Ferrari has received an increase in the engine power of its 499P for the upcoming round of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in Interlagos. After its victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Italian manufacturer has regained the power it had lost before the famous French race. This adjustment will allow the team to better face the demands of the Brazilian track.
At Le Mans, Ferrari's 499P suffered a 1.7% reduction in its maximum power at speeds above 250 km/h due to changes in the Balance of Performance (BoP) of the Hypercar category. However, for the Interlagos race, the published BoP shows a 1.8% increase in Ferrari's power.
Ferdinando Cannizzo, Ferrari's technical director, noted that the power reduction at Le Mans affected the car's competitiveness, as it exceeded 250 km/h for 45% of the time on that track. Despite the reduction, Ferrari improved its straight-line speed during race week, although the Toyota GR010 HYBRID LMH remained the fastest car in wet conditions.
For the race in Brazil, the maximum power allowed from the 499P's hybrid system has been reduced to 503 kW (674 hp), compared to 508 kW (678 hp) at Le Mans. Additionally, the car's minimum weight has increased from 1043 kg to 1060 kg. These adjustments align Ferrari's specifications with the rest of the Hypercar field, similar to the event at Spa.
The Interlagos Autódromo José Carlos Pace returns to the WEC calendar after ten years. The last time it hosted a round of the championship was in 2014. At 4.309 km long, it is the shortest track of the year, featuring 15 corners and allowing hypercars to reach speeds close to 305 km/h. Approximately 50% of the lap is done with the throttle fully open.
In addition to Ferrari, other notable changes in the cars include the weight increase of the Porsche 963 and the power adjustment of the Peugeot 9X8 2024. The Toyota GR010 will be 4 kg lighter than at Spa, but with a reduction of 9 kW in its power.
The race in Interlagos will see 19 hypercars and 18 LMGT3 cars compete, including two local drivers: Nicolas Costa with the McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo and Augusto Farfus with the BMW M4 LMGT3. With a close gap in the constructors' championship, Porsche leads with 108 points, closely followed by Ferrari and Toyota. The title fight remains open with more than 100 points at stake in the remaining rounds in Brazil, the United States, Japan, and Bahrain.
The action will start on Friday, July 12, with practice sessions, while qualifying and Hyperpole will take place on Saturday. The 6-hour race will begin on Sunday, July 14, at 11:30 local time.
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