WEC 202 WORLD ENDURANCE IN IMOLA. FERRARI DRIVERS AIM FOR WIN

The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola hosts the second round of the 2024 WEC World Endurance Championship this weekend.

The Ferrari AF Corse team will compete at the start of the 6 Hours of Imola, which will start this Sunday, April 21 at 1:00 p.m. local time, with the two 499Ps, No. 50, driven by the transalpine trio Antonio Fuoco, Spaniard Miguel Molina and Dane Nicklas Nielsen and the sister car, No. 51 which will be shared by a crew made up of two Italians Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovinazzi, supported by Briton James Calado.

ANTONELLO COLETA, who leads the endurance competition and customer collaboration in Maranello, believes:

“Like all races in Italy, the 6 Hours of Imola is an event with a special flavor for Ferrari. After an unhappy start during the 1^time The 2024 event in Losail, Qatar, we have worked tirelessly for the Italian round of the World Endurance Championship. We expect a large turnout at the stadiums this weekend to support our staff. The crowd will be amazing and we want to give them a lot of enthusiasm. Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari embodies the history of Italian motor racing. Although new to the WEC calendar, this circuit has already produced some unforgettable endurance races. One of these events was the Imola 500 km at the Italian Games Championship. In 1972, this race saw Ferrari take two wins with a 312 PB driven by Arturo Merzario and Jacky Ickx. Imola hosts the World Championship this year, allowing the public to marvel at the track Ferrari 499Ps in the Hypercar category and two 296 LMGT3s competing in the GT3 category, the production cars. »

FERDINANDO CANNIZZO, Ferrari team boss in the WEC, continues:

“After a difficult and difficult test in Qatar, where we fought for a place away from the lead, we want to pick up the pace and return to competing for the Imola podium. On the other hand, we know that the layout and characteristics of the Autodromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari, remain very dangerous in terms of The mechanics, the suspension and the brakes in particular, will require a dedicated setup and the definition of the strategy will certainly be difficult, also because of the large number of passes that will be very easy typical of the driving simulator in Maranello, also benefiting from two track tests, in Portimão and Paul Ricard, where engineers, mechanics and drivers were able to train and test the best settings suggested by the simulations.

And he concludes by concluding:

“We are confident that we can have a good race, hoping that the sea of ​​red flags and galloping horses will be waved at the end of the race under the podium. »

WORDS OF PILOTS

FERRARI 499 PN°50

ANTONIO FUOCO

“Imola is a very important track for Ferrari and for an Italian driver like me. I am sure that there will be a special atmosphere for this round of the World Endurance Championship and I hope to see the stadiums full of fans, who we want to give them a lot of emotions this weekend. Technically, I don’t expect an easy race. With so many cars at the start, the performance difference between the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes will need to be overstated, with better track management. Acque Minerali, combined with high-speed turns, and narrow exits. We must drive flawlessly, using the power of our car while avoiding mistakes.

MIGUEL MOLINA

“Ferrari’s home race is waiting for us in Imola and we will have a weekend with a special flavor for the whole team and for us drivers. The goal is to give fans great motivation and to be able to celebrate successful results with them. In the week between the first race in Qatar, which was certainly not easy for us, and on the eve of this race, we worked hard to be ready for the 6 Hours of Imola. »

NICKLAS NIELSEN

“Last year we finished second in the Italian race at Monza, and the show from the fans under the podium was amazing. We also hope to see a lot of fans cheering us on at Imola. The race will be long and interesting but technically demanding. After our difficult start in Qatar, we arrive in Italy confident in our preparations, even if we know very well that 6 Hours will be necessary ».

FERRARI 499 PN°51

ALESSANDRO PIERRE GUIDI

“This year, the Italian World Endurance Championship race brings something new, in terms of the track and the calendar because Imola is the start of the FIA ​​WEC, and we will not compete in front of our fans in the middle of the summer. , like last year in Monza, after the victory in Le Mans, but at the second event of the season I think we will see a big crowd in the stands and, thinking of the fans, we will aim to give them a big result after our difficult start in Qatar. What do I think about the event? one of the best tracks to drive, alternating between fast and very slow turns. I really enjoy this type, with the fact that the track has ups and downs going on. There will be a lot of cars on the track and a lot of traffic, so it will be a good qualifying important. »

JAMES CALM UP

“Our first race in Qatar this season has been far from positive, so we will arrive at the 6 Hours of Imola with the intention of doing our best to score as many Championship points as possible. Imola? I really like the track because this setting has a unique charm because of its constant formation, but it is narrow and gives excellent passing marks that remain few there. Traffic management will be important in six hours.

ANTONIO GIOVINAZZI

“Racing in Italy is always a unique experience for a Racing Horse driver. This is why I am sure that the 6 Hours of Imola will have a unique appeal for our entire team. After the 1812 km race in Qatar, the lucky race bad for us, we’re coming to Imola with the goal of getting a positive result to celebrate with our fans. I think it will be a big success. It gives great grip and cornering fun to drive even for models »

Gilles GAIGNAULT

Photo : Thierry COULIBALY – TEAM

SPECIFICATION OF LOSAIL CHANNEL IN DOHA IN QATAR

1 – Estre-Lotterer-L. Vanthoor (Porsche 963) Penske, 332 laps in 9h55’51″926

2 – Stevens-Ilott-Nato (Porsche 963) Jota à 33″297

3 – Campbell-Christensen-Makowiecki (Porsche 963) Penske à 34″396

4 – Bamber-Lynn-Bourdais (Cadillac V-LMDh) Cadillac Chip Ganassi in lap 1

5 – Kubica-Shwartzman-Ye (Ferrari 499P) AF Corse in lap 1 (Private 499P)

6 – Conway-Kobayashi-de Vries (Toyota GR010) Toyota 1 lap

7 – Jensen-Müller-Vergne (Peugeot 9X8) Peugeot round 1

8 – Fuoco-Molina-Nielsen (Ferrari 499P) Ferrari 2-lap

9 – Chatin-Habsburg-Milesi (Alpine A424) Alpine with 2 towers

10 – Buemi-Hartley-Hirakawa (Toyota GR010) Toyota 2 laps

11 – Tincknell-Jani-Andlauer (Porsche 963) Proton for 2 laps

12 – Frijns-Rast-S.Van Der Linde (BMW M Hybrid V8) BMW WRT à 3 tours

13 – Lapierre-Schumacher-Vaxiviere (Alpine A424) Alpine with 3 towers

14 – Pier Guidi-Calado-Giovinazzi (Ferrari 499P) 3 lap Ferrari

15 – Bortolotti-Mortara-Kvyat (Lamborghini SC63) Lamborghini for 5 laps

16 – Marciello-Wittmann-D.Vanthoor (BMW M Hybrid V8) BMW WRT for 8 laps

17 – Di Resta-Duval-Vandoorne (Peugeot 9X8) Peugeot for 19 laps

18 – Malykhin-Sturm-Bachler (Porsche 911) GT3 R) Manthey à 36 tours (1 series LMGT3)

19 – James-Mancinelli-Riberas (Aston Martin Vantage) Heart in 36 laps

20 – Mateu-Bastard-Sorensen (Aston Martin Vantage) D’Station for 37 laps

21 – Al Harthy-Rossi-Martin (BMW M4) BMW WRT for 37 laps

22 – Flohr-Castellacci-Rigon (Ferrari 296) AF Corse in 38 laps

23 – Leung-Gelael-Farfus (BMW M4) BMW WRT for 38 laps

24 – Heriau-Mann-Rovera (Ferrari 296 AF Corse for 38 laps

25 – Bovy-Pin-Gatting (Lamborghini Huracan) Iron Dames in 40 laps

26 – Roda-Pedersen-Olsen (Ford Mustang) Proton in 41 laps

27 – Koizumi-Baud-Juncadella (Corvette Z06) TF Sport in 41 laps

28 – Hardwick-Robichon-Barker (Ford Mustang) Proton in 42 laps

29 – Schiavoni-Cressoni-Perera (Lamborghini Huracan) Iron Lynx in 44 laps

30 – Caygill-Pino-Sato (McLaren 720S) United for 51 visits

31 – Cottingham-Costa-Saucy (McLaren 720S) United in 51 visits

32 – Shahin-Schuring-Lietz (Porsche 911 GT3 R) Manthey à 51 tours

33 – Kimura-Masson-Lopez (Lexus RC F) Akkodis ASP for 62 laps

Fastest cycle:

Matt Campbell, 1’39″748 Button-Hanson-Rasmussen (Porsche 963)

TO STOP

Jota Robin-Boguslavskiy-K. Van Der Linde (Lexus RC F) – ASP Accord

Van Rompuy-Andrade-Eastwood (Corvette Z06) – TF Sport

Serravalle-Bennett-Vernay (Isotta Fraschini Tipo6) – Isotta Fraschini