Dani Juncadella, the hero of the 1.812 km of Qatar, led his team, TF Sport, and Chevrolet to their first triumph in the World Cup since the new LMGT3 category was released in 2024. This impressive win came after a half-hour battle against the elements and the rapid McLaren 720s #59, which finished second in the race. Juncadella’s Corvette #33 started 13th and was only the fourth or fifth car in terms of speed, but he, along with his teammates Ben Keating and Jonny Edgar, managed to make progress and take the lead in the final stages of the race.
The victory was a hard-fought one, with Juncadella facing off against the British GT for forty minutes with used tires and in inferior conditions. The Corvette had four used tires, with the right tires having 25 laps of life and the left tires having only seven laps, which should have been new. Meanwhile, the McLaren had four good tires and was lighter than the Corvette, which had more fuel than necessary to reach the finish line. Despite these challenges, Juncadella remained focused, knowing that if he didn’t make any mistakes, he could keep his position.
The Winning Strategy
Juncadella’s strategy was to wait for the McLaren and stay hooked, knowing that the closer he was, the more downforce he would lose in the curves, and the more the McLaren’s tires would overheat. This plan worked perfectly, and he was able to manage the situation wonderfully, thanks in part to a faster pit stop that allowed him to keep his position at the last stop.
A Point of Pride
For Juncadella, this win was one of the best races of his life. He believes that his team managed the situation wonderfully, and he is thrilled with the result. “Winning like this was tense, but I knew that if I didn’t make mistakes, it wouldn’t happen to me,” he said. Juncadella also praised his teammates, saying, “We have an amazing team this year.”
The victory marked a glorious weekend for Spain, with Miguel Molina achieving an absolute victory. Juncadella’s triumph has raised hopes for larger goals, and the team will be looking to build on this success in the upcoming 6 hours of Imola on April 20. With their strong performance in Qatar, Corvette is definitely one to watch in the World Cup.