The 2026 World Endurance Championship finally kicks off after a delay due to the Iran war. This season promises epic battles, especially with the Prologue held at Imola, where Ferrari clearly showcased its dominance. The preseason tests saw the Scuderia outperform a revitalized competition, highlighting the evolution of the Hypercars.
A Prologue of Renewal
The 2026 WEC season starts on a high note, with the Hypercar category undergoing significant changes. As Porsche bids farewell, a new player enters the fray: Genesis Magma Racing. This South Korean team fields two GMR-001 prototypes, entrusted to renowned drivers like André Lotterer and Luis Felipe (known as “Pipo”) Derani, along with several French talents, including Mathys Jaubert and Paul-Loup Chatin.
Ferrari, the two-time defending champion, puts its crowns on the line. However, the competition is fiercer than ever. Models like the Toyota TR010 Hybrid and the BMW M Hybrid V8 are now on the starting grid, ready to battle. In France, the Alpine Endurance Team and Peugeot TotalEnergies also have high ambitions, with Alpine looking to end on a positive note before exiting the championship at season’s end.
Session 1 – Scuderia Starts Strong
The Prologue began under tricky conditions, with a wet track at Imola. At 9 AM, drivers launched into their first session. This session was marked by several interruptions due to off-track excursions. The Alpine No. 35 and the Mercedes-Iron Lynx No. 79 both faced mishaps that required yellow flags to be waved.
The Alpine A424 No. 36 of Jules Gounon, Frédéric Makowiecki, and Victor Martins.
Despite these setbacks, the AF Corse No. 83 driven by Robert Kubica quickly took the lead with a time of 1:42.524. The hierarchy evolved throughout the session, with Ferrari No. 51’s Alessandro Pier Guidi managing to seize the top spot before Ferrari No. 50 significantly lowered the benchmark to 1:40.048.
As the track improved, lap times dropped. A major incident occurred when a red flag was waved after Marco Sørensen hit the wall at Tamburello. Fortunately, the driver emerged unscathed. At the end of this first morning session, it was Ferrari 499P No. 51 driven by Antonio Giovinazzi that set the best time at 1:31.586.
The Peugeot 9X8 No. 93 of Paul Di Resta, Stoffel Vandoorne, and Nick Cassidy.
The French teams also made their mark: the Alpine A524 and Peugeot 9X8 managed to break into the top three multiple times. In contrast, Genesis Magma Racing had a tough start, with its prototypes languishing at the back of the grid.
Session 2 – Ferrari Confirms Its Superiority
The second session began on a dry track, providing drivers with optimal conditions. Antonio Giovinazzi immediately took charge with a time of 1:31.845. The competition struggled to keep pace with the Scuderia’s rhythm. Only Ferrari No. 51 managed to get close before also taking the reins.
About thirty minutes in, light rain disrupted the testing. Despite this, Ferrari No. 50 and No. 51 continued to display impressive performances, while their competitor No. 83 slotted in between them.
This Italian trio opened a significant gap over the rest of the field with a benchmark set at 1:31.177 for No. 50. Behind them, the top positions were occupied by the two Alpines and Peugeot No. 94, battling for fourth, fifth, and sixth places, respectively.
The Genesis GMR-001 No. 17 of André Lotterer, Pipo Derani, and Mathys Jaubert.
During this second session, two red flags interrupted the running, notably after the Akkodis ASP Team’s Lexus No. 87 went off track. Another technical incident also disrupted the flow of testing when electrical issues were reported. Nevertheless, Ferrari managed to conclude the day triumphantly with another sweep: the Ferrari 499P No. 50 finished ahead of No. 83 and No. 51.
Performance of Others
Other teams attempted to compete but struggled to find their rhythm against the ultra-competitive Ferraris. The Aston Martin Valkyrie No. 009 had to sit out the afternoon following an accident during the first session. In LMGT3, it was the Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3 No. 27 that set the best time at 1:42.698, confirming that this category remains full of surprises.
This day of preseason testing gives us a glimpse of an exciting and competitive championship. Ferrari appears to be in impressive form, but other competitors could still shake up this hierarchy in the upcoming races.
In Summary
- Ferrari achieves an impressive sweep during the 2026 Prologue.
- Genesis Magma Racing makes its debut with mixed results.
- The French teams Alpine and Peugeot confirm their ambitions.
- Multiple incidents punctuate the testing sessions at Imola.
- The Hypercars promise a season full of twists and turns.
