WEC opener at Imola portended a great season

The FIA World Endurance Championship was the biggest racing series to have to delay the start of its year due to the war in Iran, so it needed a strong opening round to get back on its feet. It definitely got one.

Antonio Giovinazzi put the #51 Ferrari on pole in the closest Hyperpole session in the championship’s history, and then there was a race at the front from lights to flag. It was won by the #8 Toyota of Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa and Sebastien Buemi, giving the once-dominant marque its 50th WEC victory. Ferrari can be beaten, and it will be a fun fight to watch.

In LMGT3, a WRT BMW won (shocker), but it shouldn’t have. Garage 59’s step up to WEC almost began in glorious fashion. The McLaren snatched pole and led late into the race before conking out with an alternator issue. I expect them to get much more airtime this year.