EWC 8H Spa - Q1: The Yart confirms

The EWC paddock arrives in the Belgian Ardennes to contest the second round of its 2024 season on the famous Spa-Francorchamps track. This Friday, those entered for this 8-hour long event begin the serious things with Qualifications. After dominating the free practice sessions, the Yamaha n°1 confirms and takes provisional pole position for the 8H of Spa.

Qualification 1:

E.W.C.

As a reminder, this driving session was divided into three groups – blue, yellow and red – each of the colors corresponding to the pilot armbands. Thus the crews divided their driving time into three times 20 minutes.

The YART Yamaha EWC team continued its momentum on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit by taking provisional pole position for the 8 Hours of Spa. After a record performance, which saw him take the fastest lap at the end of this morning's free practice, Marvin Fritz once again confirms his great form in Belgium, and signs the fastest lap of the first qualifying session.

However, the battle was close during the first session. If Niccolo Canepa was the fastest of the blue drivers, in 2:18.938, Josh Hook allowed the FCC TSR Honda France to stay in the game, with a best time only 238 thousandths slower, at the end of a fight which saw the two men exchange the lead in the ranking.

Gregg Black brought his machine back in third position for Yoshimura SERT Motul, while Florian Alt and Markus Reiterberger completed the top-5.

Marvin Fritz, however, drove the point home in the yellow drivers' session, in 2:18.552, a tenth slower than the lap record he set this morning. He was 0,801s faster than Étienne Masson, Yoshimura SERT Motul driver. Due to the absence of Mike Di Meglio who did not participate in the event due to injury, the FCC TSR Honda did not participate in the yellow session.

Finally, Karel Hanika allowed Yart Yamaha to lock in first position during each of the three Q1 sessions. In this red session, the n°1 set a time of 2:18.622s.

His closest pursuer was none other than Alan Techer, who returned with FCC TSR Honda France to complete an attempt in 2:19.482. Dan Linfoot placed Sert in fourth position, behind the #37 BMW.

At the end of these first outings on the track, a hierarchy emerges in the fight for pole position. If we are to believe the current rankings, and barring a significant turnaround, this should be played out between No. 1 and No. 5.

As a reminder, the average time of the two fastest drivers from each team at the end of the second Qualifying session will govern the starting grid for these 8 Hours of Spa. Answer in a few hours, when we discover the times for Q2.

Superstock

Tom Ward was the rider to beat in the Superstock class with the TRT27 AZ Moto Honda. He finished ninth overall in 2:22.567. Kenny Foray (Tecmas MRP BMW Racing Team), was only half a second behind with the No. 9, but Q1 was going to be more competitive than in the main category.

Among the yellow drivers, Lorenzo Gabellini (Honda No Limits) did well to cross the starting line, finishing in 2:23.083. The No. 44 also managed to stand out in the pack of red drivers, while Guillaume Raymond, member of the National Motos Honda FMA crew, victorious at Le Mans in April, crashed at the end of the session, but was able to find his way back stands.