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 dwelling 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 instances, significantly in clear air, two key areas proved decisive in its defeat at a monitor the place overtaking is notoriously troublesome.

As a result of 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 capacity 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 automotive interval, when Toyota capitalised on monitor 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 end result at Imola.

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

Photograph by: FIA WEC / DPPI

“I feel these are good factors. A second-place end in the present day and the purpose for pole place at the beginning of the championship is certainly 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. Possibly we weren’t unfortunate, however Toyota was actually fortunate with the digital security automotive, which allowed them to alter tyres totally free, however that’s a part of racing. These items are unpredictable.

“I don’t assume we might have finished higher. Then, whenever you’re behind on this monitor, with our automotive’s lack of acceleration stopping us from staying near the Toyota, it was troublesome, and overtaking was inconceivable. It’s not that we didn’t attempt; quite the opposite: I attempted for an hour and a half, and the one end result was elevated put on on the rear tyres.

“That’s as a result of I stayed near the Toyota for therefore lengthy, then ‘Giovi’ tried it for one more 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 inconceivable it’s to overhaul right here. I feel in the long run we did what we might.

“I’ll say it once more, we lacked a little bit of acceleration; I don’t assume there’s anything particularly to spotlight. We have to work out what it was, however simply as folks might see the scenario on the screens, we noticed it from the cockpit too. Beneath 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 by way of Getty Photographs

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

“Somewhat rain was anticipated, however in the long run 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 might be a tricky 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 throughout the race, in order that’s a disgrace.

“The onerous factor to know – though it’s actually not onerous in any respect – is how certainly one of 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 may’t make them up. On our finish, we had been very pleased with the stability; particularly on a transparent monitor, we confirmed we had good tempo when pushing to the restrict. However once we received near a automotive, we couldn’t keep in its slipstream throughout acceleration, and at that time, it’s inconceivable to overhaul. We might have needed to go even additional than essential to cross: perhaps it really works out, but when it goes unsuitable, you get zero factors.”

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

Photograph by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Photographs

Ferrari’s workforce supervisor Giuliano Salvi felt Toyota did a greater job when it comes to race and tyre administration.

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

“We have to analyse what occurred, however it should even be stated that they had been a lot better at pulling off the triple stint on the identical tyres. At one level, they even seized the chance to pit throughout the Digital Security Automobile. It was a successful gamble, so kudos to them. When you end up behind, you attempt to do the alternative to realize place. Discovering themselves in entrance after the VSC, they then had a transparent monitor to regulate the scenario.

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

Pictures from Imola – Sunday

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