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WEC analysis: The data putting Porsche on the front foot for Qatar opener

Porsche appears to be in the best position heading into the start of the 2024 World Endurance Championship season in Qatar, based on the pace it showed in long runs in the Prologue.

The WEC hosted its annual two-day pre-season test at the Losail International Circuit on Monday and Tuesday, providing some hints about the competitive picture for the Qatar 1812Km race.

The circumstances weren’t exactly usual, with the Prologue having to be delayed by two days due to the late arrival of sea freight amid the geopolitical issues in the Red Sea.

Moreover, the schedule was altered multiple times, with all teams effectively getting three sessions of running across two days. Each team had to decide whether their cars were ready for the first test on Monday afternoon or if they preferred to put in some mileage later on Tuesday.

Although Jota and Isotta Fraschini didn’t take part in the final session, having already hit the ground running on Monday, it still provided the most representative picture as all WEC teams used the opportunity to gather as much data as possible about the track conditions in Qatar.

The fourth session was affected by a single red flag, which means the impact on long runs was also quite minimal. The usual caveats of testing apply, with information regarding tyre usage and fuel loads not being made public.

Long-run pace analysis from Session 4

Cadillac

LMDh cars weren’t always competitive against LMH machinery last year, but Cadillac’s pace in the Prologue raised hopes about a more equitable battle in 2024.

Source: Autosport

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