WEC Silverstone Friday notebook

Porsche Plays Down the 919's Silverstone pace

So far this weekend Toyota's TS050s have been consistently the fastest of the LMP1 Hybrid prototypes during Free Practice 1 and 2, which Porsche LMP1 Team has admitted was expected.

This weekend the German team's two 919 Hybrids are running low-downforce aero configurations, even though running the high-downforce kits are the optimum package for Silverstone. The decision has allowed them to concentrate on the development of their Le Mans-focused kit.

"We have had a productive first day. Both 919s ran absolutely trouble free and the drivers were happy with the handling," said team principal Andreas Seidl.

"Compared to Toyota we will certainly be slower here, as expected, because of the aero set-up we've chosen.

"Today's laps are not really comparable to Toyota's though, as we've been focused on race preparation."

2018 LMP1 NH Regulations finalized

Ginetta technical director Ewan Baldry has confirmed to RACER that the 2018 LMP1 non-hybrid technical regulations have been finalized, allowing the UK-based manufacturer to progress significantly on the development of its 2018 LMP1 car.

"Having signed up as a constructor we get a place in the Technical Working Group. We started looking last summer and at that time the regs were slightly different, then with Audi pulling out they were re-worked. So we did our initial work based on the original proposed regulations, which were later tweaked.

"Then around December we received confirmation, and the definitive regulations for 2018 which will be fixed for five years. That meant we were able to start on our CFD program."

Big weekend ahead for GTE Pro debutants

A key storyline to follow this weekend is the progress of Daniel Serra (ABOVE) and Pipo Derani, the two drivers in the making their debuts in the GTE Pro class this weekend.

For Serra, it's a dream come true to be racing with a manufacturer effort like Aston Martin this year in the WEC. In first three rounds of the season, the Brazilian Dunlop development driver will drive the No.97 Aston Martin Vantage with factory drivers Jonny Adam and Darren Turner.

Ahead of the weekend, Serra explained to RACER that racing in the WEC is a big step up from his regular Brazil Stock Car commitments.

"It's all new for me," Serra said. "I've done endurance racing in the past, racing with Scuderia Corsa at Daytona, so that part will be fine, but Silverstone, Spa and Le Mans are all new circuits for me.

"Racing with Jonny Adam and Darren Turner is great, we get on really well, and I have the advantage that I know the tyres. It's going to be a challenge, but also great fun. I'd love to do a full FIA WEC campaign in the future, as it's such a prestigious championship."

Derani, meanwhile, is racing with Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK for the first time this weekend, in at the deep end after missing out on driving for the team at the WEC Prologue at Monza. Last year Derani turned heads, winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Sebring 12 Hours, but both victories came in the prototype ranks.

Heading into this weekend's running Derani admitted to RACER that he'd only been able to complete two days' worth of testing with the Ford team at Motorland, Aragon in Spain.

Clearwater relishing its first WEC meeting

Singaporean GT outfit Clearwater Racing (ABOVE) is enjoying its first taste of competiting in the World Endurance Championship. The former Asian Le Mans Series GT champion is racing a Ferrari 488 GTE with Japanese driver Kieta Sawa, Ferrari works driver Matt Griffin and team owner Mok Weng Sun. The team will do the full season in the GTE Am class.

Earlier today its team principal Arj Kulasegaram revealed to RACER that a big part of the team's decision to enter the FIA WEC was the opportunity to race further afield than Asia, particularly in North America.

"It's a really important part of the move was the calendar that the FIA WEC has. It's going to be a big task for Kieta and Weng, because there's so many new circuits to learn, but we're here to fight for the World Championship.

"Racing in Mexico is great, and has a great appeal, but particularly the round in Austin is going to mean a lot to us, because Weng grew up and went to University in New York. While there he got his first taste of racing, competing in Gymkhana events over there. I too spent much of my childhood watching IndyCar.

"Once we're done with the WEC, competing in the bigger North American races like Sebring and Rolex would be incredible. Right now the WEC is our focus though, and the dream is to come back next year with two cars. We're also looking at the prototype classes because we're not sure what the future holds for the Am class.

"The big American races are certainly on our 'want to-do list' though."