Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA‘s Alex Lynn emerged as the fastest driver in Qatar WEC FP2, setting an impressive benchmark in what promises to be a fiercely competitive 2025 FIA WEC season.
The second free practice session for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season opener, the Qatar 1812km, delivered a thrilling showcase of speed and precision at the Lusail International Circuit.
Driving the #12 Cadillac V-Series.R, Alex Lynn clocked a best lap time of 1:42.228, securing his position at the top of the Qatar WEC FP2 leaderboard, highlighting Cadillac’s strong form heading into the season.
Lynn’s performance was particularly notable as he outpaced Ferrari’s Antonio Fuoco, who piloted the #50 Ferrari 499P to second place with a time just three-tenths slower. Fuoco’s consistency demonstrated Ferrari’s readiness to challenge for top honors this season.
The third spot was claimed by BMW’s Rene Rast in the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, who trailed Lynn by nearly half a second. Rast’s effort underscored BMW’s potential to be a serious contender in the Hypercar class, despite facing stiff competition from other manufacturers.
Meanwhile, Sebastien Bourdais driving the sister #38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA secured fourth place, further solidifying Cadillac’s dominance in Qatar WEC FP2. Alessandro Pier Guidi in the #51 Ferrari rounded out the top five, showcasing Ferrari’s depth of talent and competitiveness.
Toyota GAZOO Racing, aiming to defend its manufacturers’ championship title, saw Brendon Hartley place sixth in the #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid. However, the team appeared slightly off the pace compared to its rivals.
Alpine also made a mark in Qatar WEC FP2 with Mick Schumacher finishing seventh in the #36 Alpine A424. Schumacher’s performance hinted at Alpine’s potential to shake up the Hypercar hierarchy this year.
Meanwhile, Robert Kubica in the #83 AF Corse Ferrari and Charles Milesi in the #35 Alpine secured eighth and ninth fastest laps respectively. Raffaele Marciello rounded out the top ten in the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8.
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Meanwhile, Porsche Penske Motorsport’s pair of factory 963s were only 12th- and 14th-fastest, with Kevin Estre setting the best time in the No. 6 car.
The #007 Aston Martin Valkyrie ended up the fastest of the two brand-new entries in 15th after the sister #009 car returned to action after hitting trouble in first practice.
The session ran smoothly overall, with only minor interruptions due to local yellow flags and one full-course yellow caused by Maxime Martin’s stranded #61 Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG GT3. Martin managed to recover quickly, minimizing disruptions for other drivers.
United Autosports’ Sean Gelael tops in LMGT3
In the LMGT3 category, Sean Gelael delivered an outstanding performance to top in the #95 United Autosports McLaren 720S GT3 Evo.
Gelael set a class-leading time of 1:54.557, demonstrating McLaren’s strong pace in this highly competitive category.
The ASP Lexus RC F GT3 cars followed closely behind, with Ben Barnicoat and Jose Maria Lopez taking second and third places in the #78 and #87 Lexuses, respectively. The AF Corse Ferrari GT3s also showed promise, with Simon Mann and Davide Rigon securing fourth and fifth positions.
The windy conditions at Lusail played a significant role during Qatar WEC FP2, impacting straight-line speeds across all teams compared to last week’s Prologue test.
Drivers reported losing as much as 10 km/h on straights due to headwinds, which affected their ability to fully utilize top gear. Despite these challenges, teams adapted well to optimize their setups for race day.
As teams prepare for final practice and qualifying sessions on Thursday, all eyes will be on how they adapt their strategies and setups under changing conditions at Lusail International Circuit.
The Qatar 1812km promises to deliver an unforgettable start to the 2025 FIA WEC season as manufacturers battle for supremacy across both Hypercar and LMGT3 classes.
