Ferrari celebrated a historic victory at the Qatar 1812km, securing its first factory podium sweep in a major endurance race since 1972. Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen, and Miguel Molina each recorded their second win together after La Sarthe. While Porsche struggled, Aston Martin and Corvette showed promise, and several teams faced challenges, leading to an eventful race. The next round is scheduled for Imola.
The No. 50 Ferrari 499P claimed victory in the Qatar 1812km, marking Ferrari’s fourth win in the FIA World Endurance Championship and its first for a factory car outside the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This triumph is particularly significant as it is the first time a Ferrari has swept the podium in a major sports car endurance race since 1972. Drivers Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen, and Miguel Molina celebrated their second victory together, following their success at Le Mans last year.
Ferrari achieved a notable podium sweep with the No. 83 AF Corse car finishing second and the No. 51 works entry taking third place. The race showcased Ferrari’s dominance, leading 309 out of 318 laps, while Cadillac and Toyota led the remaining laps. James Calado from the No. 51 Ferrari reflected on the challenges faced during the race, especially with communication issues impacting their strategy.
Ferrari’s successful run earned it a perfect score of 66 points in the manufacturers’ standings, establishing a 31-point lead over BMW in the early season. This win also marks Ferrari’s first time leading the Hypercar manufacturers’ standings since the inception of the 499P project. Kevin Magnussen expressed satisfaction with his fourth-place finish on his WEC debut with BMW, despite being outpaced by the Ferraris.
The performance of Porsche was notably disappointing, with both entries finishing in 10th and 11th place. Urs Kuratle, Porsche LMDh director, stated that Ferrari operated in a different league during the race, as Porsche struggled with speed and encountered several issues throughout. Meanwhile, Alpine faced difficulties without scoring points, highlighting temperature sensitivity in their cars that affected race performance.
Aston Martin showed promise with its Valkyrie on debut, particularly with Tom Gamble posting competitive lap times. While the team faced expected teething issues, they expressed optimism about future competitiveness. In the LMGT3 category, Corvette emerged victorious, resulting in the fifth different manufacturer to win since its inception. TF Sport had a rewarding race, while McLaren and Lexus also recorded their best WEC finishes to date.
Team WRT’s unexpected third-place finish was attributed to a strong strategy that capitalized on safety car periods. However, Iron Lynx’s debut faced setbacks with significant mechanical issues. United Autosports’ Sean Gelael was honored as the first recipient of the Goodyear Wingfoot Award, based on fan voting rather than average pace. Ultimately, the race fell short of its full distance due to multiple safety car incidents, leading to a conclusion before the time limit expired. The next round in the FIA World Endurance Championship will take place at Imola from April 18-20.
The Qatar 1812km race showcased Ferrari’s resurgence in endurance racing with a historic podium sweep and significant points lead, while other manufacturers faced various challenges. Notable performances from drivers highlighted the competitive nature of the event, yet mechanical issues plagued several teams. The race concluded with implications for future events, and anticipation builds for the upcoming round in Imola, promising continued excitement in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Original Source: sportscar365.com
