Kobayashi Tops Final Practice in Changeable Conditions

Kamui Kobayashi was quickest in the third and final Free Practice session ahead of the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in a session that saw a flurry of improvements in the closing minutes as the track dried up.

Kobayashi charged to a best lap of 2:08.702 aboard the No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid in the dying moments of Friday’s 60-minute session preceding qualifying.

The Japanese driver, like a good number of his Hypercar rivals, had switched to slick tires in the closing stages as many teams attempted using multiple tire compounds throughout as conditions changed. Three compounds are available in Hypercar this weekend.

Kobayashi’s lap wasn’t without peril, running wide at the exit of Blanchimont after passing the No. 60 Iron Lynx Porsche 911 RSR-19 of Matteo Cressoni.

Earl Bamber came second aboard the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R having initially jumped to the top as times rapidly came down in the final few minutes by setting a 2:09.436.

Ferdinand Habsburg, driving the No. 31 Team WRT Oreca 07 Gibson, took third overall and led LMP2 by reeling off a 2:10.268 to stay ahead of Hertz Team JOTA’s Will Stevens aboard the No. 38 Porsche 963.

Vector Sport’s Gabriel Aubry rounded out the overall top five, leading the second Toyota of Ryo Hirakawa, the No. 3 Cadillac piloted by Sebastien Bourdais and United Autosports’ Filipe Albuquerque.

The overall top ten was completed by the No. 50 Ferrari 499P of Antonio Fuoco and Josh Pierson aboard the No. 23 United Autosports Oreca.

The changeable conditions meant Hypercar drivers struggled at times to keep their cars on track.

Bamber spun the No. 2 Cadillac at Turn 10 during his final laps on wet tires before switching to slicks, after which the car would vault up the order.

Alessandro Pier Guidi spun the No. 51 Ferrari at Les Combes under a Full Course Yellow triggered by a spin into the barriers for GTE-Am driver Lilou Wadoux aboard the No. 83 Richard Mille AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE Evo.

The No. 5 Porsche 963 of Fred Makowiecki had a more serious moment when he ran the car into the gravel at Campus, making light contact with the barrier but managing to drive back to the pits.

GTE-Am was led by the No. 60 Iron Lynx Porsche driven by Cressoni, who posted a best lap of 2:25.726.

Casper Stevenson came second aboard the No. 777 D’station Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR, while the Richard Mille-backed Ferrari rounded out the top three in the hands of Alessio Rovera.

AF Corse’s No. 54 Ferrari turned laps after repairs last night, following an accident in FP2. The other Ferrari involved AF Corse’s No. 21 car, did not take part in final practice with the team bringing a replacement chassis over from its headquarters in Italy.

Qualifying for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps starts at 5 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET) with a session for GTE-Am. The Hypercar teams take to the track last at 5:50 p.m. local time (11:50 a.m. ET).

RESULTS: Free Practice 3