Aston Martin Valkyrie Sets Pace in Opening Practice for WEC Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo

WEC Returns to Interlagos

The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) has officially returned to Brazil for the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo. The iconic Interlagos Circuit, officially known as the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, is hosting the fifth round of the 2024 season, marking the series' first visit to the venue since 2014.

Aston Martin Leads Opening Session

The opening free practice session saw a notable performance from the Heart of Racing Team. Their Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH, driven by Ian James, Daniel Mancinelli, and Alex Riberas, set the fastest time of the session. This performance is particularly significant as it highlights the competitive progress of the Valkyrie platform in the highly contested Hypercar class.

Session Highlights and Competition

The practice session provided teams with their first opportunity to acclimate to the technical 4.309-kilometer circuit. Key observations from the session included:

• The Aston Martin Valkyrie demonstrated strong pace in both sector times and top speed.
• Factory teams from Toyota, Porsche, and Ferrari utilized the session to refine chassis setups for the high-altitude conditions of São Paulo.
• Track temperatures remained a critical factor for tire degradation strategies throughout the 90-minute session.

Looking Ahead

As the weekend progresses, teams will focus on qualifying simulations and long-run race pace. The Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo is expected to be a strategic battle, with the unique characteristics of Interlagos demanding precision in traffic management and fuel efficiency. Fans and analysts alike are closely watching the Hypercar field as the championship standings tighten heading into the second half of the season.