David Floury, technical director of Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe, believes that its Italian rival will keep no less than a few of the the benefit it confirmed final trip at Imola earlier than tactical errors when it rained allowed the Japanese producer to return by way of to win.
Floury intimated that that the BoP modifications for the Spa 6 Hours on Saturday won’t absolutely shut up the sphere within the WEC’s Hypercar class.
“The image must be related however with smaller gaps,” stated Floury.
Requested if the Ferrari 499P Le Mans Hypercar will stay within the ascendent, he replied: “I feel so.”
He pointed to Ferrari’s tempo on this race final yr when it claimed a podium behind the 2 Toyota GR010 HYBRID LMHs as additional proof that it’ll nonetheless be sturdy across the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps this weekend.
“Ferrari confirmed its tempo final yr, and I don’t anticipate a unique image,” he defined.
Ferrari has taken a 12kg hit in minimal weight underneath the BoP for Spa in addition to shedding 4kW (5bhp) in most energy, whereas the Toyota has gained 4kg and misplaced 1kW.
The Toyota will go to the grid 21kg heavier than in 2023, although with 3kW extra energy.
Ferrari’s 499P, in the meantime, is 13kg heavier than final yr and has 3kW much less energy.
When requested to touch upon the BoP modifications, Floury replied: “Subsequent query.”
Producers, groups and drivers are forbidden from speaking about on the BoP within the WEC sporting guidelines on ache of sanction by the stewards.
Floury believes that Toyota can have a combat on its palms to repeat the Imola victory this weekend at Spa within the face of an anticipated efficiency deficit to Ferrari.
“We are going to must be intelligent to win right here,” he defined referencing a climate forecast that’s predicting a dry weekend.
“And this time it seems like we won’t be helped by the climate: we should be much more intelligent.”
Floury recommended that the steadiness between Toyota and Porsche will probably be just like Imola final month after they battled over the ultimate spot on the rostrum behind the Ferraris by way of the dry interval of the race.
“It was very shut: it was a tiny hole – it may have gone in some way,” he stated.
Ferrari appeared set for a 1-2 end on dwelling floor in Italy earlier than opting to depart each its manufacturing unit automobiles and the sister satellite tv for pc entry from AF Corse out on slicks when it rained.
It admitted to tactical errors, which included not splitting the methods on the 2 works automobiles.
That allowed the #7 Toyota shared by Kamui Kobayashi, Nick de Vries and Mike Conway to take the victory.
Apply for the Spa 6 Hours, spherical three of the 2024 WEC, kicks off at 11:30 native time on Thursday.