6 Hours of Monza: Leaders preview

the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) resumes at the ‘Temple of Speed’ built 101 years ago on 8-9 July for the 6 Hours of Monza.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing targets a return to winning ways and Ferrari is eager to renew the last win at Le Mans.

Toyota Gazoo Racing still leads Championships

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans. Alessandro Pier Guidi (at the wheel), James Calado (left) and Antonio Giovinazzi (right) celebrating victory driving to the podium.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing leads Ferrari by 18 points in the manufacturers’ title race thanks to a P1 at Sebring and Spa by the #7 GR010 HYBRID, the win by sister #8 at Portimao and the P2 at Le Mans. Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa finished second at Le Mans in their #8 GR010 HYBRID after an epic battle for victory. Despite narrowly missing the win, they extended their drivers’ World Championship lead to 25 points with three races remaining.

Sébastien Buemi (Driver, car #8): “I am looking forward to racing at Monza, particularly this year because I think the atmosphere will be more special than ever. I have spent a lot of time in Italy during my career, so I enjoy going back there and meeting the fans. I guess they are probably cheering for a different team this year, but it’s still a pleasure to race in front of such an enthusiastic crowd. We are in a close fight for the World Championship and every race will be important, so we will be giving everything this weekend.”

Brendon Hartley (Driver, car #8): “Pretty quickly after Le Mans our focus moved towards the World Championship battle and the whole team is fired up for the final three races of the season, starting in Monza. It’s not going to be easy, because we have seen how quick Ferrari is, but we showed our fighting spirit at Le Mans, and we are determined to stand on the top step of the podium again. We know we need to execute a perfect weekend and we’re ready for the challenge.”

Ryo Hirakawa (Driver, car #8): “I am happy to get behind the wheel of the GR010 HYBRID again so soon after Le Mans, which was a difficult race. That’s behind us now and we will come back stronger. I know Monza quite well; we finished second there in the #8 car last year and I also won a European Le Mans Series race there a few years ago. It’s fun to drive, very high speed, and I think it should suit us. We will keep working hard to continually improve the car during the weekend to give ourselves the chance to fight at the front.” Source: Toyota Gazoo Racing

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans. Toyota #8 ended second.

An unfortunate Le Mans retirement for Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López, after their #7 GR010 HYBRID was hit by another car, means their title chances are all but over, at 41 points behind, but they aim for a third win of the season to move up the rankings and contribute to the team’s challenge.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans. Abandon for Toyota #7.

Kamui Kobayashi (Team Principal and driver, car #7): “At Le Mans, we did all we could as a team. We got the maximum performance from the car, and the drivers gave everything. We will do the same in Monza and push to get a better result. Now our big priority is to win both World Championships again and it will be a close fight with Ferrari. We have the upper hand at the moment in terms of the points, but they had a faster car in the last two races. I think it will be difficult for us this weekend, but we will never give up, we will keep fighting and pushing for every tenth of a second. I am sure there will be another big crowd and a great atmosphere, so I am looking forward to this race.”

Mike Conway (Driver, car #7): “It’s good to be racing again just a few weeks after Le Mans, so we can put all that behind us. After what happened at Le Mans, the World Championship seems out of reach this season for our car unfortunately, but that only simplifies the task in the remaining three races. We want to rack up more wins this season, starting at Monza, and we will be pushing hard to get back on the top step of the podium. I am looking forward to getting started again.”

José María López (Driver, car #7): “I really enjoy racing at Monza. It is an old-school track with some fast corners and a great atmosphere. It’s quite like Le Mans in that regard. I have had a lot of strong races at Monza, early in my career and in WEC as well. Our victory there in 2021 was one of the big reasons we could win the drivers’ World Championship that season, and last year our car was strong until we had an incident whilst leading. It will be tougher than ever this year, but I am optimistic.” Source: Toyota Gazoo Racing

Ferrari the challenger

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans. Ferrari #51 and sister #50 at La Chapelle..

Thanks to a P3 at Sebring and a P2 at Portimao by the 499P #50 squad and a P3 at Spa as well as the win at Le Mans with sister #50, the Ferrari team arrives at the Italian event holding second spot in the Constructors’ standings, trailing Toyota by 18 points.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans. Sunday morning, Ferrari #51 with Toyota #8 in background.

Even though their start of season was not following expectations with only 17 points collected at Sebring and Portimao, Pier Guidi, Calado and Giovinassi climbed the slope with a Pe at Spa and the win at Le Mans which enables the #51 squad to be second in the drivers’ championship still 25 points behind Hartley/Hirakawa/ Buemi which their Toyota #8.

ALESSANDRO PIER GUIDI: « At Monza, we expect a scorching atmosphere, not just because of the mid-summer temperatures, but above all because of the crowd in the stands. We expect many fans, and it will be great to see them again at the Italian round after the victory at Le Mans. Their support will be essential for us. The Brianza track is very quick. It’s the one on the championship calendar most like the Circuit de la Sarthe, and I think it’s a track where we can be competitive. In any case, we approach this race with humility: I think Toyota remains the championship’s benchmark. Looking to the future, I think one of the most positive aspects is the ample room for growth for us drivers, for both the group as a whole, and our Hypercar. »

JAMES CALADO: « I can’t wait to see the grandstands at Monza, where I expect many fans and a fine sight with red as the dominant colour. We’ve all been looking forward to this race for many months. I think that at Monza, our 499P will show its full potential: we will do everything to claim a victory to celebrate with the Italian public. »

ANTONIO GIOVINAZZI: « We arrive at this event in high spirits, having won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but now it’s time to get going again, looking forward. The Monza 6 Hours is, to a certain extent, our ‘home’ race, both as a team and for me as an Italian driver. I imagine many fans will come to support us for this event and celebrate our success in France with us. So we come to the Autodromo Nazionale hoping to confirm our worth and achieve an excellent result. Our dream would be to cross the line first as a team, achieving a top-step finish on a unique podium in global terms like the one at Monza. » Source: Ferrari

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans. Antonio Giovinazzi Full of emotions winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2023.

Miguel Molina, Antonio Fuoca and Nicklas Nielsen with Ferrari 499P #50 have demonstrated the speed of the italian Hypercar by clinching two poles at Sebring and Le Mans. The abandon at Spa penalises them so that they are now fourth in the drivers’ championship, only 3 points behind the Cadillac #2 trio.

ANTONIO FUOCO: « I particularly like the Monza track. It is a special track for every Italian driver where, in some places, you can make a difference on the straights and when braking. I think that you really breathe motor racing history at this circuit. What do I expect? There will be a sizeable crowd, and the support of the fans will be crucial: I hope to give them all an excellent result. »

MIGUEL MOLINA: « Monza is definitely Ferrari’s ‘home’ race on the World Endurance Championship calendar, so it will have a special flavour, and I can’t wait to climb into the cockpit to start this weekend. Personally, I like the track a lot because it’s so fast and because Monza is one of those tracks where pages of motorsport history have been written. Our goal? It’s clear: after winning as a team at Le Mans, we should aim for another victory in Italy, also from a championship perspective. Indeed, we showed we could compete with Toyota in the first part of the season. Now, we aim to take a further step forward and fully prove our worth. »

NICKLAS NIELSEN: « We were unlucky at Le Mans, but our Hypercar performed brilliantly, so we come to Italy targeting an excellent result, fighting for the win. Monza? Personally, I don’t have a favourite track. However, I admit that I like this track because of its unique characteristics, alternating long straights with very slow corners, such as the First and Second Chicane, and others, conversely, high-speed, such as the Parabolica. Also, the Autodromo Nazionale is an iconic circuit, especially if you race a Ferrari. It will be wonderful to drive our 499P for the first time in front of so many fans. » Source: Ferrari

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