Ferrari Triumphs for Second Consecutive Year at 24 Hours of Le Mans

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ICARO Media Group
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16/06/2024 21h14

In an exhilarating battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Ferrari emerged victorious for the second year in a row at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. The 92nd edition of the race saw a thrilling showdown between Ferrari and Toyota, with Ferrari's Nicklas Nielsen clinching the checkered flag in the 499P hypercar.

The Danish driver, joined by Antonio Fuoco from Italy and Miguel Molina from Spain, pushed their Ferrari to the limit, navigating a wet track and almost running out of fuel. With just 2% left in the fuel gauge, Nielsen brilliantly managed the race, keeping his composure and crossing the finish line after completing 311 laps of the Sarthe circuit.

Toyota's GR010 hybrid, piloted by Jose Maria Lopez, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries, put up a commendable fight, finishing just 14.221 seconds behind the victorious Ferrari. Starting from the 23rd position, their valiant effort saw them push through the ranks and nearly secure the top spot.

Nielsen, Fuoco, and Molina celebrated their first-ever overall victory at Le Mans, but the race outcome remained uncertain until the very end. A safety car period lasting over four hours during the night added another layer of complexity to the competition.

The thrilling climax of the race was further intensified when the right-side door of the Ferrari abruptly swung open with over an hour remaining. This forced an unexpected pit stop, ultimately playing in favor of Ferrari's strategic fuel plan. The team effectively capitalized on this turn of events and emerged with an advantage over their rivals.

Last year's winning crew from Ferrari, consisting of Alessandro Pier Guidi, Antonio Giovinazzi, and James Calado, displayed their prowess once again, finishing third in the race despite the challenging weather conditions.

Toyota's bid for victory faced a setback when Lopez spun at the Dunlop Curve, costing them precious time. With only 30 minutes remaining and a 30-second gap to the leader, Toyota made the strategic decision to secure a solid second-place finish, conceding defeat to Ferrari.

Right from the start, Ferrari demonstrated their strength, with their factory cars accompanied by the AF Corse customer team entry driven by Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman, and Yifei Ye. Unfortunately, technical issues forced the AF Corse entry to retire four hours before the end of the race, crushing their hopes of a podium finish.

Porsche Penske put up a strong performance, securing fourth place with their pole-sitting car driven by Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre, and Andre Lotterer. Meanwhile, BMW and Renault-owned Alpine faced early disappointment, as the Renault entry caught fire at Arnage after nearly five hours of racing. The BMW retired due to engine trouble.

As the dust settles on this thrilling edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ferrari celebrates their remarkable back-to-back victories while Toyota takes pride in their hard-fought second-place finish. The race once again proves the enduring spirit of endurance racing and the remarkable skills of the drivers and teams who participate.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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