#7, TOYOTA GAZOO RACING, Toyota GR010 - Hybrid*, [Hybrid Class], Mike Conway (GBR), Kamui Kobayashi (JPN), Jose Maria Lopez (ARG). 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship, Francorchamps, Belgium. Photo © John D Stevens.

Toyota have finally begin to show their potential when they topped the third and final free practice session in Spa this afternoon. Kamui KOBAYASHI set a 2:02.518 in the troubled #7 Toyota GR010 HYBRID to take session honours, 0.35s ahead of teammate Kazuki NAKAJIMA in the #8 car. 

However, it was not a Hypercar lockout of the top three places as once again the #22 United Autosports Oreca set the fastest time of 2:03.761 in LMP2 to take third overall. The #36 RebAlpine, which lead FP2 ended this afternoon’s session in 6th place overall. 

#25, G-DRIVE RACING, Aurus 01 – Gibson, [Pro/Am Class], John Falb (USA), TBA, Rui Andrade (PRT). 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship, Francorchamps, Belgium. Photo © John D Stevens.
Behind United in the LMP2 ranks were the two G-Drive cars, the Pro-Am #25 setting the fastest time of the pairing with a 2:03.931 popped in by Roberto MERHI whilst the all-pro #26 car was 0.1s behind. Not unsurprisingly, the only Ligier, the #44 ARC Bratislava car was the slowest of the LMP2s with a best lap of 2:07.466. 

#91, PORSCHE GT TEAM, Porsche 911 RSR – 19, Gianmaria Bruni (ITA), Richard Lietz (AUT). 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship, Francorchamps, Belgium. Photo © John D Stevens.

In LMGTE Pro it was again the Porsche GT Team that lead the way; the #91 Porsche 911 RSR – 19 in the hands of Kevin ESTRE locking in a 2:11.936 whilst the sister car, under the control of Richard LIETZ was a mere 0.7s adrift. Third spot went to the AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE Evo of Miguel MOLINA with a significantly slower-than-the-Porsches 2:13.202. 

#56, TEAM PROJECT 1, Porsche 911 RSR – 19, Egidio Perfetti (NOR), Matteo Cairoli (ITA), Riccardo Pera (ITA). 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship, Francorchamps, Belgium. Photo © John D Stevens.

In the Am LMGTE class, Porsche again took the ‘virtual front row’ with Matteo CAIROLI taking the #56 Project 1 911 to a 2:13.515 on lap 11. Matt CAMPBELL in the #77 Dempsey – Proton Racing Porsche was under half a second behind setting a 2:13.936 whilst Alessio ROVERA in the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE Evo closed out the top three with a best lap of 2:14.099. The first of the Aston Martin entries was the #33 TF Sport car in 7th place setting a 2:14.670. 

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