Malkyhin fit to drive, replacement Porsche en route to Spa
Welcome news from Manthey Pure Rxcing is that Alex Malykhin is ‘ok’ following his huge off at Raidillon in Qualifying, and has been cleared to race tomorrow by circuit doctors.
The damage to the Lithuanian-flagged Porsche 911 LMGT3.R meanwhile, is severe, so severe in fact that it is not repairable. The team has been forced to source a replacement chassis to ensure it can take the start tomorrow, which at the time of writing is en route to the circuit.
Pure Rxcing team principal Edgar Kochanovskij confirmed to DSC that the team has all the parts to build up a new car and should be ready to race tomorrow after what is likely to be a long night for its mechanics.
Alpine to change engine on #35
The #35 Alpine A424 is set to undergo an engine change ahead of tomorrow’s race, after the car hit trouble at the end of Qualifying, coming to a halt on the Kemmel Straight.
“I am happy with the qualifying performance,” Charles Milesi told DSC. “I was going for a final flying lap and there was an alarm from before the failure, which I believe was the engine.”
However, later in the paddock, team boss Philippe Sinault admitted that the team was not sure at that point whether or not the car’s issue was with its oil pump, or an outright engine failure.
Either way, there will be an engine change ahead of tomorrow’s race.
Porsche crew thinking ahead in title push
More than ever before it feels like teams and drivers are paying close attention to the points standings early in the season. With such a deep top class, scoring well at each race has become essential for any team hoping to fight for the title from Le Mans onwards.
Currently, Porsche Penske Motorsport’s #6 crew of Kevin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and Andre Lotterer hold a 16-point advantage in the drivers’ standings after a win in Qatar and second-place finish in Imola. The uptick in form this year has exceeded the team’s expectations and prompted its drivers to think longer term this weekend.
Speaking with reporters Laurens Vanthoor said the team has a different mindset this year.
“We want to fight for the championship, so the mindset is consistency,” he said. “Last year we were never in the fight so we were targeting single races. This year I would say we have exceeded our expectations so far, but it’s a reward for the work over the winter. It’s paying off now.
“Porsche and Penske are two names that fight for wins and championships, but taking time to get it right is normal. It’s a long year but so far we’ve shown that we are there and we hope to continue the fight in Le Mans too.
“This weekend is difficult to predict. But looking back at Qatar we expected that circuit to be one of the best for the 963, Imola (a very different circuit) was one we were scared of but we were OK. That gives me confidence we will be there all year. I don’t expect dominance like Qatar, but if you can score a podium that’s great.
“Today, I’m not thinking about Le Mans being the next race.”
Riberas complimentary of LMGT3 ruleset
Heart of Racing Aston Martin driver Alex Riberas described the new LMGT3 ruleset as “exceptional” in conversation with DSC here at Spa. The Spaniard feels the introduction of torque sensors and a virtual fuel tank to the class has left teams unable to hide their performance with the hope of influencing the Balance of Performance values for their cars for key races.
“Everything here feels like it’s under control, much more than in other series,” he explained. “I think the FIA and ACO are doing a phenomenal job with WEC and the way they are implementing these rules with the energy and torque sensors. It’s so transparent, as we know exactly how much energy everyone is using and taking at each stop. There’s nobody playing the game with performance levels.
“There’s no way to hide. So it feels like the WEC is the first championship that has recovered the essence of making progress on track by finding ways for the car to perform better and drivers to improve at every race. It’s exceptional.”
Mobil 1 partners with JOTA
Lubicant provider Mobil 1 has announced a partnership with Hypercar team Hertz Team JOTA adding to the high-level sportscar racing commitments for its 50th anniversary season.
Continuing a strong collaborative relationship with Porsche cars in WEC, Mobil 1 will serve as the exclusive lubricant supplier to the Hertz Team JOTA.
“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with one of the most successful motorsport teams,” said Rob Shearer, ExxonMobil’s Global Motorsport Manager, said.
“Our partnership with Hertz Team JOTA represents our shared commitment to excellence and innovation. Mobil 1’s unique formula is designed to enhance performance, efficiency, and reliability which perfectly complements the rigorous demands of endurance racing.”
Hydrogen Village present at Spa
The H24 prototype and the Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 have been on display for fans to see up close at the circuit this weekend in a dedicated “Hydrogen Village”.
The Alpenglow Hy4, which was first revealed at the end of 2022 during the Paris Motor Show, has attracted plenty of attention.
Alpine presented the car to the media ahead of its on-track debut tomorrow which will see it complete three laps of the Spa circuit. The French manufacturer also revealed that following its on track debut tomorrow, it will run at Le Mans next month.
ALPENGLOW HY4, REDEFINING PERFORMANCE. pic.twitter.com/6slZJWjXah
— Alpine Cars (@alpinecars) May 10, 2024
The Hydrogen Village housing both cars also features the TotalEnergies mobile H2 station, which is being used to refuel both cars.
FIA telemetry explainer
The latest FIA Insights YouTube video focuses on telemetry in sportscar racing. In it, Paul Wallace talks telemetry in the paddock and goes behind the scenes of Qatar’s Lusail International Circuit to see how it is used by competitors and rule-makers.
Roadworks ongoing
Fans and members of the teams, organisation and media alike may need to get to the circuit early on race day because of the hefty roadworks that are currently ongoing on a key access road to the La Source entrance.
The work, which has seen much of the roads leading to the circuit dug up, has created a significant bottleneck prior to the final checkpoint before entering the circuit. As such, anyone planning to attend the race should consider allowing for additional time to get to the track during the morning, as queues are likely to be lengthier than usual, and a bumper crowd is expected!
