Serpongupdate.com – Ferrari sealed the World Constructors’ Championship in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) on Sunday. The decisive points came in the 6 Hours of Shanghai where the two GTE 488s of AF Corse team respectively finished third with Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado and sixth with Davide Rigon and Sam Bird. This is Ferrari’s fifth WEC constructors’ title (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) and the 24th overall among the manufacturers’ championships sanctioned by the FIA. Sunday’s trophy goes in the cabinet along with the seven in the World Manufacturers’ for Makes won between 1953 and 1961, three editions of the International GT Championship (1962, 1963, 1964), four Prototypes titles between 1963 and 1972, three FIA GT Manufacturers’ championships (2006, 2007 and 2010) and two editions of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (2010 and 2011).
GTE-Pro. In the GTE-Pro class, the race was difficult for both cars. James Calado had to give way early on to the Ford no. 66 of Olivier Pla, extremely fast on the straight, while Davide Rigon dropped two places, also in troubles because of the 488 GTE’s limited top speed. The first half of the race was a sacrifice one for car no. 51, which started with old tyres so as to have fresh ones for the final stages. Just two tyres were changed at the first two pit stops and only 3 hours from the end the 488 GTE 488 had the chance to lap with four new tyres. The tactics for car no. 71 were more gradual but broadly similar. In the second half of the race both GTE 488 cars began to climb the standings with no. 51 rising to fourth and no. 71 to sixth. Near the end one of the two Fords suffered a tyre crisis, which let Pier Guidi take third while Rigon finished in sixth behind the Aston Martin of Marco Sorensen. Victory went to Henry Tincknell and Andy Priaulx in Ford no. 67 but the celebrations were in the AF Corse Ferrari garage.
GTE-Am. The two Ferrari cars competing in the GTE-Am class suffered a bitterly disappointing day. At 1 hour and 20 minutes, after Spirit of Race no. 54 had also been in the lead with Francesco Castellacci, the two GTE 488s were very close. At this point a prototype pulled close to lap Thomas Flohr and Weng Sun Mok, respectively, at the wheel of the Spirit of Race and Clearwater Racing cars. However, he misjudged the manoeuvre hitting car no. 61 and pushing it into no. 54. Mok resumed after a six-lap repair, to at least secure fourth place along with crewmates Keita Sawa and Matt Griffin. However, there was no second chance for the car of Flohr, Castellacci and Miguel Molina (who didn’t even get to drive), which remained in the pits. The class victory went to the Aston Martin of Dalla Lana-Lamy-Lauda, while the Toyota of Nakajima-Buemi-Davidson was the overall winner.
Drivers’ championship. While result of the 6 Hours of Shanghai closed the Constructors’ title the Drivers’ championship is still open and will be decided in Bahrain on 17 and 18 November. James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi hold a two-point advantage over Frederic Makowiecki and Richard Lietz of Porsche and 7.5 on Priaulx and Tincknell. The other Ferrari driver Davide Rigon is still in the running, 17.5 points behind.
Post-race quotes
Antonello Coletta, Head of Ferrari Attività Sportive GT: “We knew that we would have to work hard in Shanghai and indeed it was one of our toughest races of the year. However, our car showed it could rise to the occasion. Thanks to the great work done at Maranello, the extraordinary effort made as always by AF Corse in the management on track of the 488 GTE, to the support of the Michelotto staff and the amazing skills of our drivers we achieved our most important goal. We won the Constructors’ championship, moreover with a race to go. Despite our great joy we are not going to lower our guard: there is still the Drivers’ world championship to be won as well as the team title. We will arrive in Bahrain excited and keen to secure an even better close to a season that has already been so positive”.
James Calado, driver Ferrari #51, 3rd GTE-Pro: “We achieved our main goal, the Constructors’ championship. It wasn’t easy and it took the commitment of the whole team to win it with a race to spare. All the guys of Ferrari and AF Corse fully deserve this victory. I can’t wait to get on track in Bahrain to try to win the Drivers’ title and make unforgettable a season that’s already one to remember”.
Alessandro Pier Guidi, driver Ferrari #51, 3rd GTE-Pro: “Today’s race was one of the most difficult of the season. We needed to manage the tyres and were forced to pursue a very conservative strategy. In the end we were able to make up positions and mount the podium. We still lead the drivers’ championship although we know it will be very tough in Bahrain. But today it’s time to celebrate Ferrari’s world title”.
Davide Rigon, driver Ferrari #71, 6th GTE-Pro: “It certainly wasn’t the race we’d hoped for. We struggled a lot at the start due to a top speed that, even when we were faster, made it difficult to overtake our opponents. We are delighted to have contributed to Ferrari’s victory in the world championship and I have to congratulate all the guys who worked for this thoroughly deserved title. Now we can look ahead to Bahrain with confidence. I like the track and I’m not yet out of the running”.
Sam Bird, driver Ferrari #71, 6th GTE-Pro: “We struggled with tyre management, as well as the lack of top speed which made overtaking difficult. However, the result of our race today is of secondary importance because we can celebrate an extraordinary world title for Ferrari. We’ll think about Bahrain tomorrow morning”.
