In the world of endurance racing, every second counts and the latest practice session for the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship 8 Hours of Bahrain showcased just how competitive this thrilling motorsport can be.
Held on October 31, 2024, the second free practice for WEC 8H Bahrain saw Dries Vanthoor put BMW WRT on the top of the timesheets setting the stage for an exciting final round of the season.
With 36 entrants in both the Hypercar and LMGT3 categories, the session was crucial for teams to gather data and fine-tune their setups ahead of the season finale.
The WEC 8H Bahrain FP2 session lasted for 90 minutes and took place in cooler conditions compared to the earlier practice session. Ambient and track temperatures were reported to be over 10 degrees Celsius lower than those experienced during FP1, which had taken place in the early afternoon.
The huge temperature drop played a vital role in how teams approached their strategies, especially as they prepared for the transition from daytime to nighttime racing that characterizes the Bahrain circuit.
As the session commenced, drivers wasted no time in hitting the track, eager to improve upon their earlier performances. The atmosphere was electric, with teams keenly observing data from their cars to optimize tire choices and aerodynamic settings. The cooler conditions allowed for quicker lap times, and it became evident early on that FP2 would be a tightly contested affair.
Dries Vanthoor’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. Driving the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 Hypercar, he clocked a blistering lap time of 1:48.257 placing him at the top of the timesheets.
The performance not only highlighted BMW WRT’s competitive edge but also marked a significant moment for Vanthoor as he aimed for his first victory of the season.
Following closely behind Vanthoor was Matt Campbell from Porsche Penske, who secured second place with a time of 1:48.311 in the #5 Porsche 963. His consistent pace throughout the session demonstrated the manufacturer’s strong showing as they looked to challenge BMW WRT’s dominance.
Antonio Giovinazzi, driving for AF Corse in the #51 Ferrari 499P, claimed third with a time of 1:48.472. Giovinazzi’s performance was critical as Maranello sought to regain momentum after a mixed bag of results earlier in the season.
Nyck de Vries was fourth fastest in the #7 Toyota GR010 HYBRID entry with a time of 1:48.647. Toyota Gazoo Racing has been a formidable force in endurance racing, and de Vries’ strong showing made it four different manufacturers inside the top four, just under four tenths off the pace.
Meanwhile, Antonio Fuoco completed the top five for Ferrari with a time of 1:48.701 aboard the #50 AF Corse Ferrari 499P ahead of Ryo Hirakawa in the #8 Toyota and Robin Frijns in the No. 20 BMW M Hybrid V8.
The #38 Hertz Team JOTA and the #99 Proton Competition customer Porsche 963s were eighth and ninth fastest respectively, as the #35 Alpine A424 rounded out the top ten.
The championship-leading #6 Porsche was only 12th fastest in the hands of Kevin Estre, 0.785 seconds off the pace, behind the solo Cadillac V-Series.R in 11th. Peugeot, which topped the opening session earlier on Thursday, brought up the rear with its pair of 9X8s in 17th and 18th places.
The LMGT3 category also saw impressive performances during FP2 as Esteban Masson took top honors with a lap time of 2:02.246 in the #87 Akkodis ASP Lexus RC F LMGT3. His performance was pivotal as Lexus aimed to solidify its standing within this competitive class.
Following Masson was Hiroshi Koizumi in the #82 TF Sport Corvette Z06 LMGT3 with a time of 2:02.901, showcasing Corvette’s continued evolution within endurance racing.
Francois Heriau from AF Corse secured third position in LMGT3 with a lap time of 2:02.991 aboard his #55 Ferrari 296 LMGT3. The performance from Heriau highlighted Ferrari’s depth in talent across both classes as they sought to capitalize on any opportunities during the WEC 8H Bahrain season finale.
The Iron Dames team also made its presence felt with Sarah Bovy driving her Lamborghini Huracan LMGT3 EVO2 to a fourth-place finish with a time of 2:03.095. Bovy’s efforts underscored the importance of diversity and representation within motorsport while also proving that female drivers can compete at the highest levels.
Conrad Laursen rounded out the top five in LMGT3 for Akkodis ASP with a time of 2:03.444, further emphasizing Lexus’ competitive edge within this category.
Despite some minor disruptions during FP2—most notably a full-course yellow flag due to debris at Turn 8—there were no major incidents reported that would significantly impact any team’s preparations for the race ahead.
As teams wrapped up FP2, they began analyzing data collected throughout both practice sessions to refine their setups further ahead of qualifying and ultimately the WEC 8H Bahrain race on November 2nd.
The final free practice session is scheduled for tomorrow from noon to 1 PM local time (9 AM to 10 AM GMT), offering one last opportunity for teams to dial in their cars before they hit the track for qualifying.
