The 2025 FIA WEC Imola 6 Hours unfolded as a gripping and strategic endurance race that showcased Ferrari AF Corse‘s dominance on home soil alongside a remarkable performance in the LMGT3 category by Manthey Porsche.
The World Endurance Championship race held at the historic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit was marked by intense battles, tactical pit stops and moments of drama that shaped the final outcome across multiple classes.
From the outset, Ferrari AF Corse set the tone with the No. 51 Ferrari 499P securing pole position driven by Antonio Giovinazzi who led the field into the early stages of the 2025 FIA WEC Imola 6 Hours.
The car, shared by Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Giovinazzi, demonstrated exceptional pace and tire management particularly with Pier Guidi completing a notable triple stint on a single set of Michelin soft tires which proved critical in controlling the race tempo.
Early dominance by the No. 51 Ferrari 499P was challenged by a variety of strategies from other Hypercar contenders, including BMW, Toyota, Porsche, and Alpine, all of whom were in contention at various points during the six-hour event.
The race was punctuated by two safety car periods triggered by incidents in the LMGT3 class, notably a crash involving Valentino Rossi and the No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 driven by Simon Mann which became stuck in the gravel at Rivazza.
These interruptions compressed the field and introduced strategic complexity allowing teams to adjust their pit stop timings and tire choices.
The No. 6 Penske Porsche 963 driven by Matt Campbell capitalized on an alternative strategy to lead the race in the fourth hour before eventually relinquishing the position to Ferrari AF Corse with just over two hours remaining.
As the Imola 6 Hours progressed into its final stages the battle for the lead intensified.
Ferrari’s strategic splash-and-go pit stop in the last 30 minutes executed by Pier Guidi enabled the No. 51 car to rejoin the track just ahead of the No. 20 Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8 piloted by Sheldon van der Linde, who had managed his tires carefully to mount a late charge.
The BMW finished a close second, just 8.490 seconds behind Ferrari while Mick Schumacher’s Alpine A424 rounded out the overall podium in third place after a hard-fought contest.
Toyota Gazoo Racing, a perennial front-runner in the WEC, faced a challenging race despite their efforts. The #8 GR010 HYBRID driven by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa finished fifth while the #7 car with Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries took seventh.
Toyota’s race was hampered by a series of setbacks including a drive-through penalty for Brendon Hartley due to a Full Course Yellow infringement and an incident where Buemi and Ferrari’s Antonio Fuoco made contact, resulting in a puncture for Fuoco that dropped him down the order.
Buemi’s defensive driving in the closing laps was praised as a masterclass as he held off Fuoco’s aggressive attempts to overtake despite the Toyota being at a performance disadvantage compared to the dominant Ferraris.
Other notable performances included the No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari which finished fourth overall and the No. 6 Penske Porsche 963 finishing eighth after leading earlier in the race.
The No. 15 BMW driven by Dries Vanthoor secured sixth place while the No. 93 Peugeot 9X8 and the No. 12 Hertz Team JOTA Cadillac V-Series.R entries completed the top ten, with Mikkel Jensen and Norman Nato behind the wheel respectively.
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Giovinazzi takes WEC Imola Pole in Ferrari front row qualifying lockout, Rossi claims LMGT3 top slot
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Manthey Porsche claims LMGT3 win
The LMGT3 category saw a thrilling contest, with the Manthey Porsche #92 driven by Ryan Hardwick, Richard Lietz and Riccardo Pera claiming a hard-earned victory at the 2025 FIA WEC Imola 6 Hours.
Starting from seventh, Hardwick quickly advanced through the field and despite dropping back during pit stop cycles the team fought back to take the lead after the five-hour mark.
Lietz held off a fierce last-lap challenge from the #46 BMW, maintaining composure to secure the win. The Iron Dames #85 car driven by Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting and Célia Martin also delivered a strong performance, recovering from an early drive-through penalty to finish eighth in class.
The Imola 6 Hours highlighted the importance of strategy, tire management and driver skill in endurance racing.
Ferrari’s victory marked their first home win in the WEC Hypercar class since their Le Mans success in 2023 underscoring their current dominance in the championship.
The race also exposed Toyota’s ongoing struggle to match Ferrari’s pace this season, with the Japanese manufacturer trailing by 39 points in the manufacturers’ standings after two rounds.
