Disappointment at Imola: Ferrari AF Corse Reflect on Missed Opportunities in WEC 2024
Ferrari’s Challenging Outing at the 6 Hours of Imola
The Ferrari AF Corse Hypercar drivers are left to ponder what could have been after a disappointing result in their home race at the 6 Hours of Imola, the second round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Despite high hopes, the Italian team ultimately left Imola empty-handed.
The Scuderia started strong, topping all three practice sessions and qualifying, where all three Ferrari 499Ps locked out the top three positions on the grid. However, their strategy faltered when the rain arrived, and they switched to wet tires too late, handing the advantage to Toyota Gazoo Racing, who ultimately went on to win the race.
Drivers’ Reflections on the Missed Opportunity
Alessandro Pier Guidi, driver of the #51 car, expressed his frustration, saying, “Unfortunately, we’re commenting on a final result that doesn’t reflect the potential of our cars. Finishing off the podium in front of the many fans who supported us here at Imola is disappointing. We understand the nature of motorsport, where joy can sometimes swiftly turn into disappointment. So, we leave Imola aware of our potential and recognize the need to continue improving. We’re already looking ahead to the next event at Spa in May, aiming to achieve a strong result.”
Nicklas Nielsen, driver of the pole-sitting #50 car, shared similar sentiments, saying, “The race showed promise at the start, with a strong pace in the opening hours. However, the weather changed, and we could not finish the 6 Hours of Imola as we’d liked. At the end of the day, we can’t be entirely satisfied. We’ll aim to gather valuable insights from this race to improve our performance and return determined to do our best as of the next race at Spa.”
Ferrari’s Impressive Pace and Strategic Misjudgment
The #50 car’s performance after the pit strategy error was impressive, with Antonio Fuoco delivering the fastest lap of the race on lap 203 out of 205. Ferrari now needs to work on maximizing their potential and avoiding strategic errors that cost them the win.
Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Endurance and Corse Clienti, acknowledged the team’s mistake, saying, “When the rain came, the race was affected by the mistake of not varying the strategies among our three cars that had led up to that point. The disappointment is compounded by the regret of not delivering the deserved joy to the many fans who came to Imola and once again showed their immense affection for Ferrari and their passion for our involvement in the top endurance class.”
Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Endurance Race Cars, added, “We know that the Ferrari 499P’s performance on slick tires is excellent in damp track conditions, and even in the wet at the start, it was pretty good, so we tried to extend the lead over our competitors. However, in the end, misjudging the weather forecast, we made a late call that compromised the overall result.” He remains optimistic, saying, “In the finale, however, the number 50 499P delivered an outstanding stint in wet track conditions with slick tires, while the number 83 Ferrari secured an impressive class win, undoubtedly a positive aspect of the race.”
As Ferrari looks ahead to the next event on the WEC 2024 calendar, they’ll be determined to bounce back from this disappointment and make the most of their car’s potential. With the WEC calendar 2023 already announced, the team knows they have a long season ahead of them, but they’re ready to fight for the top spot in the FIA WEC championship.
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