After completing a comprehensive testing programme during Tuesday\u2019s Prologue, the two TR010 HYBRIDs were back on track in Italy for a pair of 90-minute free practice sessions. Unlike the rain-affected Prologue, Friday\u2019s action took place in warm temperatures, under clear skies.<\/p>\n
Strong teamwork contributed to another productive day, which finished with the #7 TR010 HYBRID of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries second fastest overall, just 0.114secs behind the pace-setting #35 Alpine. S\u00e9bastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ry\u014d Hirakawa were 10th, half a second further back, in their #8 TR010 HYBRID.<\/p>\n
The fastest laps were set by Nyck and Ry\u014d respectively at the beginning of second practice, on new tyres and with lower fuel loads. Aside from these qualifying simulations, both sessions were used for comparing mechanical and aerodynamic settings. Data gathered during Friday\u2019s three hours of practice around the 4.909km Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari will help the team optimise car set-up and tyre strategy for the race, Toyota\u2019s 100th with hybrid power in WEC.<\/p>\n
Preparation will continue during a final free practice on Saturday morning, before the starting grid is decided by qualifying and Hyperpole, starting for Hypercars from 3.10pm CEST. The race, when the team will aim to repeat its 2024 Imola victory, begins on Sunday at 1pm local time.<\/p>\n
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Quotes:<\/p>\n
Kamui Kobayashi (Team Principal and driver, car #7): \u201cIt was nice to get the race weekend started with free practice. The car has improved since the Prologue and we are making progress. We will try to improve it further before qualifying and then we\u2019ll do our best to get a strong grid position. It\u2019s looking like a close fight, and we are definitely looking forward to the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mike Conway (Driver, car #7): \u201cThere are a few things still to improve in terms of balance. It\u2019s hard to know exactly where we are. I know it looks better to be second fastest at the end of FP2 but I\u2019m not sure of the bigger picture. We have a bit of homework to do tonight to be at our strongest for qualifying and the race.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nyck de Vries (Driver, car #7): \u201cWe had a decent Friday. In general things felt pretty positive and I was happy with the car in FP2. The conditions were consistent today so we could assess a couple of set-up options that we had in mind after the Prologue. There is still a bit of work to be done in certain areas and to improve our understanding of the tyres.\u201d<\/p>\n
S\u00e9bastien Buemi (Driver, car #8): \u201cIt was good to have a couple of days since the Prologue because we were able to identify some improvement points. I feel like we have improved the car a bit. The warmer conditions changed the overall picture and how we manage the tyres. I think we are looking stronger than in the Prologue and hopefully we can improve a bit more for the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brendon Hartley (Driver, car #8): \u201cWe had a smooth day with no dramas, and we tested a few different things on the car. The track temperature was different to the Prologue which had an effect. In terms of the overall picture, all I can say is it\u2019s very close at the front. I feel like we have a chance, but we are going to have to put everything together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ry\u014d Hirakawa (Driver, car #8): \u201cThe conditions were warmer today compared to the Prologue, so the car and tyres were behaving a bit differently. We are close to the front but not as close as we want, so we need to find a bit of lap time. We need to optimise the car for these conditions as it looks like it will stay like this for the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
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6 Hours of Imola \u2013 Free Practice 11st#83AF Corse1min 31.739secs2nd#50Ferrari AF Corse+0.023secs3rd#51Ferrari AF Corse+0.243secs4th#12Cadillac Hertz Team Jota+0.444secs5th#94Peugeot Totalenergies+0.612secs6th#93Peugeot Totalenergies+0.717secs\u00a07th#8TOYOTA RACING+0.834secs12th#7TOYOTA RACING+1.209secs<\/p>\n
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6 Hours of Imola \u2013 Free Practice 21st#35Alpine Endurance Team1min 30.898secs2nd#7TOYOTA RACING+0.114secs3rd#50Ferrari AF Corse+0.138secs4th#51Ferrari AF Corse+0.189secs5th#94Peugeot Totalenergies+0.327secs6th#20BMW M Team WRT+0.456secs\u00a010th#8TOYOTA RACING+0.657secs<\/p>\n
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