David Floury, technical director of Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe, believes that its Italian rival will keep at the least a number of the benefit it confirmed final day trip at Imola earlier than tactical errors when it rained allowed the Japanese producer to come back by way of to win.
Floury intimated that the BoP adjustments for the Spa 6 Hours on Saturday won’t absolutely shut up the sphere within the WEC’s Hypercar class.
“The image must be comparable however with smaller gaps,” mentioned Floury.
Requested if the Ferrari 499P Le Mans Hypercar will stay within the ascendency, he replied: “I believe 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 distinct image,” he defined.
Ferrari has taken a 12kg hit in minimal weight underneath the BoP for Spa in addition to dropping 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 adjustments, 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 could have a battle on its arms to repeat the Imola victory this weekend at Spa within the face of an anticipated efficiency deficit to Ferrari.
“We are going to should 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 won’t be helped by the climate: we must be much more intelligent.”
Floury urged that the steadiness between Toyota and Porsche can be much 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 might have gone by some means,” he mentioned.
Ferrari appeared set for a 1-2 end on house floor in Italy earlier than opting to depart 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.