Sao Paulo Friday Notebook

Photo: Fabrizio Boldoni/DPPI

***Friday’s pair of Free Practice sessions at Interlagos, site of Sunday’s FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, saw the official introduction of Goodyear’s new Eagle Hard compound, which is the only the option available to LMGT3 teams this weekend.

***Mike McGregor, Goodyear’s head of endurance racing, explained that the development program for the tire included 7,500 kms (4,660 miles) of testing involving all nine current LMGT3 manufacturers across a wide range of circuits, including Almeria, Barcelona, Paul Ricard, as well as the Monteblanco Circuit in southern Spain. Two attempts to test at Spa-Francorchamps were rained off.

***McGregor further indicated that the current tire is made up of 33 percent sustainable materials, with the aim to increase that to 66 percent when a new range of tires is introduced in 2027.

***Porsche Penske Motorsport driver Kevin Estre said the resurfaced Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace has “not drastically” changed the track grip levels, unlike initially expected by a number of competitors heading into this weekend’s race, although the Frenchman reported some improvements in terms of tire wear.

***Sportscar365 understands that the circuit has seen two rounds of resurfacing since WEC last visited Interlagos. The circuit was first completely resurfaced ahead of Formula 1’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix last November. Additional work, understood to have been carried out to address complaints of bumps, then took place on portions of the circuit at the start of this year.

***Estre told Sportscar365: “To be honest they did a good job on the bumps and being more consistent on the asphalt, that’s for sure. But in terms of grip, it’s not a big difference. It’s a bit better but on the other hand you see there’s not that much rubber on track so maybe the track will evolve.”

***When asked if they might be able to utilize Michelin’s Medium compound for the entire race, something that helped propel Toyota to victory here last year, Penske Racing competition director Travis Law indicated it’s too early to come to that conclusion.

***Law told Sportscar365: “I think we’ll evaluate as the sessions go on. Obviously everybody’s looking at the same things that we are. The first session, we achieved our goals and targets to gather the data we needed to help us make some decisions. We’ll keep an eye on it through the next FPs.”

***Mauro Barbieri, Ferrari’s performance and regulations manager, told reporters for his part that he “doesn’t think we’ll see many Hards during the race,” adding: “The weather is giving us lower temperatures and this is going in the direction of the mediums for sure over the hard.”

***Barbieri further indicated that tire degradation seems “slightly lower” as a result of the new track surface, although he further indicated that weather conditions could also be a factor in that. “If I’m not wrong, we’re also experiencing colder temperatures, which helps,” he said. “So it’s difficult to decouple the two effects. But in general, the track seems to be quicker with more grip. A bit smoother in terms of bumps. The tires seem to be in a better position. They suffer less, they seem to have less degradation.”

***Porsche Penske topped both of Friday’s sessions, with Estre leading a 1-2 run for the team in Free Practice 2, in a session that saw both Heart of Racing Aston Martin Valkyries place fifth and eighth quickest, marking the first time both cars cracked the top-ten in a WEC session.

***Penske’s Law indicated that there could be some staffing “transitions” within Porsche Penske from now until early next year, amid his and newly named Penske Racing President Jonathan Diuguid’s recent promotions that will now include over-arching roles in Penske’s IndyCar, WEC and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship programs.

***He said: “I think you’ll see some stuff as we get through the year and talk about a long-term structure that both programs are sustainable on a daily basis is the goal. You’ll see some of that as we move forward. But right now it’s business as usual, where we’ll review each weekend and apply the people where we think are best off to support the weekend to achieve our results and our goals. It’s no different than IMSA and WEC; we always have some crossover events already on that side and split those up accordingly.”

***Porsche LMDh factory director Urs Kuratle told Sportscar365 that it hasn’t yet been decided if the WEC team will continue as a two-driver squad for September’s Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of The Americas, with feedback being sought from both team management and the drivers.

***Kuratle said: “COTA can be very hot and then it becomes a very physical race. That’s something we decide together with the drivers. It’s not only a management call. It’s also a drivers’ call. It’s not finally decided yet as there’s still some time. It’s possible we do it with the two-driver lineup.”

***The No. 54 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 suffered an issue related to the driveshaft, which caused Francesco Castellacci to stop during FP1. The car returned to the track in FP2, where it was then involved in contact with the No. 20 BMW M Hybrid V8 of Marco Wittmann at Turn 9, for which Wittmann received a reprimand.

***Meanwhile, Ferrari AF Corse team manager Batti Pregliasco revealed the No. 50 Ferrari 499P suffered a spin and bodywork damage after a Turn 1 collision with one of the BMW LMGT3 cars during FP1.

***Recently crowned 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Robert Kubica said he received a larger-than-expected outpouring of media interest following his, Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson’s triumph in the French endurance classic, just four weeks ago.

***Kubica said: “It was busy, of course. I was a bit surprised of how much attention, even outside of motorsport, this race is getting. Our Le Mans this year was not only a race, it was quite hectic and active week after it with some media and events. But it’s good price to pay if you win.”

***The No. 31 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO is sporting a special livery in the colors of the Brazilian flag, to not only honor Augusto Farfus as he races on home soil, but to also raise money for charity, to help fund Christmas gifts for less-fortunate children in Brazil, something that’s been close to Farfus’ heart for a number of years.

***Farfus added: “It’s something I’ve been doing for a long time. This has gone beyond a nice-looking liveried car. It’s good to showcase that and let’s hope the yellow and green will bring us some good luck on Sunday.”

***Heart of Racing Team principal Ian James revealed that he’s yet to drive the LMH-spec Aston Martin Valkyrie, although that is expected to come before the end of the year. “I have not driven this one, I’ve driven the AMR Pro,” he told Sportscar365. “In the winter I’ll have a go when we do one of our shakedowns or filming days. I’m sure I’ll get a few laps behind the wheel. We’ve got lots of parts now so maybe it’s safe for me to to get behind the wheel!”

***A new graphics package (video, below) will debut on the WEC broadcasts beginning this weekend, with a new “fresh on-screen visual identity” that will include real-time data delivered in a “streamlined, distraction-free” format. Qualifying sessions, for instance, will be easier to follow with a clearly-defined Hyperpole elimination zone presented in a brighter, bolder display.

***Free Practice 3, which will be live-streamed for free on the FIA WEC’s YouTube channel, is set for a 10:10 a.m. local time start (9:10 a.m. EST), followed by qualifying and Hyperpole, which begins at 2:45 p.m. (1:45 p.m. EST).

Davey Euwema contributed to this report

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John