Eyes On The Prizes
Having conquered Le Mans two years in a row, Ferrari's Hypercar aspirations are focused squarely on a full-season title.
Austin, Texas--With three events left in the eight-round 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season, Ferrari still has a chance to make a memorable season spectacular.
The No. 50 499P Hypercar's win at Le Mans in June--a worthy follow-up to teammate No. 51's victory last year--ensured the 2024 campaign will never be forgotten.
But if things go well down the stretch, Ferrari could make this season one for the history books by claiming not only a drivers' title, but also the ultimate WEC prize.
“The first goal is to try to win the manufacturers' championship for Ferrari, because it's the most important thing,” No. 50 co-driver Antonio Fuoco told On Motorsport ahead of the 6 Hours of Le Mans Sept. 1 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).
Fuoco and No. 50 co-drivers Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen will start COTA second in the drivers' standings, 19 points behind the No. 5 Porsche Penske 963 and just three ahead of the No. 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR010.
Consistency has been the Porsche's team's secret; the No. 5 has four top-two finishes in five rounds. Its worst finish was 4th at Le Mans. Because longer races award more points, the No. 50's Le Mans win is one big reason the battle is so close. The lead Ferrari Hypercar has only one podium in its other four starts.
On the more high-profile constructors' side, Ferrari is just 17 points behind Porsche. But five-time defending champion Toyota is just four points out of the lead, making Ferrari's path to a coveted manufacturers' title even more difficult.
“It's getting closer to the end,” No. 50 co-driver Miguel Molina told reporters ahead of COTA. “Every race is getting more important to score points and to try to reduce the gap. We will put the maximum pressure to make [Porsche's and Toyota's] life difficult. This will be the aim.”
In many ways chasing a championship lead instead of defending it simplifies race-day strategy.
“We'll be aggressive to go for the championship, because we know that we need to take some points,” Molina said. “We have something to lose, but not that much. We are behind, and we need to be aggressive--in a sporting way.”
Ferrari may have little to lose as it battles to stay in the full-season title hunts.
But after back-to-back Le Mans wins, the Italian squad has little left to win, too.
“At the beginning of the year if you ask, what do you want to win, the championship or Le Mans, most drivers say Le Mans. The answer is quite clear,” Fuoco said.
"But when you reach the goal to win Le Mans, then you want to take the next step and try to win the championship."
More #6HCOTA coverage from On Motorsport
We’re on location at COTA this weekend—I hope you enjoy the additional coverage. Check @onmotorsport on IG for more trackside content.
