Ferrari driver James Calado has revealed that he was hospitalized with malnutrition at first of this 12 months's World Endurance Championship campaign because of this of his weight reduction efforts.
The Briton revealed that he became “seriously ill” after the beginning of the season in Qatar as he tried to beat the hostile effects of carrying extra kilos within the WEC Hypercar category, which doesn’t include the driving force within the minimum automotive weight.
“I was sick this year because I lost so much weight – I had a cold and was hospitalized due to malnutrition,” he explained. “I take medication because I run and don't eat and I'm trying really hard to reduce weight.
“It's too dangerous for me to get down to the weight I want.”
Calado explained that he weighs “70-kilograms”, which could end in a performance penalty of as much as half a second per lap on a daily track for a driver weighing 20 kg less.
“I would like to qualify, but I'm too heavy,” he said. “I would really like something that makes it more even, like in karting or other championships.
#51 Ferrari Af Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi
Photo: Shameem Fahath
“It's not easy to manage because it's an endurance race – three drivers per car, two in the others – I know that, but let's try to do something.”
Calado's discovery comes at a time when there’s a must limit the advantages of lighter drivers.
BMW M Motorsport boss Andreas Roos revealed to Motorsport.com that he has raised the problem with the FIA ​​and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, which jointly run the WEC.
“There should be compensation for driver weight, as has been the case in LMP1 in the past, and we insist on that,” he said.
“We shouldn't have a situation where manufacturers are on the lookout for the lightest drivers; there must be a situation where every driver could be competitive.
“It's also a safety issue: drivers are trying to lose weight, but it's endurance racing, so it can be dangerous.”
James Calado, Ferrari AF Corse
Author of the photo: Nikolaz Godet
ACO technical director Thierry Bouvet admitted that the concept was being discussed, but stressed that no decision had been made.
“When people have ideas, we and the FIA ​​analyze the pros and cons and see whether they should be implemented or not,” he said.
A rule introduced in LMP1 for the 2015 WEC season increased the minimum weight of a automotive during which the typical weight of two or three drivers didn’t exceed 80 kg.
For example, three drivers with a median weight of 75 kg needed to carry 5 kg of ballast of their automotive.
This rule didn’t remove the advantage of the lighter driver over the heavier co-drivers, but it surely did equalize the cars at first.
The cars of Formula 1 drivers, who weigh lower than 80kg in racing suits, must carry ballast to realize a minimum weight of 798kg.
The 2025 Hypercar technical rules have already been approved and published, but with unanimous support from manufacturers, they could be modified.
