Cadillac's impressive showing in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps FIA World Endurance Championship round has left many in awe, but it's not just the top spot that's worth discussing. The tight margins between the top-four cars, separated by just a tenth of a second, showcase the intense competition in the Hypercar class. While Cadillac driver Will Stevens set the pace with a 2:02.379 lap, it's worth noting that his time was around half a second slower than Jules Gounon's leading effort in FP2 on Thursday. This highlights the ongoing battle for supremacy in the series.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the emergence of Aston Martin as a strong contender. Harry Tincknell's third-place finish in the No. 007 Valkyrie with a 2:02.469 is a testament to the team's consistent performance across the Spa practice sessions. The second Cadillac, driven by Jack Aitken, completed the top-four with a 2:02.483, further emphasizing the competitiveness of the Hypercar class.
The battle for fifth and sixth positions was equally intense, with the two factory Ferrari 499Ps occupying those spots. Antonio Giovinazzi in the No. 51 car went two tenths faster than Antonio Fuoco in the No. 50 machine, showcasing the prowess of Ferrari in the LMGT3 category. However, it's worth mentioning that the best of the Peugeot 9X8s, driven by Stoffel Vandoorne, finished in seventh place, while the sister car occupied ninth spot.
The French machines, represented by the No. 35 Alpine A424 and the other Alpine driven by Gounon, rounded out a top-ten that was split by just seven tenths of a second. This highlights the tight competition within the field, with only minor adjustments needed to secure a top-ten finish.
One thing that immediately stands out is the low-key performance of the Toyota and WRT BMW squads. While the best of the Toyota TR010 Hybrids, driven by Brendon Hartley, finished in 13th spot, the BMW M Hybrid V8 crew failed to set a truly representative lap time in the hour-long session. This suggests that these teams may need to step up their game to remain competitive.
What many people don't realize is the impact of the full-course yellow and FCY periods on the session. The late full-course yellow to retrieve Richard Lietz’s stricken No. 92 Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo, which was fifth in the LMGT3 timesheet, limited the potential for fast times in the closing minutes of FP3. Similarly, the two brief FCY periods earlier in the session to retrieve debris from the track could have affected the performance of the drivers and teams.
In the LMGT3 category, the battle for the top spot was equally intense. The pair of Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evos were split by just 0.004 seconds at the head of the timesheets, with Finn Gehrsitz in the No. 58 entry being fractionally quicker. Tom Fleming in the No. 10 car, which suffered late trouble at Imola, had to settle for second spot. The third position was secured by the No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, driven by Simon Mann, but the rest of the field were over a second adrift of the pacesetting McLarens.
As the event progresses to qualifying, the first session for LMGT3 competitors is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. CEST (8:30 a.m. EST), followed by the Hypercar contenders at 3:20 p.m. CEST (9:20 a.m. EST). The close margins and intense competition in the Hypercar class suggest that the qualifying session will be a thrilling spectacle, with teams and drivers pushing the limits to secure the best possible positions on the grid.
In my opinion, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps FIA World Endurance Championship round has showcased the incredible talent and skill of the drivers and teams. The tight margins and intense competition in the Hypercar class, as well as the LMGT3 category, have made for a thrilling spectacle. As the event progresses, I anticipate further excitement and drama as the teams and drivers strive for supremacy on the track.
