Ferrari claimed a historic 1-2-3 finish in the Qatar 1812km race, reflecting their dominance in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The victory marked their first podium sweep since 1972 and the team’s lead in the manufacturers’ standings. Other teams faced various challenges, and the next race is set for Imola.
The No. 50 Ferrari 499P secured victory in the Qatar 1812km race, marking its fourth overall win in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the first for a factory Ferrari outside of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This triumph represents a second victory for drivers Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen, and Miguel Molina following their earlier success at La Sarthe.
Ferrari achieved a 1-2-3 podium finish with the No. 83 AF Corse in second and the No. 51 works entry in third, marking the first overall podium sweep for the Italian manufacturer and only the second in the Hypercar era, following Porsche’s performance in 2022. Ferrari dominated the race, leading 309 laps of the total 318, with Cadillac and Toyota leading a combined nine laps.
This victory also signifies the first major endurance race podium sweep for Ferrari since 1972. James Calado, driver of the No. 51 Ferrari, acknowledged the unexpected recovery to third place after facing penalties. He mentioned communication difficulties during the race, emphasizing the team’s commitment to improving at the upcoming Imola race.
Having secured pole position with the No. 51 car, Ferrari amassed a total of 66 points in the manufacturer standings, achieving a 31-point lead over BMW, whose entries finished fourth and seventh. This outcome marks Ferrari’s inaugural lead in the Hypercar manufacturers’ standings since the 499P project began.
In his WEC debut, ex-Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen expressed satisfaction with BMW’s fourth-place finish, noting improved performance since last year. Porsche LMDh director Urs Kuratle admitted that Ferrari’s performance put them in a different league, as the Porsche entries ended up in 10th and 11th—Porsche’s worst result in this category.
Alpine encountered challenges in their season opener, with Mick Schumacher pointing out performance issues linked to colder temperatures. He mentioned the need for deeper analysis to fully understand the car’s struggles as temperatures dropped.
Aston Martin’s endurance head expressed encouragement at the pace shown during the Valkyries’ race debut. They viewed the race as a learning experience, indicating a positive trajectory for future competitiveness. TF Sport’s Corvette team added another manufacturer to the LMGT3 winner’s list, while their sister car retired early due to mechanical issues.
McLaren achieved its best-ever LMGT3 finish with a second place for the No. 59 United Autosports car. Lexus significantly improved its standing as well, finishing fourth despite penalties hampering their efforts. Team WRT unexpectedly secured a third place with their BMW M4 GT3 EVO, attributing their success to strategic execution and avoiding penalties.
The Racing Spirit of Leman team secured two points for ninth place in their first WEC outing, focusing on learning from their performance. Iron Lynx had a challenging race with both their cars suffering mechanical failures. Sean Gelael received the inaugural Goodyear Wingfoot Award, decided by fan voting.
The race experienced four safety car periods and reached the finish 17 laps short of its full distance. The next FIA World Endurance Championship event is scheduled for April 18-20 at the 6 Hours of Imola.
In summary, Ferrari achieved a historic 1-2-3 podium sweep at the Qatar 1812km, underscoring its dominance in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The team’s strong performance propelled them to a leading position in the manufacturers’ standings. Meanwhile, other teams faced various challenges, indicating a competitive landscape as the season progresses. Attention now turns to the upcoming race in Imola, where teams aim to capitalize on lessons learned.
Original Source: sportscar365.com
