Rebellion Racing has topped the timesheets in the opening session of the Total Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, with ByKolles in second ahead of both Toyotas.
The FIA World Endurance Championship returned for the first time since February’s Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of the Americas, and it was Norman Nato who set the pace in the #1 Rebellion R13-Gibson with a 02:02:469.
This was just over a second quicker than ByKolles’ #4 ENSO CLM P1/01-Gibson. The Austrian squad makes its return to the WEC for the first time since the Season 8 finale at Le Mans in 2019.
The two Toyotas, which have been slowed down significantly as a result of the Success Handicap at Spa, were third and fourth. The #7 car led the pair of TS050 Hybrids with a best time of 02:03:362, 0.192s up on the second Toyota.
Racing Team Nederland led the way in LMP2, where Job van Uitert returned to the #29 ORECA 07-Gibson for the first time since the Silverstone season opener in September.
Co-driver Giedo van der Garde led the way in a close session, posting a best time of 02:03:388 that was just 0.047s quicker than Anthony Davidson in the #38 JOTA entry. Championship leaders United Autosports were just over a tenth further back in third with their #22 ORECA.
Cool Racing, driving with a new colour scheme, was fourth ahead of the #37 Jackie Chan DC Racing ORECA 07-Gibson. The JOTA-run squad is facing uncertainty after Gabriel Aubry was suspected positive for COVID-19, and has gone into self-isolation.
Aubry’s ELMS squad, with which he competed last week, has also gone into self-isolation. Their #25 ORECA was the only car not to set a lap time.
Porsche on top in GTE Pro
Porsche bookmarked its return to the championship by posting the quickest time in GTE Pro. The #92 Porsche 911 RSR-19 topped the sheets with a 02:16:057
That time was 0.251s quicker than last year’s Spa 6H winner Maxime Martin in the #97 Aston Martin Vantage AMR. Martin partners with Alex Lynn, who was not present on Thursday due to his Formula E commitments in Berlin.
The second Porsche completed the top three in the 0.041s behind Martin. The two AF Corse Ferraris were fourth and fifth, while the championship leading #95 Aston Martin brought up the rear in class.
GTE Am championship leaders AF Corse led the way in the first practice session since the COVID-19 lockdown, with Francois Perrodo posting a 02:17:853 in the #83 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo to go 0.167s quicker than Aston Martin Racing’s GTE Am entry.
The top three was completed by Team Project 1’s #56 Porsche 911 RSR, sporting a new white-and-blue colour scheme.
