijns but just 0.025 seconds quicker than Robert Kubica in the No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P.
The second BMW slotted into fourth with Dries Vanthoor at the wheel, while the top five was competed by the No. 12 Cadillac piloted by Alex Lynn.
Antonio Fuoco’s No. 50 Ferrari was sixth ahead of the fastest of the Alpine A424s in the hands of Mick Schumacher and the No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid driven by Nyck de Vries.
The No. 51 Ferrari and No. 8 Toyota completed the overall top ten, driven by Antonio Giovinazzi and Sebastien Buemi, respectively.
Vista AF Corse went 1-2 to top the LMGT3 ranks, spearheaded by a 1:54.790 set by the No. 21 Ferrari 296 GT3 of Simon Mann.
Mann’s stablemate Francesco Castellacci was a mere 0.020 seconds back in the No. 54 sister car, while Heart of Racing Team completed the top three with its No. 27 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo driven by Zach Robichon.
The session was interrupted by a single red flag for debris, although a pair of Full Course Yellows were triggered by spinning Hypercar runners.
First, Bourdais spun the No. 38 Cadillac and got beached at Turn 13 in the opening minutes and needed to be recovered.
Ross Gunn suffered a similar fate in the No. 007 Aston Martin Valkyrie at Turn 4-5 with an hour and 42 minutes to go.
With the Prologue running now completed, track action continues with the two opening Free Practice sessions for the Qatar 1812km on Wednesday.
RESULTS: 4th Test Session
GT World Challenge Asia
33 Cars, Eight Manufacturers on Full-Season Entry
