Ferrari dominates as hyperpole shootout electrifies second day of Qatar 1812km
Day two of the Qatar 1812KM race at Lusail International Circuit delivered high-octane excitement with FIA WEC Hyperpole qualifying sessions and thrilling support races, setting the stage for the 10-hour Qatar 1812KM endurance race.
The day began with Formula 4 Middle East Championship qualifying sessions. Qualifying 1 saw UAE’s Adam Al Azhari secure pole position with 1:56.269, while Qatari driver Taha Hassiba impressed by leading the rookie class with 1:57.572. American Alex Powell topped Qualifying 2 with 1:55.945, followed by Al Azhari in second.
Formula Regional Middle East (FRME) Championship qualifying followed, with France’s Evan Giltaire of ART GRAND PRIX claiming pole position in Qualifying 1 with a time of 1:49.823, ahead of USA’s Ugo Ugochukwu (R-ace GP) and UAE’s Rashid Al Dhaheri.
For Qualifying 2, Ugochukwu turned the tables to secure pole with a 1:49.212, with Britain’s Freddie Slater and Italy’s Nikita Bedrin completing the top three. The morning schedule continued with the Lusail Classic qualifying, where H. Gemperle and Marc de Siebenthal secured the top spot in their #4 1971 Porsche 908/03 with an impressive time of 2:02.236. They were followed closely by the #75 1975 Chevron B31 and #99 1971 Chevron B.
The midday session saw FIA WEC Free Practice 3, with Ferrari AF Corse dominating the Hypercar class as Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen set the pace in the #50 Ferrari 499P, clocking an impressive 1:39.484. The sister #51 Ferrari 499P finished just 0.081 seconds behind, while AF Corse made it a 1-2-3 for Ferrari-powered machinery with Robert Kubica and team guiding the #83 Ferrari 499P to third position.
In LMGT3, United Autosports showcased impressive speed as Darren Leung, Sean Gelael, and Marino Sato claimed the fastest time of 1:54.569 in the #95 entry. Akkodis ASP Team took second place with their #78 Lexus RC F GT3, just 0.092sec behind. United Autosports completed their strong showing by securing third position with the #59 McLaren, at 0.169 seconds behind.
In the afternoon, Formula 4 Middle East Championship Race 1, Adam Al Azhari converted his pole to victory with a time of 32:55.668 ahead of Italy’s Emanuele Olivieri and Britain’s Kean Nakamura-Berta, with local driver Taha Hassiba finishing as the second-placed rookie — a standout result for the Qatari competitor.
In the FRME Race 1, Italy’s Nikita Bedrin from SAINTELOC RACING claimed victory at 30:35.318, setting the fastest lap of 1:50.541. USA’s Ugo Ugochukwu finished second, 5.535 seconds behind, while France’s Evan Giltaire, completed the podium in third position.
In the Lusail Classic Race 1, Jamie Constable claimed victory in his 1971 Chevron B19, beating the #4 1971 Porsche 908/03 by just 1.499sec. S. Brooks secured third place in his 1968 Lola T70 Mk.3B.
In the intense LMGT3 qualifying session, United Autosports continued to showcase their prowess, claiming the top spot with their #95 car. Their impressive lap time of 1:54.851 set the early benchmark. Akkodis ASP Team responded strongly, once again securing second place with their #78 car, just 0.073 seconds behind.
United Autosports continued their domination by placing their second entry, the #59 car, in third position with a time of 1:55.248.
The Hypercar qualifying session was equally thrilling, with Ferrari AF Corse delivering a masterclass performance.
The #51 car, piloted by Alessandro, James, and Antonio, claimed pole position with a blistering lap of 1:38.587. Their teammates in the #50 car followed closely, securing second place just 0.022sec behind.
Cadillac Hertz Team Jota broke up the Ferrari dominance by taking third place, while BMW M Team WRT rounded out the top four, adding further excitement to the grid.
In the Hyperpole shootout, the #95 car further improved its time to 1:54.239, maintaining its qualifying advantage. The #59 car of United Autosports, secured a strong second-place position. Akkodis ASP Team’s #78 car continued to challenge, claiming the final spot on the podium.
The Hypercar Hyperpole session saw Ferrari AF Corse continue their qualifying dominance. The #51 car secured pole position at 1:38.359. In a surprising twist, BMW M Team WRT managed to secure the second spot, followed by Ferrari’s #50.
Fans were treated to an exclusive Pit Lane Walk and driver autograph session, offering a unique opportunity to meet the stars of endurance racing and see the sophisticated machinery up close.
The evening concluded with the second race of the F4 Middle East Championship. Alex Powell secured victory, clocking in at 31:43.699. Reno Francot claimed second place, just 0.645sec behind Powell, while Emanuele Olivieri completed the podium.
Bader Al Sulaiti demonstrated impressive performance, finishing 5th in the rookie category followed by Taha Hassiba shortly behind in 7th place. In the FRME Championship Race 2, Mexican driver Ernesto Rivera clinched victory, at 30:11.611.
Enzo Deligny secured second place, finishing 1.851sec behind Rivera and setting the fastest lap at 1:51.166. Nikita Bedrin secured the third spot 5.200sec behind.
All attention now shifts to Friday’s main event — the Qatar 1812 KM endurance race — the opening round of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship.
Teams and drivers will make final preparations as they gear up for the sub-10-hour contest that will test both machine and human endurance to the limit. Tickets remain available for the final day, with General Admission priced at QAR200.
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