Kevin Estre stated that Porsche had no chance of surpassing Ferrari in the qualifying round of the FIA World Endurance Championship’s 6 Hours of Imola. The French driver, piloting the #6 Porsche 963, firmly denied any possibility of beating Ferrari when asked.
According to Estre, their performance was at its peak, with a potential opportunity to secure the third position, but claiming the first position was out of the question.
Despite qualifying in fourth place, significantly behind polesitter Antonio Fuoco, Estre expressed contentment with his lap time.
Following the qualifying session, Estre expressed satisfaction with the car’s performance and highlighted the team’s strong preparation for the race.
When questioned about Porsche’s race pace compared to their one-lap performance, Estre remained optimistic, emphasizing that practice sessions do not reveal the other cars’ tire and fuel strategies.
Estre believed that a difference of six to seven tenths of a second would not be the determining factor in the race, expressing a lighthearted remark about the potential length of the race if that were the case.
While Estre was unsure about the specific areas where Porsche lacked pace compared to Ferrari, he acknowledged the importance of utilizing the kerbs effectively at Imola, a strength of the Ferrari team.
Despite this, Estre commended Porsche’s efforts in creating a car that could handle the kerbs at Imola, acknowledging Ferrari’s overall strength in various tracks.
In conclusion, Kevin Estre, a Porsche factory driver, acknowledged the dominance of Ferrari in qualifying but remained hopeful for the upcoming race.