As the World Endurance Championship (WEC) Gears Up for the Spa 6 Hours
Toyota Anticipates Strong Ferrari Challenge Despite Imola Tactics
As the World Endurance Championship (WEC) gears up for the Spa 6 Hours this Saturday, David Floury, technical director of Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe, anticipates a strong showing from Italian rival Ferrari, despite tactical errors that allowed Toyota to claim victory at Imola last time out.
According to Floury, the Balance of Performance (BoP) changes for Spa will not entirely erase the performance gap between the top contenders in the WEC’s Hypercar class. “The picture should be similar but with smaller gaps,” he stated. When asked if Ferrari’s 499P Le Mans Hypercar will retain its advantage, Floury replied, “I think so.”
“Ferrari showed its pace last year, and I don’t expect a different picture,” Floury explained.
Under the BoP adjustments for Spa, Ferrari has taken a 12kg hit in minimum weight and lost 4kW (5bhp) in maximum power, while Toyota has gained 4kg and lost 1kW. Despite this, Floury opted not to comment on the BoP changes, citing the WEC sporting rules that prohibit manufacturers, teams, and drivers from discussing the matter on pain of sanction by the stewards.
Floury believes Toyota will face a tough battle to repeat its Imola victory at Spa, where an expected performance deficit to Ferrari will require clever strategy to overcome. “We will need to be clever to win here,” he said, referencing a weather forecast that predicts a dry weekend. “And this time it looks like we will not be helped by the weather: we will have to be even more clever.”
The balance between Toyota and Porsche is expected to be similar to Imola, where they fought for the final spot on the podium behind the Ferraris during the dry period of the race. “It was very close: it was a tiny gap – it could have gone one way or the other,” Floury recalled.
At Imola, Ferrari appeared poised for a 1-2 finish on home ground before opting to leave both its factory cars and the sister satellite entry from AF Corse out on slicks when it rained. The tactical errors, including not splitting the strategies on the two works cars, ultimately allowed the #7 Toyota to take the victory.
As the WEC 2024 season heats up, practice for the Spa 6 Hours kicks off at 11:30 local time on Thursday, setting the stage for an intense battle in the Hypercar class. With the FIA WEC calendar 2023 shaping up to be a thrilling season, fans can expect a showcase of skill and strategy at Spa.
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