Porsche’s Strategic Approach Ahead of Qatar 2024 Race
Porsche Penske Motorsport returns to Qatar for the 10-hour race with insights gained from prior testing regarding tyre performance issues like graining. They’ve adapted their strategies to gain an advantage, but new regulations and an altered race schedule create additional challenges for the team this year. Drivers and engineers must work closely to navigate the race’s evolving conditions effectively.
Porsche Penske Motorsport is gearing up for the 10-hour ‘Qatar 1812 km’ race this Friday, returning to the site where they kicked off their impressive 2024 Drivers Championship season. In the season’s first race, factory cars secured top positions, surpassing the 12 Hertz Team Jota car and exhibiting superior performance with Michelin tyres.
Critical to their success was a testing phase on the Lusail Circuit prior to the race over November 29-30, 2023, which initially raised issues regarding tyre performance. Romain Gineste, head of track engineering for LMDh at Porsche Motorsport, noted the testing had concerns, as they dealt with “graining,” which severely affects tyre functionality and race performance due to uneven wear.
Graining occurs when race cars overload their tyres, causing the tread to clump and form undulations, which reduces the tyre’s contact surface and disrupts temperature regulation. During testing, deep grooves formed on the high-grip surface of the Lusail Circuit, complicating consistent lap times needed for both testing and the race itself.
After several weeks of analysis, Porsche’s engineering teams adapted suspension setups and improved tyre running-in procedures to tackle the graining issue. This proactive approach allowed them to gain a competitive edge, while rivals were still learning about graining right before the race weekend.
The strategy during the prologue sessions enabled Porsche and its customer teams to scrub tyres effectively, ensuring enhanced performance and longevity throughout the races. “Regardless of the track temperature, this allowed for consistently fast laps during the race and also increased the durability of the tyres in particular,” Gineste explained.
However, with competitors now more experienced and recent tire regulations prohibiting pre-race tyre scrubbing, the advantages of previous seasons have diminished. Teams can only utilize tyres from Qualifying onwards, leading to a more level playing field.
The season opener has also shifted to a new start time, beginning at 2:00 pm local time instead of the previous early morning commencement. This change directly affects race conditions, as ambient and asphalt temperatures will be more stable throughout the event, with less variability caused by the temperature drop towards midnight.
As the temperatures fluctuate during the race, drivers must adapt to maintain performance. Additionally, as humidity increases, it impacts aerodynamic downforce, adding further complexity to vehicle handling. Gineste emphasized the importance of driver skill in adjusting to these variable conditions during the race.
Porsche’s engineering team anticipates these shifts, aiming to strike a balance in vehicle setup that ensures competitiveness, particularly in crucial finishing stints. This involves preparing the Porsche 963 for optimal performance as race strategies unfold.
Porsche Penske Motorsport is strategically preparing for the 2024 season’s race in Qatar, building on lessons learned from previous tests and races. Efforts to address tyre graining, adapt to new regulations, and optimize car setup in the new race conditions highlight their competitive focus. The team’s experience will play a significant role as they navigate the expected challenges, aiming to deliver performance that capitalizes on their extensive planning and preparation.
Original Source: www.dailysportscar.com
