Dakar Rally News: Toyota’s Technical Director Expects Ferrari to Remain Competitive at Spa
“The picture should be similar but with smaller gaps,” Floury said, hinting that the Balance of Performance (BoP) changes for the Spa event may not fully close the gap to Ferrari.
In an interview ahead of the upcoming Spa 6 Hours race, part of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe’s technical director David Floury shared his insights on the expected performance of their Italian rivals Ferrari in the Hypercar class.
Floury acknowledged that Ferrari’s 499P Le Mans Hypercar will likely maintain at least some of the advantage it displayed at the previous round in Imola, where tactical errors in the rain allowed Toyota to ultimately secure the victory.
When asked directly if the 499P will remain the car to beat, Floury replied, “I think so.“
He pointed to Ferrari’s strong pace at last year’s Spa 6 Hours, where the Italian manufacturer claimed a podium finish behind the two Toyota GR010 HYBRID LMHs, as evidence that they will be a force to be reckoned with this weekend.
Despite the BoP adjustments, which have seen Ferrari take a 12kg hit in minimum weight and a 4kW (5bhp) reduction in maximum power, while Toyota has gained 4kg and lost 1kW, Floury believes the Italian car will still have the edge.
“Ferrari showed its pace last year, and I don’t expect a different picture,” he explained.
Floury acknowledged that Toyota will need to be “clever” to repeat their Imola victory, especially with the weather forecast predicting a dry weekend, which means they will not be “helped by the weather” this time.
The technical director also suggested that the battle between Toyota and Porsche could be as close as it was at Imola, where the two manufacturers fought for the final spot on the podium.
Practice for the Spa 6 Hours, the third round of the 2024 WEC season, is set to begin at 11:30 local time on Thursday.
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