The first race in the FIA World Endurance Championship of the Ferrari 296s ended with a fifth and seventh place, making their debut in the LMGT3 class at the 1812 km of Qatar.
On the Lusail track the Maranello cars prepared by Vista AF Corse had appeared in rather good form since the Prologue tests at the beginning of the week and also in Free Practice they continued to do very well with the crews formed by Thomas Flohr/Francesco Castellacci/Davide Rigon (#54) and François Heriau/Simon Mann/Alessio Rovera.
The first trio was now tested and in fact the excellent times obtained were visible, especially the third time in Hyperpole set by Flohr, while the second car tried to grow along the way with the usual Rovera showing the way to its new teammates, and Heriau to still enter the Top 10 in the tests to define the starting grid.
“I found a really good feeling with this 296, the team did an excellent job and we managed to transfer everything done during the Prologue and free practice into these two official sessions”, declared Flohr – For just three thousandths I didn't we achieved second place, but we are happy with what we achieved in qualifying.”
Heriau, however, acknowledged that there is still a long way to go: “The main objective of qualifying was to enter the Hyperpole and we are really happy to have achieved it. I didn't want to make any mistakes, trying to improve from session to session. The race It will be long and we have everything we need to do well.”
#54 View AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3: Thomas Flohr, Francesco Castellacci, Davide Rigon
Photo by: Shameem Fahath
In the race Flohr started really well and the first hours saw him keep the grey-red 296 between the podium and the Top5, while in the final phase the 296 lost some ground, while other rival cars gained positions.
The #55 was forced to serve a Drive Through due to track limits broken too many times, stopping an ascent which, thanks to the always very fast Rovera (his category reference time in the race was 1'53″529) had brought her behind the twin.
In the end, 5th and 7th place at the checkered flag is a good amount of points won in an event that was anything but easy, but demonstrating that the car is there and with a little running-in even its drivers can become protagonists this season.
#54 View AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3: Thomas Flohr, Francesco Castellacci, Davide Rigon
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
“It was a really good race, each of us gave our all, we didn't make any mistakes either on the track or at the pit stops, which is fundamental in such a long race”, underlines Rigon, who among other things won the prize Goodyear WingFoot for those who obtain the best average in the category in a double stint.
“Thomas did an incredible job, as did Francesco. The track limits were dangerous but we did well not to incur any penalties.”
“It's a shame about the Full Course Yellow which in the early stages made us lose about 40″ while we were about to make the second pit stop, we could have played for the podium. However, we are happy with the performance of the 296 LMGT3 and the entire team.”
Flohr was immediately smiling when he finished his shifts: “I'm happy, the 296 LMGT3 is incredible. The podium was within reach, but we had a bit of bad luck with the Full Course Yellow.”
“However, the balance is absolutely positive, we were consistently in the Top5 doing excellent team work with Davide and Francesco. See you in Imola.”
Castellacci comments: “I am satisfied with the fifth place obtained today. Thomas had an excellent first stint after which he handed over the 296 to me, I immediately tried to preserve the tires a little and then push harder in the second stint before handing the wheel to Davide.”
“It wasn't easy to avoid penalties due to track limits, but we did it. The result obtained makes us confident because the whole package worked well. At Imola we hope to do even better.”
#55 View AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3: François Heriau, Simon Mann, Alessio Rovera
Photo by: Erik Junius
On the other side of the garage, Rovera highlights the excellent steps forward made: “At a performance level, the 296 LMGT3 responded well and the most positive note is the fact that the work carried out since the pre-season tests of the Prologue and then in the free practice has borne concrete fruit. The car 'absorbed' the various changes as best as possible and in the race we tried to recover as much as possible.”
“At the beginning of each stint I tried to manage the tires as best as I could and then I pushed as hard as I could. We managed to climb up to seventh place in a grid with many top-level rivals. It remains a result that is at least partly 'unfinished' because these opportunities must be maximized when they arise.”
“Now we're meeting in Imola with the intention of improving the final result. I'm really happy with how the team worked throughout the week in Qatar and this makes me confident for the rest of the season.”
Mann was also satisfied: “I have to say that the season debut was positive, the car performed very well and I'm happy. Obviously there is always a lot to learn at the first race, an experience that, appointment after event, will help us to do better.”
Heriau comments: “The race went well, the 296 proved to be a reliable car and this gives us hope for the rest of the season in which I hope to maximize what I learned today”.
“As far as I'm concerned, I still have to understand how to make the most of the car, but the foundations are already solid and the sensations are positive for the next events.”
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