The FIA World Endurance Championship season kicked off in spectacular fashion at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, where Ferrari once again asserted itself at the front.
After topping four of five test and practice sessions, Ferrari entered qualifying as the clear favorite — but faced significantly stronger competition in the decisive Hyperpole shootout.
Driving the Ferrari 499P (Ferrari), Antonio Giovinazzi had to dig deep to secure his fourth career pole position, delivering a decisive lap at the very end.
Closest Hyperpole in WEC History
The Hyperpole session turned into the tightest battle ever seen in the championship.
The Toyota GR010 Hybrid (Toyota) of Ryō Hirakawa briefly held provisional pole after a strong late lap.
But Giovinazzi responded on his final attempt, snatching pole by just 0.011 seconds, sending the home crowd into celebration.
Top 4 results:
- 1st: Ferrari 499P (Antonio Giovinazzi)
- 2nd: Toyota GR010 Hybrid (Ryō Hirakawa)
- 3rd: Ferrari 499P (Antonio Fuoco)
- 4th: Peugeot 9X8 (Malthe Jakobsen)
The top four were covered by just 0.073 seconds, a record margin.
Ferrari Leads, But Race Wide Open
Despite strong form in practice, Ferrari faced serious pressure from both Toyota and Peugeot.
Giovinazzi acknowledged the increased challenge: “It was much harder than last year. We knew Toyota would be a threat, and the hotter conditions made the car more difficult to drive.”
He also revealed he had even more pace in hand: “I had an even quicker lap before making a mistake, but I managed to deliver when it mattered.”
The competitiveness extended throughout the field, with just 0.674 seconds covering the top ten.
Other highlights:
- Cadillac V-Series.R (Hertz Team JOTA) secured 5th with Norman Nato
- Toyota lines up on the front row for its 100th WEC start
- Genesis made its debut with both GMR-001 prototypes in 16th and 17th
The 6 Hours of Imola starts Sunday at 13:00 CEST.
