WEC Race Report: Ferrari Leads, Competitive Stints Define Strategy
In the latest round of the World Endurance Championship (WEC), Ferrari’s #51 AF Corse 499P, driven by James Calado, secured the lead following an unintentional off-track incident involving Phil Hanson in the sister #83 entry. This strategic maneuver allowed Calado to assume first position as the race progressed.
As the clock ticked into the race’s tenth hour, a notable shift in tire strategy emerged. Ferrari’s entries predominantly executed 12-lap stints, while competitors, including the #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 and #4 sister car, took advantage of longer intervals, potentially jeopardizing Ferrari’s race strategy.
The #6 Porsche, driven by Kevin Estre, continued to command a strong presence, shadowed closely by the #15 BMW M Team WRT M Hybrid V8 of Dries Vanthoor and the #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR010 Hybrid with Brendan Hartley behind the wheel. Notably, Earl Bamber achieved a new fastest lap in the #38 Cadillac Hertz Team Jota V-Series.R, clocking a time of 3:27.534, just shy of the race lap record.
The #93 Peugeot 9X8 faced significant setbacks, spending extended time in the garage to rectify a steering issue and falling five laps behind the leaders. In contrast, as temperatures dropped, several teams experimented with soft Michelin tires, which provided competitive advantages for shorter stints, while medium tires showed durability for longer runs.
In the LMP2 category, VDS Panis Racing maintained its lead, with Franck Perera piloting the #48 ORECA. Jakub Smiechowski in the #43 Inter Europol ORECA and #9 Iron Lynx-Proton entry, driven by Maceo Capietto, trailed behind.
In the LMGT3 class, strategy paid off for the #92 Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3R, now led by Richard Lietz, positioning them ahead of the #46 BMW driven by Ahmad Al Harthy. Meanwhile, Akkodis ASP’s two Lexuses continued to show competitive pacing, placing third and fourth, while TF Sport’s #81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, driven by Charlie Eastwood, rounded out the top five in the category.
As the race unfolds, tire strategies and pit stop efficacy will play crucial roles in determining the final outcomes across all classes.
