Imola, Italy: WEC 6H of Imola 2024
Fresh from Porsche’s initial victory in the FIA World Endurance Championship during the previous race in Qatar, in the Hypercar category with the 963, Porsche factory driver Andre Lotterer expressed his satisfaction. Lotterer, a three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner, stated, “We can observe the advancements from the past. The team has made significant improvements in terms of personnel, and we are reaping the benefits of those changes. We now arrive better prepared with well-thought-out plans, instead of simply trying things out. We come ready.”
However, Lotterer did not exude excessive confidence regarding the upcoming race at Imola. He acknowledged the challenges they faced during testing at the track and recognized the competitiveness of other teams. Lotterer remarked, “It would be nice to repeat our success, but it’s going to be tough here. We noticed that Imola is quite different from Qatar. We made adjustments, and the car feels much better, but others are equally fast, if not faster. The Balance of Performance adjustment may also play a role, although it’s uncertain. We don’t expect to be at the front, but who knows? If we perform well, we might surprise ourselves.”
Lotterer attributed his reserved response to the characteristics of the track. He explained that the 963 was better suited for Qatar due to their understanding of the tires and finding the optimal setup. However, bumpy tracks like Imola posed challenges for Porsche, particularly in terms of their aerodynamics. Lotterer admitted, “Smooth tracks allow us to extract more performance from our aero, but circuits like Imola are more difficult for us. It’s not necessarily a disadvantage, but we may not be as strong as others. It’s a bit more challenging for us to find the right balance.”
In the first free practice session, Porsche finished seventh and eighth. The race is scheduled for Sunday, April 21st, starting at 1pm local time.