Ferrari Achieves Historic Podium Sweep at Qatar 1812km Race
At the Qatar 1812km, Ferrari secured a historic podium sweep with the No. 50 Ferrari 499P claiming victory, marking their first-ever win outside the 24 Hours of Le Mans for a factory car. All three drivers achieved their second victory as they dominated the race, leading the majority of laps. Aston Martin and Alpine faced struggles with technical issues, while TF Sport’s Corvette emerged victoriously in the LMGT3 category. The championship continues with the next race at Imola.
The No. 50 Ferrari 499P triumphed in the Qatar 1812km, marking Ferrari’s fourth overall win in the FIA World Endurance Championship and their first outside the 24 Hours of Le Mans for a factory car. This victory adds to the accolades of drivers Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen, and Miguel Molina, who also clinched their second win together following their success at Le Mans last year.
In an impressive showing for Ferrari, the No. 83 AF Corse finished in second place, with the No. 51 works entry securing third, leading to Ferrari’s first-ever overall podium sweep. Notably, Ferraris led 309 of the 318 laps, with Cadillac and Toyota taking brief leads. This achievement marks Ferrari’s first complete sweep in a major endurance race since 1972.
James Calado expressed surprise at the No. 51 Ferrari’s comeback to third despite facing penalties that had temporarily dropped them in the standings. He noted communication issues during the race but remains optimistic about future performance. Ferrari’s dominant performance also secured them 66 points in the manufacturers’ championship, leading BMW by 31 points and Toyota by 33.
Kevin Magnussen described his fourth-place finish with BMW as “satisfactory,” acknowledging the faster Ferraris ahead of him. Ex-Formula 1 driver Magnussen stated that the team has significantly improved and enjoyed battling for poles and podiums. Meanwhile, Porsche LMDh’s director critiqued their performance, stating Ferrari was “definitely in a different league”; their cars finished in the lower ranks due to mechanical issues.
The Alpine team faced challenges, remaining scoreless alongside debutants Aston Martin, as Mick Schumacher noted a performance drop in colder temperatures. Conversely, Aston Martin endured a learning experience in their Valkyrie’s debut but showed promising pace. TF Sport’s Corvette entry ensured victory in the LMGT3 category, followed by McLaren achieving their best result yet in that class.
Despite technical issues, Team WRT’s third-place finish was noteworthy, with Augusto Farfus highlighting a successful strategy could potentially lead to podiums even without the fastest times. Although Racing Spirit of Leman did not claim a higher position, they managed points in their first WEC outing.
Iron Lynx experienced a challenging debut with the Mercedes-AMG GT3, suffering multiple technical failures. Meanwhile, United Autosports’ Sean Gelael was honored with the Goodyear Wingfoot Award, presented based on fan votes this season. The race faced interruptions due to safety cautions, resulting in an incomplete lap count before the time limit. The next event is scheduled for Imola on April 18-20.
The recent Qatar 1812km marked a historic race for Ferrari, highlighting their dominance in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Their podium sweep and record-breaking performance established them as a formidable force in the Hypercar category while underscoring the challenges faced by rival teams like Porsche and Alpine. The championship continues with upcoming races that promise to showcase further developments and competition.
Original Source: sportscar365.com
