Surprises in store as curtain opens on 2021 WEC season

The new WEC season began with a number of surprises in FP1 for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The #22 United Autosports LMP2 car was quickest overall, with the brand-new LMH machinery lagging behind.

Teething problems for the new Toyota GR010 Hybrid saw the #7 and #8 cars back in P7 and P10 respectively, between 0.5s and 1s off the pace. Issues with balance of performance, which has been introduced as a new element of the LMH category, also played a role.

Reigning LMP2 champions took the spoils with a 2:04.083, two tenths ahead of LMH debutants Alpine Elf Matmut in their #36 Alpine A480 – Gibson. Third fastest was the #70 Realteam Racing Oreca LMP2 machine.

Porsche just ahead of Ferrari in GTE Pro

FP1 honours in GTE Pro went the way of Porsche but it was a close-run thing with the Ferraris. Kévin Estre was the fastest driver in the class with a 2:13.466, with Richard Lietz in the #91 machine posting the second-fastest time of 2:13.500

The AF Corse Ferraris were third and fourth fastest and just a couple of tenths behind the Porsches, which promises a close class battle come Saturday. Corvette Racing were the seventh-fastest in GTE Pro and GTE Am and they get to grips with the European conditions.

Team Project 1 showed a strong hand in FP1 with the session-fastest time in GTE Am. It was an all-Porsche affair at the top of the timesheets with Dempsey-Proton Racing second- and third-fastest.

Click here for a rundown of all the FP1 times.