David Floury, technical director of Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe, believes that its Italian rival will keep no less than a number of the benefit it confirmed final day trip at Imola earlier than tactical errors when it rained allowed the Japanese producer to return by means of to win.
Floury intimated that the BoP modifications for the Spa 6 Hours on Saturday is not going to absolutely shut up the sphere within the WEC’s Hypercar class.
“The image needs to be comparable however with smaller gaps,” mentioned Floury.
Requested if the Ferrari 499P Le Mans Hypercar will stay within the ascendency, he replied: “I feel so.”
He pointed to Ferrari’s tempo on this race final 12 months when it claimed a podium behind the 2 Toyota GR010 HYBRID LMHs as additional proof that it’s going to nonetheless be robust across the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps this weekend.
“Ferrari confirmed its tempo final 12 months, and I don’t anticipate a unique image,” he defined.
Ferrari has taken a 12kg hit in minimal weight below 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 12 months 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 battle 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 have to be intelligent to win right here,” he defined referencing a climate forecast that’s predicting a dry weekend.
“And this time it seems to be like we is not going to be helped by the climate: we should be much more intelligent.”
Floury urged that the steadiness between Toyota and Porsche will likely be just like Imola final month after they battled over the ultimate spot on the rostrum behind the Ferraris by means of the dry interval of the race.
“It was very shut: it was a tiny hole – it might have gone in some way,” he mentioned.
Ferrari appeared set for a 1-2 end on house floor in Italy earlier than opting to go away each its manufacturing facility vehicles 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 vehicles.
That allowed the #7 Toyota shared by Kamui Kobayashi, Nick de Vries and Mike Conway to take the victory.
Observe for the Spa 6 Hours, spherical three of the 2024 WEC, kicks off at 11:30 native time on Thursday.