When Ferrari failed to split their strategies at the Imola WEC Six Hour in Italy two weeks ago, they exposed themselves to penalties for not winning the race. Unfortunately, these penalties have now come into effect for the 6 Hours of Spa in Belgium this weekend. The race winners in Imola, Toyota, and second-placed Porsche were beneficiaries due to their slower pace compared to the red and yellow Ferrari cars. On the other hand, Ferrari was the most affected as they approach the final race of the Road to Le Mans.
As a result of their performance in Imola, the Ferrari cars were burdened with an additional 12 kilograms of weight. At the same time, their power was reduced by four kilowatts. Toyota, along with the second-placed Porsches leading the championship, only gained 4 kg of weight and lost one kilowatt of power.
Therefore, the black, white, and red cars are now considered the favorites in Spa. The Porsches, in particular, have an advantage as they were faster than the Toyotas in Imola. This situation is a consequence of another strategic error from Ferrari. Their faster cars are now compromised due to the team’s poor decisions during their home race.
The other teams have also been affected by the Balance of Performance adjustments since Imola. However, they are expected to deliver similar performances in Spa. The progress of BMW and Lamborghini will be especially interesting, considering the Bavarian cars entered the competition for the first time in Imola.
The first lap crash in Imola had an impact on Cadillac, Peugeot, Alpine, and Isotta Fraschini, making it difficult to determine their true level of performance. This uncertainty leaves the midfield teams unpredictable before Spa.
In the GT3 category, the BMWs winners in Imola, the Porsches winners in Qatar, and the Ferrari 299 did not receive any Balance of Performance sanction. However, adjustments were made to the Aston Martins and the new Ford Mustangs. Will Valentino Rossi win his first race in the 4-wheel world championship at Spa? Only time will tell.
Looking ahead to Le Mans, the performance of Ferrari in Imola may have a silver lining. If the Italian cars prove to be off pace in Spa, this could lead to adjustments in their favor before the 24-hour race. Therefore, there is still hope for the Tifosi.
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