Ferrari’s No. 50 499P won in Qatar, marking its historical podium sweep with finishes of second and third by its other entries. Drivers Fuoco, Nielsen, and Molina celebrated a second victory together, while constructors like BMW and Porsche faced challenges. The event included multiple safety car deployments, leading to a shortened race distance. The championship continues with the 6 Hours of Imola next month.
The No. 50 Ferrari 499P secured victory in Friday’s 1812km race in Qatar, marking Ferrari’s fourth overall win in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the first for a factory car outside the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. This triumph also represents a second win for drivers Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen, and Miguel Molina, who previously secured a victory at Le Mans last year.
Ferrari dominated the race, with the No. 83 AF Corse car and No. 51 works entry finishing in second and third, respectively. This achievement allowed Ferrari to accomplish its first overall podium sweep, a feat rarely seen since Porsche’s top-three finish in last year’s Qatar event. Notably, Ferraris led nearly all of the race’s 318 laps, with Cadillac and Toyota each leading a mere nine laps between them.
Historically, this was Ferrari’s first overall sweep in a major sports car endurance race since 1972, when four Ferrari 312 PBs topped the 1000km of Osterreichring in Austria. Driver James Calado expressed surprise at recovering to third place after a series of penalties pushed their No. 51 Ferrari towards the bottom of the top ten. He remarked on the communication difficulties experienced during the race, particularly with co-driver Antonio Giovinazzi.
Ferrari achieved a maximum of 66 points in the manufacturers’ standings, establishing a 31-point lead over BMW, with the latter securing fourth and seventh places. Toyota is positioned further back in third place. This also marks the first time Ferrari has led the Hypercar manufacturers’ standings since the inception of the 499P project.
Kevin Magnussen, a former Formula 1 driver, labeled his fourth-place finish on his WEC debut with BMW as a satisfactory outcome, acknowledging the clear speed advantages of the Ferraris. He highlighted the improvement and competitive nature of BMW’s performance since last year’s events.
Porsche LMDh director Urs Kuratle remarked on Ferrari’s superior performance during the event, noting that the two Porsche Penske Motorsport cars finished poorly in tenth and eleventh, marking their worst-ever result in the Hypercar era. Kuratle recognized the lack of speed and performance despite efforts from the team and drivers.
Alpine faced significant challenges in their opening race, being one of only two manufacturers, alongside Aston Martin, who did not score any points. Driver Mick Schumacher indicated that cold temperatures affected the car’s performance late in the race, suggesting further analysis would be necessary to identify the underlying issues.
Aston Martin’s endurance team leader Adam Carter expressed optimism regarding the race debut of the Valkyries, particularly praising the pace displayed by Tom Gamble. Carter acknowledged the challenges typical of a new racing program but noted encouraging signs for future competitiveness.
In LMGT3, Corvette became the fifth manufacturer to win since the category’s inception, thanks to the TF Sport team’s performance. The trio of drivers, including first-time WEC winners Daniel Juncadella and Jonny Edgar, achieved a noteworthy victory, while United Autosports recorded their best LMGT3 results with a second-place finish.
The race was interrupted by four safety car periods and full-course yellows that resulted in the Qatar 1812km ending prematurely, falling short by 17 laps. The next event in the FIA World Endurance Championship will be the 6 Hours of Imola taking place on April 18-20.
In conclusion, the recent Qatar race showcased Ferrari’s dominance in the FIA World Endurance Championship, culminating in an overall podium sweep, marking its historical achievement. The race dynamics highlighted the challenges faced by other teams, particularly Porsche and Alpine, while also producing first-time winners and improved performances among various manufacturers. Looking ahead, teams will aim to leverage lessons learned as the championship progresses towards its next round.
Original Source: sportscar365.com
