The 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship took place last week with the 1000 Miles of Sebring. The race is important for two main reasons. First, the new LMDh category cars are competing for the first time in the main hypercar class alongside cars from the existing LMH category. Second, Ferrari is returning to top-level endurance racing after 50 years with the new LMH 499P.
Defending champion Toyota dominated the race with the updated GR010 Hybrid LMH. It was a one-two finish for the Japanese team, with the number 7 GR010 Hybrid of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and José María López finishing first, and no. The 8 GR010 Hybrid from Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa trailed by just 2.168 seconds.
Although it wasn’t the dream start Ferrari wanted, the Italian team finished in third place at no. The 50 499P remains impressive. Drivers Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen crossed the line two laps behind the Toyota.
Despite losing pole position to Ferrari and no. 50 499P, Toyota kept the pressure on the leader through the opening laps. An accident by a GT car on the fifth lap ejected the safety car and caused the race to be stopped for 25 minutes. Ferrari stopped for fuel during this period, which gave Toyota the lead. The two Toyotas then built a gap that would grow to two laps.
There are several plays with no. 51 Ferrari 499P. Two hours from the finish line and in fifth position, with Pier Guidi at the wheel, the car crossed Francesco Castellacci’s Ferrari 488 GTE. 499P made it back to the pits for some repairs, but could only finish seventh in the end. Ahead is no. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R in fourth, followed by no. 5 and no. 6 Porsche 963 LMDhs in fifth and sixth place.
The next race on the calendar is the 6 Hours of Portimão (Portugal) on April 19. The all-important Le Mans 24 Hours takes place the weekend of June 10.
