No strategy would have «offset» gap to LMDh cars in WEC Qatar
Ferrari’s sportscar technical director Ferdinando Cannizzo said the Italian marque doesn’t take any consolation from being the highest-placed LMH car in the Qatar 1812Km, a race in which LMDh cars from Porsche and Cadillac swept the top four positions. AF Corse’s new privately-entered Ferrari 499P finished fifth ahead of the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid, while […]
Toyota expects another «difficult» WEC race in Imola if car weight remains same
The Japanese manufacturer fears it could end up being in the same position as in Saturday’s Qatar 1812Km season-opener, where the two GR010 HYBRIDs finished sixth and ninth after struggling for pace all week at the Losail International Circuit. A front-row starting position following an impressive lap from Nyck de Vries in Hyperpole qualifying had […]
Peugeot proud of wingless 9X8 despite ‘Le Mans 2016 moment’ in Qatar WEC race
The wingless iteration of the 9X8 made its final WEC bow in Saturday’s Qatar 1812Km event at the Losail International Circuit ahead of being replaced by a more conventional design from April’s Six Hours of Imola. A second-place result appeared to be on the cards until Jean-Eric Vergne slowed down on track on the penultimate […]
Late pitstop made Estre fear last-gasp Porsche WEC Qatar defeat
The Penske-run factory Porsche 963 LMDh the Frenchman shared with Laurens Vanthoor and Andre Lotterer had sustained serious bodywork damage over the final hours of the Qatar 1812Km, which meant he was worried that a stop for repairs would wipe out his lead over the chasing Peugeot. “The car was tough to drive, but the […]
#93 Peugeot disqualified from Qatar WEC opener after fuel drama
The car shared by Jean-Eric Vergne, Nico Muller and Mikken Jensen was provisionally qualified seventh after Vergne had managed to crawl to the finish line on electrical power, a lap down on the winning #6 Porsche. However, following a lengthy investigation that went into the early hours of Monday, Peugeot was found guilty of breaching […]
Porsche claims maiden Hypercar win despite late drama
Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre and Andre Lotterer took top honours in the Qatar 1812Km despite Estre having to make an unscheduled pitstop with fewer than 10 laps to go due to a missing number panel on the left-hand side of the factory #6 Penske 963 LMDh. It marked the German manufacturer’s first overall victory in […]
Porsche leads Peugeot at halfway point of season-opener
Andre Lotterer was circulating 28s out in front in the factory #6 Porsche Penske 963 LMDh after five hours of racing in the Qatar 1812Km, as the order stabilised after a chaotic start at the Losail International Circuit. The Porsche moved into the lead at the beginning of the second hour when the #93 Peugeot […]
Both Ferrari LMH cars hit early trouble in Qatar WEC
The Italian manufacturer started the Qatar 1812Km on a promising note with Miguel Molina storming into the lead in the #50 Ferrari 499P with a brilliant launch from fourth on the grid. But it soon became clear that Molina didn’t have the pace to stay at the front, with Nico Muller in the #93 Peugeot […]
«Too early» to know if LMDh car can win in WEC after first pole
Porsche Penske Motorsport boss Jonathan Diuguid made the claim after Matt Campbell continued the German manufacturer’s run of form through the pre-season Prologue test and then free practice by taking pole position for this weekend’s Qatar 1812Km season-opener. Diuguid was asked after Campbell took the first pole position in the WEC for an LMDh car […]