When Ferrari failed to divide its strategies at the Imola WEC Six Hour in Italy two weeks ago, it exposed itself to penalties for not winning the race. Unfortunately, these penalties have now come into effect for this weekend’s Belgian Spa 6 Hour. The winners of the Imola race, Toyota, and the second-placed Porsche have been given an advantage due to their slower pace compared to the red and yellow Ferrari cars. Ferrari, on the other hand, has been hit the hardest as it approaches the final race of the Road to Le Mans.
As a result of their performance at Imola, Ferrari’s cars have been burdened with an additional 12 kilograms of weight. At the same time, their power has been reduced by four kilowatts. Toyota, as well as the second-placed Porsches leading the championship, have only gained 4 kg of weight and lost one kilowatt of power.
Therefore, the black, white, and red cars are now considered the favorites at Spa. The Porsches, in particular, have an advantage as they were faster than the Toyotas at Imola. This situation is a consequence of another strategic mistake by Ferrari. Their fastest cars are now compromised due to the team’s poor decision-making during their home race.
The other teams have also been affected by the Balance of Performance adjustments since Imola. However, they are expected to deliver similar performances at Spa. The progress of BMW and Lamborghini will be particularly interesting, especially considering that the Bavarian cars entered the mix for the first time at Imola.
The first lap crash at Imola had an impact on Cadillac, Peugeot, Alpine, and Isotta Fraschini, making it difficult to determine their true performance level. This uncertainty leaves the midfield teams unpredictable ahead of Spa.
In the GT3 category, the Imola-winning BMWs, the Qatar-winning Porsches, and the Ferrari 299s have not received any Balance of Performance sanctions. However, adjustments have been made to the Aston Martins and new Ford Mustangs. Will Valentino Rossi win his first race in the 4-wheeled world championship at Spa? Only time will tell.
Looking ahead to Le Mans, Ferrari’s performance at Imola may have a silver lining. If the Italian cars prove to be off the pace at Spa, it could lead to adjustments in their favor before the 24 Hour race. So, there is still hope for the Tifosi.
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