The opening day of track activities at the Lone Star Le Mans, the sixth round of the 2025 FIA WEC, unfolded today with two free practice sessions at the Circuit of The Americas, near Austin, Texas. As tradition dictates, the Friday programme featured two timed sessions.

The 499Ps of the Ferrari – AF Corse crew completed 148 laps, while the number 83 fielded by the private AF Corse team covered 75 laps, with the crews focusing on set-up work ahead of the race weekend, when very high temperatures are expected.

Free Practice 1. The session, which started in late morning with air and track temperatures of over 34 and 44°C respectively, then rising to 36 and 46°C, was marked by two red flags and was brought to a halt a few minutes earlier than scheduled.

The fastest Ferrari was the number 83 of Ye-Kubica-Hanson, classified third, with a best lap of 1’53’’728, just 00’’144 behind the number 12 Cadillac, leader of the session. Fifth and sixth place went to the two red-liveried cars, with the number 51 crew stopping the clocks at 1’53’’889 and the number 50 at 1’53’’972.

Free Practice 2. In the afternoon, the 90-minute session took place in similar weather conditions, with clear skies and air and track temperatures rising above 38°C and 48°C, respectively.

The Ferrari – AF Corse team continued their planned work, alternating all drivers at the wheel and setting the second fastest time with car number 51, which recorded a best lap time of 1’52’’407, 0’’461 seconds behind the number 20 BMW. The sister Ferrari car, number 50, finished eighth with a best time of 1’53’’096.

The AF Corse 499P number 83 finished fifth with a time of 1’52’’746.

The programme. The Texan circuit, hosting for the second year running the third-to-last round of the World Endurance Championship season, will tomorrow, Saturday, 6 September, stage the third free practice session (11 a.m. to 12 p.m.), followed by Qualifying and the Hyperpole of the Hypercar class at 3.40 p.m. and 4 p.m. respectively. The six-hour race will get underway on Sunday, 7 September, at 1 p.m. (all times local).