The third free practice session for the 2026 6 Hours of Imola concluded on Saturday morning at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, setting the stage for qualifying in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Italian round. Held under clear skies and track temperatures averaging 28°C, the 90-minute session saw teams fine-tune setups ahead of the afternoon’s hyperpole shootout, with lap times reflecting both the circuit’s technical demands and the evolving balance of performance among the Hypercar class entries.
Toyota Gazoo Racing emerged as the pace-setter in FP3, with Sebastien Buemi posting the fastest lap of the session in the #8 GR010 Hybrid at 1:46.218, just 0.142 seconds ahead of his teammate Brendon Hartley in the sister #7 car. The Japanese manufacturer’s dual-car effort continued to display strong race-pace consistency, particularly through the Variante Alta and Rivazza sectors, where tire degradation appeared manageable despite the rising ambient temperature. Hartley’s lap came late in the session after a series of aerodynamic adjustments aimed at improving rear stability under braking.
Ferrari’s AF Corse squad secured third-fastest time through Antonio Fuoco, who clocked a 1:46.503 in the #50 499P. The Italian manufacturer showed improved straight-line speed compared to earlier practice, gaining approximately 8 km/h on the start-finish straight relative to FP2, though engineers noted a slight loss of front-end grip in Turn 1 that required further calibration. Robert Shwartzman, driving the #51 entry, focused primarily on long-run simulations, completing 23 consecutive laps on a single set of medium compound tires before reporting moderate graining on the left-rear.
Porsche Penske Motorsport continued its steady progression, with Mathieu Jaminet setting the fourth-quickest time in the #6 Porsche 963 at 1:46.789. The German manufacturer’s effort emphasized energy recovery system efficiency, particularly through the Tamburello chicane, where engineers harvested additional kinetic energy during braking phases. Teammate Felipe Nasr reported no mechanical issues during his stint but indicated that the car’s balance remained sensitive to wind direction changes across the pit straight, a factor expected to influence qualifying trim later in the day.
In the LMP2 class, United Autosports USA claimed the top spot with Phil Hanson logging a 1:48.914 in the #22 Oreca 07-Gibson, edging out Louis Delétraz in the #31 Team WRT entry by 0.187 seconds. The session saw minimal disruption from traffic, though several Hypercar drivers expressed frustration over slower LMP2 cars failing to yield consistently during flying laps, particularly exiting Rivazza and approaching Tamburello. Race control issued two track-limit warnings during FP3 for violations at Turn 1, though no penalties were applied as the infractions did not confer a timing advantage.
GTE Am competition remained tightly contested, with the #85 Iron Dames entry of Rahel Frey setting the benchmark at 1:54.302, just 0.09 seconds ahead of the #56 Project 1 Motorsport Porsche of Matteo Cressoni. Frey’s lap came early in her stint, before tire temperatures stabilized, highlighting the challenge of extracting a single flying lap in the amateur-driven category where co-driver rotations limit track time. The all-female Iron Dames lineup continued to receive strong support from fans in the paddock, with several citing their consistency across changing conditions as a key factor in their mid-table positioning.
Weather forecasts for the remainder of the weekend indicate a low chance of precipitation, with temperatures expected to peak at 31°C during qualifying and potentially affect tire strategy for the 4 p.m. Local start of the 6 Hours of Imola. Teams are anticipated to adjust cooling configurations overnight, particularly for the Hypercar class, where sustained high-speed sections place significant load on brake ducts and radiators. The circuit’s elevation changes and limited overtaking zones outside the pit straight and Variante Bassa make qualifying position especially critical for race outcome.
As competitors prepare for hyperpole at 3:30 p.m. Local time (13:30 UTC), the focus shifts to extracting maximum performance from a single timed lap, with tire warm-up and fuel load optimization becoming decisive factors. Archysport will provide live coverage of qualifying followed by the race start, with updates available through our official channels. Share your thoughts on the FP3 results in the comments below, and stay tuned for continued analysis throughout the weekend.
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