Ferrari explains the place Toyota gained the higher hand in Imola WEC opener

Ferrari recognized traction and tyre administration as the important thing areas the place Toyota gained the higher hand within the World Endurance Championship’s Imola opener.

Though the Italian producer arrived at its residence race with out contemplating itself the favorite, it nonetheless emerged as Toyota’s predominant challenger within the Hypercar class.

The duel between the 2 producers performed out from the very begin and developed right into a strategic and technical contest, with Ferrari holding a 1-2 early on earlier than Toyota made a decisive break within the third hour.

Whereas Ferrari matched Toyota for outright tempo at occasions, significantly in clear air, two key areas proved decisive in its defeat at a observe the place overtaking is notoriously tough.

Attributable to comparatively poor acceleration, Ferrari struggled to remain shut sufficient to mount assaults, significantly on nook exits.

Tyre behaviour was the opposite defining issue. Toyota’s capability to increase stints, most notably by triple-stinting a set of tyres, gave it a strategic benefit over Ferrari.

That power was additional amplified throughout a digital security automobile interval, when Toyota capitalised on observe place and tyre technique to seize management of the race.

Regardless of securing pole place and ending second with the #51 crew, Ferrari acknowledged that, given the circumstances, it had extracted the utmost doable outcome at Imola.

#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi

Photograph by: FIA WEC / DPPI

“I believe these are good factors. A second-place end immediately and the purpose for pole place initially of the championship is unquestionably constructive. We all know that consistency is the important thing to this championship,” stated Alessandro Pier Guidi, who completed second within the #51 Ferrari 499P LMH he shares with James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi.

“Clearly, we needed to win at Imola, in entrance of our followers – that’s simple. However I imagine we gave it our all to take action. Perhaps we weren’t unfortunate, however Toyota was actually fortunate with the digital security automobile, which allowed them to vary tyres totally free, however that’s a part of racing. These items are unpredictable.

“I don’t suppose we may have finished higher. Then, whenever you’re behind on this observe, with our automobile’s lack of acceleration stopping us from staying near the Toyota, it was tough, and overtaking was unattainable. It’s not that we didn’t strive; quite the opposite: I attempted for an hour and a half, and the one outcome was elevated put on on the rear tyres.

“That’s as a result of I stayed near the Toyota for thus lengthy, then ‘Giovi’ tried it for an additional hour. But when we contemplate that he had new tyres whereas Toyota was on its third stint on the identical set… You realise simply how virtually unattainable it’s to overhaul right here. I believe ultimately we did what we may.

“I’ll say it once more, we lacked a little bit of acceleration; I don’t suppose there’s the rest specifically to spotlight. We have to determine what it was, however simply as folks may see the state of affairs on the screens, we noticed it from the cockpit too. Below acceleration, Toyota gained a number of meters of a bonus, which then allowed them to defend very nicely on the finish of the straight.”

#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen

Photograph by: Roberto Tommasini / NurPhoto through Getty Photos

The sister #50 Ferrari shared by Nicklas Nielsen, Miguel Molina and Antonio Fuoco endured a harder race, with a drive-through penalty for a yellow flag infringement dropping it out of rivalry and limiting it to sixth on the end.

“A bit rain was anticipated, however ultimately there was little or no. Other than that, we couldn’t have hoped for it. We knew from the beginning of the weekend that it will be a troublesome race,” stated Fuoco.

“Essentially the most irritating factor shouldn’t be having the ability to compete in acceleration with our predominant rivals; we couldn’t overtake, and there have been few overtakes through the race, in order that’s a disgrace.

“The onerous factor to know – though it’s actually not onerous in any respect – is how one in all our rivals [Toyota] had completely no tyre degradation. They did three stints on one set of tires. So it’s fairly clear what the issue is.

“Acceleration was the issue. When you lose these 20 meters, you possibly can’t make them up. On our finish, we have been very proud of the stability; particularly on a transparent observe, we confirmed we had good tempo when pushing to the restrict. However once we obtained near a automobile, we couldn’t keep in its slipstream throughout acceleration, and at that time, it’s unattainable to overhaul. We’d have needed to go even additional than essential to cross: perhaps it really works out, but when it goes fallacious, you get zero factors.”

#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen

Photograph by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Photos

Ferrari’s workforce supervisor Giuliano Salvi felt Toyota did a greater job by way of race and tyre administration.

“Within the race, Toyota, in the long term, proved higher at managing gasoline consumption once we have been on equal footing,” he admitted.

“We have to analyse what occurred, but it surely should even be stated that they have been significantly better at pulling off the triple stint on the identical tyres. At one level, they even seized the chance to pit through the Digital Security Automobile. It was a successful gamble, so kudos to them. When you end up behind, you attempt to do the other to achieve place. Discovering themselves in entrance after the VSC, they then had a transparent observe to regulate the state of affairs.

“We had additionally thought-about doing the triple stint, however initially we didn’t must take any dangers as a result of we have been within the lead, whereas they did it whereas trailing. We gave it our all, however we knew Toyota could be superior.”

Photographs from Imola – Sunday

#8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota TR010: Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa