WEC - Imola: Ferrari AF Corse talks to Italpassion before the race

Two years after its debut in the premier class of the World Endurance Championship (WEC), Ferrari continues to perfect its Hypercar program.

Ferrari ahead of its own. This weekend, the Rossa plays host to the 6 Hours of Imola, second round of the World Endurance Championship (WEC). The expectations of the Italian public are obviously high: in the season opener in Qatar at the end of February, the three Ferraris entered took the first three places under the chequered flag. This was the first victory outside Le Mans for the 499P since its racing debut in the spring of 2023. Last year, Ferrari did not always succeed in maximizing its results. The brand finished third among manufacturers behind Toyota and Porsche.

"We're still one of the youngest teams involved in Hypercar racing," reminds us Miguel Molina, winner of last year's 24 Hours aboard the #50 Ferrari. The team is entering its third campaign at the highest level, where Toyota has more than 13 years' experience at the top of the WEC.

We were still lacking consistency on all the runs, especially on the slower circuits," explains Alessandro Pier Guidi, driver of the #51. We're trying to improve every detail, with every test, every practice session and every race.

Led by the AF Corse team, operations have also progressed. Last year, at Imola, the team experienced a tricky episode: all three cars persevered on slicks in the downpour, losing any chance of victory. Ferrari was criticized for not mixing up its tactics.

We - collectively, because I don't want to point the finger at anyone - made the wrong decision," says team manager Betti Pregliasco. We have put procedures in place to avoid this type of situation in the future".

The meetings paid off. At Le Mans, we experienced the same situations with the weather," says Miguel Molino, last year's winner. And in the end, all the decisions we made were the right ones.

Rain can also be an ally for Ferrari. Designed according to LMH regulations, the 499P features an electric machine on the front axle. This gives it greater latitude on the wet track than LMDh models (Alpine, Cadillac...) whose power only passes through the rear wheels.

Treated ailments

Last summer, after the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the transalpine Hypercar had undergone its first major evolution. The team had filed an "EVO joker" with the FIA, allowing the 499P to be updated. The modification affected the front aerodynamics, the flat bottom and, above all, the brake cooling system.

This gives us an advantage at Imola or Sakhir (Bahrain), which are the most demanding circuits in terms of braking," says Mauro Barbieri, Ferrari's endurance performance manager. We're less at risk of overheating and we have a wider working temperature range".

But this modification has not changed the fundamental characteristics of the Hypercar. "In terms of set-up, our choices should be similar to last year," assures Mauro Barbieri. The 499P is still extremely comfortable in fast corners, and Ferrari isn't starting from scratch in terms of set-up.

Less tyre-eating

When it made its racing debut two years ago, the 499P earned a reputation for devouring tires. Since then, the team has gained more experience.

This was one of our weak points," concedes Alessandro Pier Guidi, entered in the #51 car and winner of the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours. At the time, the benchmark for tire management was Toyota. But I think we're at their level now. In Qatar, for example, we were able to run longer stints.

Michelin equips all the cars in the Hypercars category. This weekend, the tyre manufacturer is making three types of rubber available to the crews. For qualifying and the race, the allocation is 32 tires.

The "soft" (white sidewalls) are suitable for temperatures below 15°C, and are more at home on slightly damp tracks. The "medium" (yellow) tires are designed for higher temperatures. A tread pattern tire is also available. The Italian weather forecast does not rule out rain on Sunday.

Once again, strategy will be decisive. "The slightest mistake and you lose 5 or 6 places, and it's almost impossible to recover that loss," admits Alessandro Pier Guidi. The prancing horse certainly can't rest on its laurels.