Ferrari Has “No Chance” After “Unexpected” BoP Change

Photo: Jose Bispo/JB Photo

James Calado believes Ferrari might as well have arrived in Bahrain on “three wheels” following a “totally unexpected” Balance of Performance adjustment to the Prancing Horses ahead of the final two rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship season.

Both the GTE-Pro and GTE-Am class Ferrari 488 GTE Evos have been given a reduction in turbo boost across nearly all power levels for this weekend’s 6 Hours of Bahrain.

Calado and a Ferrari spokesperson indicated to Sportscar365 that the change equates to roughly a 25 horsepower reduction, which is outside of the FIA’s automatic BoP system’s parameters.

A reason for the change has not been communicated to Ferrari while the FIA and ACO declined comment on the matter.

“With the Balance of Performance change it’s really knocked us back,” Calado told Sportscar365. “I think we really don’t stand a chance to get a good result here.

“I think the best we can do is third on paper. Of course anything can happen.

“It’s unexpected because GTE runs off an automatic Balance of Performance. It’s been really close throughout the whole year.

“Porsche have actually had the edge the last race before Le Mans where automatic BoP is judged, which was Monza where they beat us fair and square on performance.

“It’s a big surprise. We don’t know the true reason why it’s been done. It’s the first time [this year] where an exemption has been made.”

Per WEC rules, a manufacturer can have a maximum adjustment of 10 kW (13 hp) or 20 kg in minimum weight within the auto BoP system, meaning the change was made outside of the parameters, in a so-called ‘black ball’ rule.

Calado said Ferrari estimates their power hit to cost them about 1 second per lap around Bahrain International Circuit.

The Englishman and co-driver Alessandro Pier Gudi took over the GTE World Endurance Drivers’ Championship lead following their and Come Ledogar’s class win at Le Mans in August.

Calado and Pier Guidi have a 12-point lead over Porsche’s Kevin Estre and Neel Jani heading into the final two races of the season.

“It’s a shame,” Calado added. “The previous races have been really close.

“We won Le Mans and took the lead in the championship and had good performance in Le Mans. That’s true.

“However, [Le Mans was] a separate BoP to the rest of the season. It’s not counted in the automatic BoP.

“Everything we’ve done up until now has been running smoothly. All of a sudden it’s been taken out of our hands, totally unexpectedly

“We might as well have come here with three wheels. Honestly, we’ve got no chance.”

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