Ferrari Looking for a Back-to-Back WEC 1-2-3 at Imola
It will be a case of catch those Ferraris when the 2025 World Endurance Championship heads to its second round this weekend. Being a stone’s throw from Maranello at Imola on Sunday, one would rather expect the Scuderia to be chasing a double Formula 1 victory in Saudi, and another WEC 1-2-3 at home.
Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen took the red 50 Ferrari to victory in Qatar last month from the yellow number 83 piloted by Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson, and the red 51 driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi.
Best of the Rest BMW, Toyota Chasing Better
Best of the rest, WEC sophomore BMW’s Vanthoor, Marciello and Magnussen stole fourth from champions Gazoo Toyota Racing with a better than expected fifth and sixth after a tough qualifying. They were ahead of the second BMW and the delayed best of the Cadillac V-Series.Rs delayed by a team tangle.
Porsche suffered a Qatar race to forget a year on from steamrolling to its maiden victory there in tenth and eleventh. They will be searching for a major turnaround in Ferraris back yard.
Looking ahead, The FIA’s race-by race Balance of Performance swept in some interesting changes for Imola. Ferrari has gained 8 kg and 7 kW over Qatar, which makes it 4 kg heavier than Imola in 2024 when it the team stole defeat from the jaws of victory from Qatar. Can it conquer again at home?
Balance of Performance Swings & Roundabouts
Also impressive at the season opener BMW gains 5kg in weight and a healthy 8 kW in power, while Toyota’s GR010 HYBRID LMH, which bounce back in the Qatar race, returns at the same weight but loses 4 kW this weekend. Fast but out of luck at Qatar, Cadillac takes the biggest weight penalty at 10 kg up, but the naturally aspirated V8 also gains 7 kW.
Porsche benefits the biggest weight break for Imola with an 11-kilo cut, but the 963s will still be 20 kg heavier than a year ago at 1030 kg. in Italy, and maximum power 8 HP down. The drivers’ champions will still be hoping for a step up from 10th and 11th in Qatar
Alpine’s A424 LMDh loses two kilos and the Peugeot 9X8 one, with the Peugeot now down to the 1030 kg. Hypercar minimum weight and 520 kg maximum power. Aston Martin’s new Valkyrie LMH V12 gains 8 kg.
IMOLA Advantage Corvette in LMGT3
Looking at LMGT3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R trio, the defensive Daniel Juncadella, Ben Keating and Jonny Edgar arrive in Italy leading the Cottingham Baud Saucy 59 McLaren in that championship. The Shahin Boguslavskiy Farfus BMW M4 sits third ahead of the surprise of Qatar, the Robin Gehrsitz Barnicoat Lexus and the Heriau Mann Rovera Ferrari 296.
With practice and qualifying from Good Friday 18 April and the race from 1 pm European time Easter Sunday 20 April, follow the race live on timing and streaming at www.fiawec.com.