Ferdinando Cannizzo, Ferrari’s sportscar racing technical director, explained that the 3m22.982s lap with which Antonio Fuoco claimed the pole for this weekend’s blue riband round of the World Endurance Championship exceeded expectations.
Fuoco ended up seven tenths quicker than team-mate Alessandro Pier Guidi as the two Ferrari 499Ps Le Mans Hypercars blocked out the front row starting positions.
The pole-winning time was 1.5s quicker than last year’s qualifying mark set by Toyota driver Brendon Hartley.
“To be honest we did not expect this lap time,” said Cannizzo.
“We just prepared the car as best we could, but we have to say that Antonio made one of his best laps.
“We are very happy that we gave him a good car.”
Cannizzo also expressed satisfaction with the AF Corse-run Ferrari team’s strategy over the course of the 30-minute final qualifying session fought out by the top eight cars in each class from the first timed period on Wednesday.
He explained that Fuoco gave Pier Guidi a tow on their first runs, before the order was reversed when the Ferraris went out again on a second set of new tyres.
“I am very happy with our strategy in Hyperpole,” said Cannizzo.
“We decided to go out behind the Toyotas to get a tow and our cars were also helping each other one to the other.”
Source: Autosport