FERRARI sealed the World Constructors’ Championship in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) on Sunday. The decisive points came in the 6 Hours of Shanghai where the two GTE 488s of AF Corse team respectively finished third with Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado and sixth with Davide Rigon and Sam Bird.
This is Ferrari’s fifth WEC constructors’ title (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) and
the 24th overall among the manufacturers’ championships sanctioned by the FIA.
Sunday’s trophy goes in the cabinet along with the seven in the World Manufacturers’ for
Makes won between 1953 and 1961, three editions of the International GT
Championship (1962, 1963, 1964), four Prototypes titles between 1963 and 1972, three
FIA GT Manufacturers’ championships (2006, 2007 and 2010) and two editions of the
Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (2010 and 2011).
GTE-Pro. In the GTE-Pro class, the race was difficult for both cars. James Calado had to
give way early on to the Ford no. 66 of Olivier Pla, extremely fast on the straight, while
Davide Rigon dropped two places, also in troubles because of the 488 GTE’s limited top
speed.
The first half of the race was a sacrifice one for car no. 51, which started with old
tyres so as to have fresh ones for the final stages. Just two tyres were changed at the first
two pit stops and only 3 hours from the end the 488 GTE 488 had the chance to lap with
four new tyres. The tactics for car no. 71 were more gradual but broadly similar. In the
second half of the race both GTE 488 cars began to climb the standings with no. 51
rising to fourth and no. 71 to sixth.
Near the end one of the two Fords suffered a tyre crisis, which let Pier Guidi take third while Rigon finished in sixth behind the Aston Martin of Marco Sorensen. Victory went to Henry Tincknell and Andy Priaulx in Ford no.67 but the celebrations were in the AF Corse Ferrari garage.
Drivers’ championship. While result of the 6 Hours of Shanghai closed the
Constructors’ title the Drivers’ championship is still open and will be decided in Bahrain
on 17 and 18 November. James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi hold a two-point
advantage over Frederic Makowiecki and Richard Lietz of Porsche and 7.5 on Priaulx and
Tincknell. The other Ferrari driver Davide Rigon is still in the running, 17.5 points behind.
Classification GTE-Pro
1) 67 PRIAULX/TINCKNELL Ford GT Ganassi Team UK 6:00:58.797
2) 91 LIETZ/MAKOWIECKI Porsche 911 RSR Porsche Team 11”082
3) 51 CALADO/PIER GUIDI Ferrari 488 GTE AF Corse 19”920
4) 66 MÜCKE/PLA Ford GT Ganassi Team Uk 38”739
5) 95 THIIM/SORENSEN Vantage Aston Martin Racing 1’07”541
6) 71 RIGON/BIRD Ferrari 488 GTE AF Corse 1’08”317
Classification GTE-Am
1) 98 DALLA LANA/LAMY/LAUDA Vantage Aston Martin Racing 6:01:08.124
2) 86 AL QUBAISI/BARKER/FOSTER Porsche 911 RSR Gulf Racing UK 1 lap
3) 77 RIED/CAIROLI/DIENST Porsche 911 RSR Dempsey Proton 2 laps
4) 61 MOK/SAWA/GRIFFIN Ferrari 488 GTE Clearwater Racing 8 laps
5) 54 FLOHR/CASTELLACCI/MOLINA Ferrari 488 GTE Spirit Of Race OUT
Post-race quotes
Antonello Coletta, Head of Ferrari Attività Sportive GT: “We knew that we would have to
work hard in Shanghai and indeed it was one of our toughest races of the year. However, our
car showed it could rise to the occasion. Thanks to the great work done at Maranello, the
extraordinary effort made as always by AF Corse in the management on track of the 488 GTE,to t he support of the Michelotto staff and the amazing skills of our drivers we achieved our most important goal.
We won the Constructors’ championship, moreover with a race to go. Despite our great joy we are not going to lower our guard: there is still the Drivers’ world championship to be won as well as the team title. We will arrive in Bahrain excited and keen to secure an even better close to a season that has already been so positive”.
James Calado, driver Ferrari #51, 3rd GTE-Pro: “We achieved our main goal, the
Constructors’ championship. It wasn’t easy and it took the commitment of the whole team
to win it with a race to spare. All the guys of Ferrari and AF Corse fully deserve this victory. I can’t wait to get on track in Bahrain to try to win the Drivers’ title and make unforgettable a season that’s already one to remember”.
Alessandro Pier Guidi, driver Ferrari #51, 3rd GTE-Pro: “Today’s race was one of the most
difficult of the season. We needed to manage the tyres and were forced to pursue a very
conservative strategy. In the end we were able to make up positions and mount the podium.
We still lead the drivers’ championship although we know it will be very tough in Bahrain. But
today it’s time to celebrate Ferrari’s world title”.
Davide Rigon, driver Ferrari #71, 6th GTE-Pro: “It certainly wasn’t the race we’d hoped for.
We struggled a lot at the start due to a top speed that, even when we were faster, made it
difficult to overtake our opponents. We are delighted to have contributed to Ferrari’s victory
in the world championship and I have to congratulate all the guys who worked for this
thoroughly deserved title. Now we can look ahead to Bahrain with confidence. I like the track
and I’m not yet out of the running”.
Sam Bird, driver Ferrari #71, 6th GTE-Pro: “We struggled with tyre management, as well as
the lack of top speed which made overtaking difficult. However, the result of our race today is of secondary importance because we can celebrate an extraordinary world title for Ferrari.
We’ll think about Bahrain tomorrow morning”.
