The 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) kicked off this week with the first race, the Qatar 1812km, taking place at the Lusail International Circuit. This event marks the return of multiple competitive teams, including Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, Iron Dames, and Ferrari, as they hope to make significant strides this season.
The race is set for February 28, 2025, starting at 2 p.m. local time, and it covers 1,812 kilometers over ten hours. This year also introduces unique scoring rules; points will be multiplied by 1.5 for the race, meaning the winner will collect 38 points instead of the usual 25, adding more excitement to the season opener.
During Thursday's qualifying sessions, expectations were high, particularly for Porsche Penske Motorsport. The factory team saw their two Porsche 963 hybrids secure the 11th and 13th grid positions, with drivers Kévin Estre and Julien Andlauer behind the wheels. Estre expressed disappointment, stating, "13th place is a disappointment – we have not been this far back on the grid for ages." On the other hand, Andlauer noted, "Our Porsche 963 actually felt pretty good," indicating confidence heading toward the upcoming race.
Estre, alongside teammates Laurens Vanthoor and Matt Campbell, shared their satisfaction with the car's overall performance but acknowledged the need to analyze data overnight to improve. Urs Kuratle, Head of Factory Motorsport LMDh, remarked on the tight competition, stating, "We have a very close race ahead of us. We look much more competitive over the distance, so we can still achieve results.”
Iron Dames, renowned for their groundbreaking achievements as the first all-female team to win at the championship level, also faced their share of challenges. With this being their fifth season, their new lineup, including Célia Martin, Michelle Gatting, and Rahel Frey, raced under the pressure of high expectations. Martin, who is making her debut this season, stated, "To qualify for Hyperpole was unrealistic for us today. But I was able to improve and achieve my goal: a new personal best lap on this track." Gatting echoed confidence saying, "I have great faith my teammates and our engineers. A top 10 finish at the end of this 10-hour distance is out of the question for me.”
Meanwhile, Ferrari teams had notable successes. The AF Corse cars claimed the fourth and fifth positions on the grid, with Francesco Castellacci and Simon Mann representing their bid for victory. Castellacci expressed enthusiasm about their performance, saying, "We’re starting from fourth; the field is tightly matched, but we can achieve good results.” Mann seemed optimistic too, noting, "Starting fifth is not positive; we have the potential for a great race.”
On the other hand, Mercedes-AMG is making its much-anticipated return to the championship this year after missing the previous season. Their entry, alongside Iron Lynx with two Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evos, signifies their strong intent to compete. Stefan Wendl, head of customer racing at Mercedes-AMG, recognized the challenges facing them as newcomers to the series. He said, "It was some really busy days for the team, our engineers are developing the car and making the changes possible. Now I’m really happy after succeeding the first test session here and at scrutineering".
The Aston Martin Valkyrie, competing for the first time this season, also faced difficulties, qualifying at the back of the field. Their struggles continued during the race when one of the car's doors unexpectedly popped open, leading to design flaws being highlighted. This incident serves as another reminder of the uphill battle they face against more established competitors.
With several strong competitors, the tension and excitement are palpable as the 10-hour race approaches. Fans worldwide, eager for the thrill of endurance racing, will be able to tune in through channels including Eurosport and MAX for North America. The event holds great significance not just for the teams competing, but also for the long-standing history of the FIA WEC, making this race one for the books.
All eyes will be on the track, as the world watches to see which team will emerge victorious from the Qatar 1812km, setting the tone for the rest of the FIA World Endurance Championship season. Will it be Porsche continuing their tradition of excellence, the historic Iron Dames making waves again, or perhaps Mercedes-AMG reclaiming their glory? The possibilities are endless.