Antonio Felix da Costa topped the timesheets in his first public look as a manufacturing facility Alpine driver within the World Endurance Championship’s Bahrain rookie check.
The previous Porsche star, who joins the French squad subsequent yr as a part of a twin WEC/System E programme, set a greatest time of 1m49.214s within the #36 Alpine A424 LMDh within the afternoon session.
He went 0.159s faster than present Alpine racer Frederic Makowiecki, who accomplished a number of set up laps within the morning earlier than handing over the automobile to the Portuguese driver.
New Peugeot signing Nick Cassidy accomplished 59 laps throughout the 2 9X8s, ending the day with the third-quickest particular person time – a 1m49.376s. He was the quickest ‘actual’ rookie within the Bahrain check, with da Costa having already contested one season in Hypercar with Jota Porsche in 2023.
Marco Sorensen was a strong fourth within the #009 Aston Martin Valkyrie LMH, simply over 4 tenths off the outright tempo.
#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P
Photograph by: AG Photograph – Daniele Paglino
Lilou Wadoux impressed with fifth within the #51 Ferrari 499P, persevering with her gradual integration into the Hypercar class following earlier check outings with Toyota and Ferrari.
Newly-crowned world champion James Calado was subsequent up in the identical #51 Ferrari as Wadoux, whereas Charles Weerts delivered a robust Hypercar debut to complete seventh within the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8.
Antonio Fuoco was eighth-quickest within the #50 Ferrari, whereas the highest 10 was rounded out by Cassidy – who additionally turned laps within the #93 Peugeot – and the #8 Toyota of Brendon Hartley.
With race drivers actively collaborating within the check, a number of debutants completed decrease down the order.
Mattia Drudi was Thirteenth-quickest within the Aston Martin, with Kelvin van der Linde one other three locations behind on his step as much as the BMW M Hybrid V8.
The #7 Toyota was shared by Tremendous GT/Tremendous System driver Sacha Fenestraz and Lexus IMSA ace Ben Barnicoat, with Fenestraz’s greatest time of 1m51.302s placing him two tenths away from Barnicoat.
#87 Akkodis Asp Group Lexus RC F LMGT3
Photograph by: AG Photograph – Daniele Paglino
The LMGT3 class was led by Hadrien David within the #87 ASP Lexus RC F GT3, a day after the French squad took victory within the Bahrain 8 Hours.
Nonetheless, ASP additionally prompted a chronic purple flag earlier within the morning, with the #78 Lexus catching fireplace on the ultimate nook whereas Tom van Rompuy was on the wheel.
Second place went to Thomas Fleming within the title-winning #92 Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R, whereas Jose Maria Lopez was categorised third within the #87 Lexus he shared with David.
Nicola Lacorte was fourth within the #54 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3, whereas former Williams System 1 driver Logan Sargeant ended up a strong fifth within the classification with a greatest time of 2m02.717s within the #77 Proton Ford Mustang GT3.
Matias Zagazeta prompted the second purple flag of the day, within the afternoon session, after he stopped on monitor within the #21 Ferrari.
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