Ferrari Dominates Hyperpole at Monza for WEC 2023 Opener
Monza, Italy – In an impressive display of Ferrari’s prowess, Italian driver Antonio Fuoco secured pole position for the opening round of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the historic Monza circuit.
Fuoco, driving the factory #50 Ferrari 499P Le Mans Hypercar, demonstrated his mastery of the track by setting a blistering lap time of 1m29.466s, putting him 0.419s clear of the field. This performance marked Fuoco’s first pole position since last year’s Le Mans 24 Hours.
The Italian explained that completing two warm-up laps in the decisive Hyperpole session allowed him to optimize the tire temperatures and avoid overstressing the rubber, a strategy that proved effective.
“This was our strategy from FP3 that we tried earlier. It was working quite well and we did it again in the quali, and it was okay. So I think today we understand a bit more than the others on how to manage the tyres,” Fuoco said.
WEC rookie Robert Shwartzman, driving the customer AF Corse-run 499P, secured second place, while Alessandro Pier Guidi completed a Ferrari lockout of the top three in the second factory machine.
Shwartzman, competing in Hyperpole for the first time, was pleased with his front-row start, stating:
“For my first quali, I think the front row is quite good. Antonio did a really good clean lap, but I didn’t manage to do that. That is the difference between P1 and P2.”
The battle for supremacy in the WEC’s new Hypercar class is shaping up to be a thrilling one, with Ferrari showcasing its potential at its home circuit. Fans can look forward to an exciting race on Sunday, where the Prancing Horse will aim to continue its dominance.
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