The highly anticipated weekend of the 6 Hours of Imola, the second event of the 2024 WEC – World Endurance Championship season, kicked off with the first free practice session at the Autodromo Internazionale “Enzo e Dino Ferrari”.
Starting today is the thrilling three-day journey for the Isotta Fraschini Duqueine team, with drivers Jean-Karl Vernay, Carl Bennett, and Antonio Serravalle behind the wheel of the Tipo 6 LMH Competizione.
After the first lap on the circuit, which concluded at 1:30 PM, two more test sessions will follow, culminating tomorrow, April 20, with the qualifying round before the official race scheduled for Sunday, April 21, streamed live on the event’s website. It was an intense morning where the team unleashed all the power of the car on the track, filling the drivers with fresh enthusiasm and confidence for the weekend.
Jean-Karl Vernay: «It is a very good start to the weekend. We made sure to give Carl and Antonio a longer stint in the first test session, and the our pace started great. The car also performed very well, so we are feeling very confident as we go into the next test rounds ahead of the race this weekend».
Carl Bennett: «Very happy with the Isotta Fraschini car after FP1. Focused on bringing out as much performance in myself for the next practice sessions. Can’t wait for the race!».
Antonio Serravalle: «FP1 was really good, the car felt stable and agile. It was my first time driving on this track, so we have a lot left in us to improve our times the weekend».
The team, born from the synergy between the prestigious Milanese automotive manufacturer Isotta Fraschini (responsible for technical management) and the renowned French company Duqueine (managing sporting activities), completed 42 laps with the team’s fastest lap acheived by Jean-Karl Vernay (1:33.060).
A goal achieved, on an international stage, thanks in part to the contribution of Bosch Engineering.
«We have been a supplier of Motorsport components and engineering services to Michelotto for over ten years of GT Racing projects. During this time, we have built a strong relationship between the two companies, which we are proud to say culminated in us being chosen to develop the complete hybrid vehicle software including high-voltage safety concept for the Isotta Fraschini Le Mans Hypercar. In this scope we have successfully applied our expert knowledge through carefully applied Bosch quality standards to provide a turn-key solution for the hybrid system control. The project timeline started in October 2021.Finally, through a successful commissioning of the energy recovery system in-house at Bosch Abstatt engine dynamometer and complete vehicle at a 4-wheel dynamometer we delivered the first validated software in March 2023. We are pleased to continue our support of the IF LMH project into the first racing season of the WEC 2024», says Ingo Mauel, Head of Bosch Motorsport.
The adrenaline is rising in the Isotta Fraschini Duqueine garage at the WEC for what is considered the “home” stage in Imola, Emilia-Romagna, in the heart of the Motor Valley.