DOHA – Ferrari made a resounding statement at the World Endurance Championship (WEC) season opener. They secured a historic 1-2-3 finish at the Qatar 1812 KM race held at Lusail International Circuit on Saturday.
The No. 50 Ferrari hypercar, driven by Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen, and Miguel Molina, clinched victory after a dramatic 10-hour battle, crossing the finish line at midnight. The race was filled with intense moments, including collisions, unexpected slip-offs, and even a flying door incident.
Team AF Corse’s No. 83 Ferrari 499P, piloted by Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, and Phil Hanson, put up a fierce challenge. However, they fell short by less than three seconds. Meanwhile, the No. 51 Ferrari, featuring James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi, and Alessandro Pier Guidi, finished third. This was despite multiple penalties throughout the race. Giovinazzi had earlier set the fastest lap in the Hypercar category, securing pole position under challenging conditions.
Ferrari’s dominance was aided by an early setback for Cadillac. Alex Lynn collided with teammate Jenson Button under the safety car while leading. This podium sweep marks a major comeback for Ferrari. Last year, they finished fourth, sixth, and twelfth when Porsche claimed a 1-2-3 finish. The victory also strengthens Ferrari’s bid for its first WEC Hypercar title, aiming to break the decade-long Toyota-Porsche stronghold.
TF Sport Triumphs in LMGT3 Category
In the LMGT3 class, TF Sport’s No. 33 car emerged victorious, driven by Dani Juncadella, Ben Keating, and Jonny Edgar. The trio edged out United Autosports’ James Cottingham, Sebastien Baud, and Gregorie Saucy by less than half a second in a thrilling finish. Team WRT’s No. 31 car, with Augusto Farfus, Timur Boguslavskiy, and Yasser Shahin behind the wheel, staged a strong late comeback to secure third place.
Action-Packed Weekend at Lusail
The Qatar 1812 KM was just one highlight in a busy weekend of racing at Lusail. Support races included Race 3 of the F4 Middle East Championship, the Formula Regional Middle East Championship, and Lusail Classic’s Race 2.
Alex Powell secured victory in the F4 Middle East Championship race. Meanwhile, Qatar’s Taha Hassiba, Bader Al Sulaiti, and Tameem Hassiba represented the country in the rookie category. Jack Beeton won the Formula Regional Middle East Championship race, followed by Ugo Ugochukwu and Nikita Bedrin. In the Lusail Classic Race 2, a 1971 Porsche 908/03 claimed victory, with Chevron B19 (1971) and Chevron B31 (1975) finishing second and third, respectively.
A ceremonial lap of honor featured WEC drivers, paying tribute to motorsport legends and past champions.
Lusail Prepares for a Thrilling Motorsport Season
Following the successful season opener, the WEC will move to Italy for the 6 Hours of Imola on April 20. Qatar remains a key venue in the WEC calendar. A six-year agreement ensures the race’s presence until at least 2029.
Lusail International Circuit is set for a thrilling year. Major events include the MotoGP in April and Formula 1 in November. CEO Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mohannadi highlighted the circuit’s commitment to honoring motorsport heritage while fostering new talent. This ensures Qatar remains a premier destination for global racing events.
