Ferrari Dominates at Qatar 1812km: Historic Podium Sweep in WEC
Ferrari triumphed in the Qatar 1812km race with its No. 50 499P, claiming the top three spots on the podium for the first time in the Hypercar era. With a solid performance, Ferrari is now leading the manufacturer’s championship standings. Teams like BMW, Porsche, and Alpine experienced varying challenges, while Corvette celebrated success in LMGT3. The next race is scheduled at Imola in April 2024.
Ferrari secured a decisive victory with its No. 50 499P at the Qatar 1812km race, marking the brand’s fourth overall win in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the first for its factory cars in non-Le Mans events. Drivers Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen, and Miguel Molina celebrated their second win together, following their success at Le Sarthe last year.
In a historic achievement, Ferrari claimed the top three spots on the overall podium for the first time under the Hypercar era, finishing with their No. 83 AF Corse car in second and the No. 51 works entry in third. The team’s performance was dominant, leading 309 of the 318 total laps, with Cadillac and Toyota taking minimal leads.
This victory signifies Ferrari’s first overall sweep in endurance racing since 1972 at the 1000km of Osterreichring. James Calado from the No. 51 Ferrari remarked on the team’s recovery to third place following penalties that pushed them towards the bottom of the standings at one point.
Ferrari’s achievement also reflects in the manufacturers’ standings, as it amassed a perfect 66 points from this race, outpacing BMW and Toyota. This is the first time Ferrari has led the standings since launching the 499P project. Kevin Magnussen of BMW expressed satisfaction with his fourth-place finish on his WEC debut, acknowledging Ferrari’s superior speed.
Urs Kuratle from Porsche highlighted the considerable gap between Ferrari and Porsche, with the latter facing challenges, finishing 10th and 11th in a disappointing outing. Multiple issues affected the two factory-entered 963s, including punctures that impacted their performance significantly.
Alpine struggled in their return, joining Aston Martin as the only manufacturers without points from this race. Mick Schumacher expressed concerns about performance fluctuations with temperature changes, indicating a deeper problem to investigate.
Aston Martin’s debut with their Valkyries showed promise, with decent lap times encouraging the team. Corvette achieved its second win in LMGT3, making it the fifth brand to win in this category, with TF Sport showcasing strong teamwork.
Despite finishing second, McLaren attained its best-ever LMGT3 result, while Lexus improved its standing, leading many laps until penalties hampered its aspirations. Team WRT celebrated an unexpected podium finish with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, capitalizing on strategy and fortunate circumstances.
Iron Lynx faced significant difficulties, resulting in the retirement of both cars throughout the event. United Autosports’ Sean Gelael received the Goodyear Wingfoot Award for fan-voted recognition. The Qatar race concluded with its full distance unachieved due to multiple safety car interventions, highlighting operational challenges.
The FIA World Endurance Championship continues with the 6 Hours of Imola scheduled for April 18-20.
Ferrari’s remarkable performance at the Qatar 1812km reflects their dominance in the current FIA World Endurance Championship season, particularly with a rare podium sweep and top standings lead. While other manufacturers like Porsche and Alpine faced setbacks, teams such as Corvette and Aston Martin indicated promising potential. The upcoming race will provide further opportunities for teams to demonstrate their capabilities in what has been an eventful and competitive season.
Original Source: sportscar365.com
