The Ferrari 499Ps are due in Bahrain for the final event of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship. The eight-hour race begins on Saturday, 2 November, at 2 p.m. local time. Below are the comments in the run-up to the season’s final round.
Antonio Fuoco, 499P #50: “As always, we head out onto the track to do our best. We know that the 8 Hours of Bahrain will be an extremely challenging race, not least because our direct rivals have been highly competitive throughout the season and will be very determined heading into this last event. Our philosophy, however, is to pursue every avenue, and in this spirit, we approach a race that will be long and full of variables. As we saw in past seasons, we know that in Bahrain, the race result is always unpredictable.”
Miguel Molina, 499P #50: “After an extraordinary season in which we claimed victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, we arrive in Bahrain still mathematically in contention for both titles. We understand how challenging it will be to secure these and, with only a few results that could benefit us, we know we must aim for victory. We’ll take to the track for the 8 Hours in this spirit. I really like the Sakhir track, where I have always been competitive – a circuit on which our 499P can also perform well.”
Nicklas Nielsen, 499P #50: “Last year in Bahrain, we finished on the podium at the close of a demanding season. This year, we return to the Sakhir circuit knowing more about the track and our car. The race won’t be easy, but we must give it our all, and only after the 8 hours can we do the maths. After winning at Le Mans with Antonio and Miguel, my dream is to bring a world title to Maranello.”
Alessandro Pier Guidi, 499P #51: “After the last race in Japan, which proved very challenging for us, we come to Bahrain aware that we can perform better. I believe we’ll have the chance to compete for a strong result at Sakhir, and I’m confident the entire team will give their all to stay in contention for the world manufacturers’ title right up to the last corner. Many points are up for grabs, and I expect a hotly contested, far-from-easy race.”
James Calado, 499P #51: “We arrive in Bahrain knowing that the world title is still undecided. It’s clearly a complex challenge, but we head into this weekend determined to give it our all, both as drivers and as a team. We’ll do our best and build on our experience at Sakhir last year to improve further. Thanks to our teammates’ performance, this year we achieved another victory at Le Mans, marking a historic milestone with two consecutive wins in the most important race of the year. As I’ve already said, my dream is also to become world champion with Ferrari in the Hypercar class.”
Antonio Giovinazzi, 499P #51: “This year, luck hasn’t been on our side with our 499P number 51, and we haven’t seen great results, apart from the remarkable podium at Le Mans. Thus, we aim to end the season on a high note by scoring as many points as possible. The world manufacturers’ championship title is still mathematically within reach for Ferrari, so we’ll do all we can to contribute.”
Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Ferrari Endurance and Corse Clienti: “We’re facing the last race of the season in Bahrain, one which has a particular weight, since mathematically we are still in contention for the world titles, and have a better chance for the Manufacturers’ one specifically. That’s why the aim will be to fully demonstrate our potential, seeking to avoid every mistake, to crown a season which has seen us as the protagonists in an extraordinary victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the second running, as well as a historic triumph at the Lone Star Le Mans contested in America. As a team, with determination and commitment, we will do our best to conclude this 2024 to the best of our ability.”
Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Endurance Race Cars: “We arrive at the final leg of the FIA WEC in Bahrain slightly disappointed about how certain races have ended this season, but with a strong desire to close the year on a high note. Winning will be no easy task, both because of the strong competitiveness shown by our rivals in recent races and because the Sakhir circuit is known for being highly technical and demanding in various respects, particularly on the brakes, tyres, and the changing environmental conditions encountered over the eight hours of racing.
The joker introduced mid-season will certainly be of great help in ensuring effective temperature management for the brakes and in facilitating the optimal setup. On the other hand, the typical roughness of the circuit’s asphalt, combined with the high temperatures of this season, will put the tyres under strain throughout the race, especially in the early stages. Identifying the right trade-off between speed and consistency will be essential, and tyre management will play a key role in minimising degradation. Finally, strategy will also be crucial in this long race, which will begin in the sunshine and then continue for several hours after sunset in cooler conditions.
The entire team has been meticulously preparing for the race, and we expect to be able to fight right up to the end and climb the podium, hopefully with a top-step finish.”