Disclaimer : DUPI
Ferrari. An automative brand that is well-known worldwide which is probably helped through its success in Formula 1 and Michael Schumacher. Ferrari is present in multiple motorsport categories other than single seaters, like sportscar racing. Ferrari builds sportscars and grand touring cars. If you are a movie fan, make sure to check out Ford v Ferrari which highlights the rivalry between two manufacturers in winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Years later the two manufacturers are still feuding but in the grand touring endurance racing instead of the highest level. Yes, Ferrari had been away from contesting in sportscar for decades. Until the 2020s come.
When World Endurance Championship debuted, Ferrari joined the series in the LMGTE categories. They participated in both Pro and Am groups, but not as a manufacturer. Ferrari supplied several participants with their GT cars. Ferrari did collaborate with a team to field their drivers in, the name is AF Corse. It was founded by Amato Ferrari, a former racing driver with no familial ties with the Ferrari family who founded the brand.
Ferrari was present in the LMGTE Pro and Am classes from 2012-2022. At the same time, they are still competing in Formula 1 and many other racing categories in the world, but usually only in the GT competition. At the time, World Endurance Championship was losing competitors at its highest level, the LMP 1 class. Domino fell in places starting from Audi, then Porsche during its peak at the category. Porsche stayed in the series but only in the GTE classes. Without competition, Toyota became the top manufacturer of the LMP 1 class.
As a spectator, it was good to see Toyota got back on top, but if it was because nobody else was competing then what was the point of being the champion. Eventually, WEC would phase out its LMP 1 class for the new Hypercar class. Toyota, Alpine, and Glickenhaus participated in this new category. There are hopes by switching to Hypercar, more manufacturers or participants will join the WEC. In 2022, Peugeot officially entered the Hypercar class, making it 6 cars for the Hypercar class and a return of an old manufacturer who left the sportscar racing scene just a year prior to WEC establishment. In the same year, Le Mans Daytona (LMDh) was allowed entry to compete against the Le Mans Hypercar (LMH). This way, manufacturers who had already built their cars around Le Mans Daytona spec will be able to participate. Though these manufacturers would not join until the 2023 season. In return, LMGTE Pro class was demolished, leaving only the Am class for LMGTE. For the 2022 Le Mans Hypercar debut, Toyota reigned supreme with its number 7 and number 8.
When the curtain of 2022 was closed and 2023 was opened, new manufacturers joined the field. Cadillac and a returning Porsche entered with their LMDh challengers, not only bringing their manufacturer team but also allowing privateer teams to use their cars. Alpine did not participate in the 2023 season, opting to return in 2024 instead for extra preparation. Vanwall through ByKolles joined with its new Hypercar. Just when we think that the competition looked tight, it was gonna get even tighter.
Ferrari had decided to enter the 2023 WEC season with its Hypercar, the 499P.
Ferrari 499P ©Ferrari
In its first season, Ferrari would run two cars with numbers 50 and 51. Number 50 would be driven by Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen, while the number 51 would be driven by Antonio Giovinazzi, James Calado, and Alessandro Pier Guidi.
Antonio Fuoco | Miguel Molina | Nicklas Nielsen |
|
|
|
Antonio Giovinazzi | James Calado | Alessandro Pier Guidi |
|
|
|
James Calado, Nicklas Nielsen, Alessandro Pier Guidi, and Miguel Molina are probably more common to sportscar racing fans, with them previously drove for AF Corse in the LMGTE class. Calado once was a test driver for Force India F1 team, Miguel Molina once competed in Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM); a touring car championship in Germany for Audi, Nicklas Nielsen had been around the sportscar racing scenes for years now, Alessandro Pier Guidi was active in the LMGTE Ferrari before. Then comes the Antonios, Fuoco and Giovinazzi. Both are the test and reserve drivers of Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team, with Fuoco lastly competing in Formula 2 and Giovinazzi had a run in Formula 1 for few years with the Sauber team, and when the team became Alfa Romeo. He then moved to Formula E but was unsuccesful. He himself was not without experience in a sportscar, previously driving an LMP2 during his time on the sidelines waiting for Formula 1 seat.
On paper, the selection of the drivers and the assignment of the group for each car looked solid. Will they deliver the result on the track? We will see how it goes during the 2023 season.
0 comments:
Post a Comment