However, the 2024 World Endurance Championship begins on Saturday at the Losail Circuit, marking the start of an exciting era for sports car endurance racing. Here’s everything you need to know!
Teams have completed their tests, drivers are prepared, and the Road to Le Mans 2024 will begin with the Qatar 1812 at the Losail circuit this Saturday. Uniquely, the distance of the Losail race is linked to Qatar National Day on December 18 and will be limited to a 10-hour period, corresponding to the year.
But what really matters is whether anyone can dethrone Toyota Gazoo Racing and claim the 2024 World Endurance Championship title. As the smoke clears, Saturday’s race will reveal whether the Gazoo team remains the favorite for their sixth consecutive WEC title or if a new champion will emerge.
Speaking of smoke and mirrors, Saturday’s race will also validate or debunk the pace seen in last week’s tests in Losail. The fact that the Porsche 963s led all sessions adds intrigue. JOTA showed their speed in Monday’s sessions, while the Penske team’s machines dominated Tuesday’s action. Notably, Cadillac finished second in the final session, behind AF Corse’s yellow Ferrari and its two red counterparts.
Another topic of discussion ahead of the Losail race is the WEC’s Balance of Performance. Toyota, now less powerful at 510 kW and heavier at 1089 kg, reported difficulties during testing. Ferrari had a 2 kW power reduction but maintained a weight of 1075 kg, while Porsche lost 9 kW, reaching 514 kW, and gained two kilograms, totaling 1046 kg. Cadillac’s power decreased by five to 499 kW, and its weight increased by two kilograms to 1032 kg.
Peugeot, on the other hand, lost 9 kg, weighing 1030 kilograms with an unchanged power of 520 kW. Among the newcomers, Alpine will race with 510 kW and 1070 kg, BMW with 506 kW and 1060 kg, Lamborghini with 1041 kg and 502 kW, and Isotta Fraschini with 514 kW and 1085 kg. Interestingly, Porsche is expected to introduce a new engine and other modifications before Le Mans.
The real highlight of the 2024 season, however, lies in the diversity of the Hypercar field. With nineteen cars participating in Qatar and more to come before Le Mans, five-time champion Toyota Gazoo Racing will continue their campaign with a pair of GR010 Hybrids. The driver lineups include Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and former F1 refugee Nyck de Vries, as well as Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa.
Ferrari, the Le Mans winner in 2023 and WEC runner-up, announced the addition of a third Hypercar, painted yellow and labeled as 499P. This car will be driven by former F1 star Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman, and Chinese driver Yifei Ye. They will join the two existing red 499Ps, which are still piloted by Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen, Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi.
Porsche, who finished third in the 2023 championship, will return with a strong presence of five cars. The team will have two factory Porsche 963s from Penske, driven by Matt Campbell, Michael Christensen, Fred Makowiecki, Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer, and Laurens Vanthoor. In addition, there will be two JOTA Porsche 963s, crewed by Will Stevens, Norman Nato, Callum Ilott, Oliver Rasmussen, Jenson Button, and Phil Hanson. Finally, a Proton car will be driven by Harry Tincknell, Neel Jani, and Julien Andlauer.
Cadillac will return with a single V-Series.R, driven by Earl Bamber, Sebastien Bourdais, and Alex Lynn. Peugeot, on the other hand, will bring two highly modified 9X8 Hybrids, with Nico Muller, Jean-Eric Vergne, Mikkel Jensen, Loic Duval, Paul di Resta, and Stoffel Vandoorne behind the wheel.
BMW, Lamborghini, Alpine, and Isotta Fraschini will make their debut in the World Endurance Championship at Losail. BMW will have two cars driven by Sheldon van der Linde, Robin Frijns, Rene Rast, Dries Vanthoor, Raffaele Marciello, and Marco Wittmann. The new Lamborghini SC3 will be piloted by Mirko Bortolotti, Daniil Kvyat, and Edoardo Mortara. Alpine will return to the top class with two brand-new A424s, driven by Nicolas Lapierre, Matthieu Vaxiviere, Mick Schumacher, Paul-Loup Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg, and Charles Milesi. Finally, Antonio Serravalle, JK Vernay, and Carl Wattana Bennett will be behind the wheel of the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6-C, the only car with a unique name.
It is expected that the Hypercar entry list will continue to grow as the season progresses. There are rumors that more private teams are waiting to enter the competition. Additionally, teams often bring extra cars for Le Mans and other races, further increasing the excitement.
In an exciting development, the new LMGT3 has attracted the attention of 18 teams for its inaugural GT3-based season. Notable drivers include South African Kelvin van der Linde and former Toyota Hypercar competitor Jose Maria Lopez, who will lead the two Akkodis ASP Lexus RCF teams. The WRT team has also entered the competition with two BMW M4 GT3s, with MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi confirmed to drive car number 46 and Augusto Farfus leading the lineup number 31.
Returning to the scene, Iron Lynx and Iron Dames will now pilot Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2s, while McLaren joins the fray with a pair of McLaren 720S GT3 Evos. TF Sport has partnered with Corvette Racing to field a pair of Z06 GT3.Rs. Additionally, the event will feature two Ferrari 296 GT3s, a pair of Aston Martin Vantage GT3s, a Ford Mustang GT3, and the two Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 Rs.
The eight-round Road to Le Mans WEC will begin in Qatar this weekend, followed by races in Imola, Italy on April 2, Spa, Belgium on May 11, and Le Mans on June 15 and 16. The competition will then head to Sao Paulo, Brazil, Texas, USA, Japan, and finally Bahrain. The Qatar 1812 race will start at 8:00 AM GMT on Saturday and is expected to finish in time for the start of the Formula 1 race in Bahrain. The reason for scheduling both events on the same weekend is known only to the FIA. – Michele Lupini
© 2024
In a surprising twist, the Brazilian driver claimed victory in this weekend’s Formula 1 Grand Prix. With an impressive performance, he overtook his competitors and crossed the finish line in first place.
The race was full of excitement from the start. Right at the beginning, several cars were involved in an accident, causing a red flag. After the restart, the Brazilian driver showcased his skill and determination, gaining positions with each lap.
The weather was unpredictable throughout the race, with intermittent rain and a slippery track. However, this didn’t stop the Brazilian driver from demonstrating his mastery, maintaining a consistent pace and avoiding mistakes.
On the podium, the Brazilian driver celebrated his victory with great emotion. He thanked his team for their hard work and dedication, acknowledging that the win was the result of a collective effort.
With this victory, the Brazilian driver solidifies himself as one of the great talents of Formula 1. His determination and skill make him a formidable competitor, capable of overcoming any challenge that comes his way.
Brazilian fans are celebrating this achievement. They hope that the Brazilian driver continues to shine in the upcoming races and brings even more victories to the country.
The next stage of the Formula 1 championship will be held next month, and everyone is eager to see what the Brazilian driver will be able to accomplish. Will he be able to maintain his exceptional performance and secure another victory? Only time will tell.
