Audi ended its winning drought at Silverstone, Porsche qualified on pole with ease and the Toyota was excellent on its tyres.
But we could probably have predicted all those things ahead of last weekend's opening round of the World Endurance Championship. So what did we really learn from the WEC opener as we look forward to the rest of the season?
The answer is probably not a lot.
Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 29th as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 70 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.
Gary, who also writes for Autoweek, Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.
Why Le Mans magic will miss a crucial ingredient in 2020 The Le Mans 24 Hours is a visceral experience unlike any other in motorsport, and that's partly down to the atmosphere provided by teeming masses of passionate fans. Their absence from this year's event will rob it of a core part of its enduring appeal WEC
How pragmatic principles made Tauranac a design legend Jack Brabham's 1966 world championship campaign in his eponymous car was also a defining moment in the career of designer Ron Tauranac, who would apply the same ethos to his ultra-successful production racing car business, Ralt F1
The wild Austrian GP that launched a future champion Alan Jones's maiden grand prix victory was also the Shadow squad's sole win. Neither expected that result from a 14th-place starting position, but it would spur the Australian on his path to become a future Formula 1 world champion F1
Audi's forgotten winner that still holds a Le Mans record In 2010, a 39-year distance record was finally beaten at the Le Mans 24 Hours as Audi claimed its ninth win at the event. It achieved both with a car that's largely forgotten, the 'ugly duckling' R15-plus TDI WEC
How a Maranello favourite went out on a high Gerhard Berger's talent warranted more than just 10 grand prix wins, reckons NIGEL ROEBUCK, but he was a class act up until his final race F1
How Berlin's FE finale unveiled DS Techeetah's new rivals With both Formula E titles wrapped up, there wasn't a great deal to play for in the final two Berlin E-Prixs. But with both DS Techeetahs well down the grid, the two races at the Tempelhof Airport allowed two potential challengers to take the limelight FE
Why F1 may get another Mercedes/Red Bull showdown in Spain Attention is fixed on Red Bull after its stunning Silverstone win. The question now is whether it can repeat that result in Spain, where it seems three factors will be critical. Here's why those show another possible Mercedes upset is on at this stage F1
Is the real Dovizioso back after Austria MotoGP practice? Andrea Dovizioso's MotoGP season has so far been tough to swallow. But returning to Ducati's stronghold of the Red Bull Ring for the Austrian Grand Prix appears - at least after Friday's interrupted practice - to have found Dovizioso back at the front MotoGP
Highlights
Series
Explore
