In a thrilling opener to the FIA World Endurance Championship in Qatar, Ferrari truly dominated the track, achieving an impressive one-two-three finish. This triumphant performance set a high bar for the competition, while Corvette emerged victorious in a fiercely contested LMGT3 battle.
Ferrari AF Corse’s 499P Hypercar, with Antonio Giovinazzi at the helm during qualifiers, secured pole position and led the charge in the 18-car, ten-hour race. The trio in car #51—James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi, and Giovinazzi—initially appeared to be in command. However, their smooth run hit a snag when Giovinazzi received a drive-through penalty due to a Virtual Safety Car infringement, which pushed them to the lower edge of the top ten.
Starting from eighth, the #83 entry, a privately-run Ferrari, seized the lead after an incident where the #15 BMW spun the #50 car. A fierce on-track battle ensued between the Ferraris, each taking turns as the frontrunner.
In the end, Antonio Fuoco’s exceptional stint in the later stages proved crucial. Working alongside teammates Nicklas Nielsen and Miguel Molina, Fuoco overtook Robert Kubica during the final pit stops, maintaining the lead until the flag was waved, thus securing the first victory of the season.
“We owe this win to the team’s hard work during the off-season,” said the elated winner. “Despite some setbacks during the race, our strategy came through. Making it a one-two-three was incredible, and we aim to keep this momentum going.”
Kubica, along with Yifei Ye and newcomer Philip Hanson, managed to fend off the challenges from a revitalized Pier Guidi, ultimately taking second place just a whisker ahead of the Italian and only two seconds from victory.
The #51 team’s perseverance amidst several penalties paid off, with a late safety car phase bringing them back into the fray. Their third-place finish completed Ferrari’s historic podium sweep, a feat reminiscent of their performance at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona.
BMW M Team WRT took fourth place with their #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, despite dropping back early due to a pit speed limiter glitch and an LMGT3 clash.
Meanwhile, Toyota, defending Manufacturers’ champions, claimed the fifth and sixth spots with their GR010 Hybrids, with the #8 car leading the sibling vehicle after starting from the back.
Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA found themselves ruing missed opportunities, finishing eighth with the #12 V-Series.R Hypercar. Earl Bamber managed a remarkable climb from 17th to third after an early spin, but an unfortunate collision between Alex Lynn and Jenson Button during a safety car restart shattered their podium hopes.
The Alpine Endurance Team started strong with their #35 car in third during the early laps, courtesy of Ferdinand Habsburg, but gradually lost ground. Last year’s Qatar victors, Porsche, wrapped up with a solitary point in tenth place as the #5 Porsche Penske Motorsport struggled for pace.
In the LMGT3 category, Daniel Juncadella of TF Sport showcased his mettle, keeping McLaren’s Grégoire Saucy at bay to claim victory for Corvette. Despite starting 13th on the grid, Juncadella, with Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating, overcame early hurdles to uphold their car’s strong form, building on achievements like the previous season’s Bahrain double podium and Daytona win.
“My heart was racing towards the end,” Juncadella chuckled, reflecting his relief and joy. “We hoped for a top-five start to the season, and ending with a win is fantastic!”
United Autosports rookie Sébastien Baud, along with James Cottingham and Timur Boguslavskiy, completed the rostrum, defending their position from Lexus’s Ben Barnicoat and Ferrari’s Alessio Rovera, crossing the finish line a mere 0.343 seconds apart.
Mark your calendars for the next race, the 6 Hours of Imola in Italy, set for April 18-20, 2025. It’s shaping up to be another exhilarating chapter in this season’s thrilling narrative.
