THE BATTLE BEGINS: ASTON MARTIN OPENS STRONG, BMW COUNTERS AS THE SUN SETS IN SAKHIR

The concluding round of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) weekend at the Bahrain International Circuit set the stage early with two free-practice sessions that hinted at a tight fight in the Hypercar class and emerging surprises in LMGT3. Here’s a breakdown of how things looked after Free Practice 1 (FP1) and Free Practice 2 (FP2).

Free Practice 1

Free Practice 1 for the Bahrain weekend got underway on Thursday at 12:15 local time, giving teams their first real chance to assess balance, tyre behaviour and race pace under daytime conditions. With track temperatures on the higher side and the circuit relatively clean, the session was largely used for installation laps, consistency runs and baseline setup adjustments. Teams focused on collecting data rather than pushing flat-out, but the competitive picture still began to take shape. The session ran smoothly without major interruptions, allowing each class to build a solid foundation for the rest of the weekend.

Hypercar
In the Hypercar category, the session was led by the #009 Aston Martin THOR Team Valkyrie, driven by Alex Riberas, Marco Sørensen and Roman de Angelis, who posted the quickest lap of 1:49.697. This result continued to highlight Aston Martin’s growing strength in the championship, reinforcing the team’s reputation as a rising force capable of challenging the well-established manufacturers. The Valkyrie seemed well-balanced throughout the session, particularly on longer runs where consistency looked promising. While rival teams such as Peugeot, Ferrari and Toyota were more focused on evaluating tyre wear and fuel strategy rather than chasing outright pace, the pace shown by Aston Martin suggested that they could be a genuine threat in both qualifying and race conditions later in the weekend.

LMGT3
In the LMGT3 class, the pace was set by the #77 Proton Competition Ford Mustang, shared by Ben Barker, Ben Tuck and Bernardo Sousa, recording a best lap of 2:02.681. The Mustang appeared strong and stable in the higher-temperature conditions, with Proton clearly finding a good initial setup window. Competition in LMGT3 is known for its tight manufacturer spread, and FP1 reflected that once again, with the times between the top five entries remaining closely matched. Teams used this session to work on tyre longevity and race-stint balance, knowing that Bahrain’s abrasive surface can easily punish aggressive setups and over-driving. The Mustang’s early advantage marked Ford as a potential class contender for the weekend, though the margins suggested the fight will remain open.

Overall, FP1 provided a valuable first look at competitive form and setup direction. Aston Martin showed strong promise at the sharp end of Hypercar, while Ford established the early benchmark in LMGT3. However, with track conditions set to evolve and FP2 offering more representative evening running, the full competitive picture was still far from final, hinting that the real battle was only just beginning.

Free Practice 2

Free Practice 2 took place later in the afternoon at 17:00 local, with teams returning to track under noticeably different conditions from the earlier session. As the sun began to set and the track cooled, the session provided a much more representative environment for both qualifying simulations and the early phases of the race, which also begin around dusk. Teams focused heavily on tyre management, energy deployment and race-stint pacing, as this session offered the closest match to what they will face during the crucial opening hours of the 8-hour event. The shift in lighting also introduced changing track grip levels, making setup consistency even more important.

Hypercar
The standout performance in the Hypercar category came from the #20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8, driven by René Rast, Robin Frijns and Sheldon van der Linde, which set the fastest time of the session with a 1:48.780. This marked a significant step forward for BMW compared to FP1, demonstrating stronger one-lap pace and good confidence on cooler track conditions. The Aston Martin #009, so dominant in the earlier session, followed closely, finishing just +0.262s behind with a lap around 1:49.042, suggesting the Valkyrie remains competitive but may not yet match BMW’s outright peak performance in qualifying sim. Third in the session was the #93 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8 at 1:49.201, showing solid pace but appearing a small step off the top two. While the time sheets revealed BMW at the front, the margin between the leading manufacturers remained tight, hinting at a compelling strategic battle to come.

LMGT3
The LMGT3 class saw the #78 AKKODIS ASP Team Lexus rise to the top of the timesheets with a fastest lap of 2:02.613. The Lexus looked particularly confident under the cooler conditions, benefiting from stable rear-end grip and strong braking performance into Bahrain’s slower corners. Behind them, the #85 Iron Dames Porsche and the #33 TF Sport Corvette completed the top three, a clear sign of the category’s continued manufacturer diversity. The times across the field were closely bunched, reinforcing that no single team has a significant advantage heading into qualifying. As with FP1, the primary focus remained on tyre wear and long-run consistency, especially considering Bahrain’s abrasive surface and the significant difference in grip between daylight and night conditions.

Overall, FP2 further shaped the competitive narrative for the weekend. BMW signaled that they may hold a slight edge in qualifying performance, while Aston Martin continued to show race-strong pace and stability. Peugeot remained firmly in the mix, though potentially needing refinement to challenge for pole. In LMGT3, the battle appears wide open, with multiple manufacturers in contention and minimal time separating the leading runners. With track temperatures set to drop even further later in the weekend and FP3 still to come, setup decisions in this session will likely prove pivotal, and the fight at the front of both classes looks ready to intensify.

Final thoughts

The first two sessions at the Bahrain International Circuit for the 2025 season finale of the WEC have set the tone: BMW leads for now, but Aston Martin and Peugeot are certainly in contention, and LMGT3 continues to promise an intense, manufacturer-rich battle. As practice turns into qualifying and race preparation, small margins will likely define success. For fans and teams alike, it’s shaping up to be a captivating weekend.

Free Practice 3 will start tomorrow at 9:00 BST which you can watch over FIA WEC’s Youtube channel.

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