Ferrari narrowly defeated Toyota to claim victory in the 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours at the Circuit de la Sarthe.
Ferrari has secured a thrilling consecutive victory at the 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours, narrowly edging out Toyota in a breathtaking finish. The #50 Ferrari, driven by Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen, conquered the relentless rain, further cementing Ferrari’s storied legacy at the iconic Circuit de la Sarthe.
While the #51 Ferrari reigned supreme in 2023, this year it was the #50 car that triumphed over the elements. Starting in fourth place, the team quickly realized that qualifying positions were meaningless as heavy rain began just hours into the race, forcing teams to adopt varied strategies. The #7 Toyota, driven by Nyck de Vries, Kamui Kobayashi, and Jose Maria Lopez, made a remarkable charge from the back of the Hypercar grid to finish second. Ferrari celebrated a one-three finish with the #51 car securing third place.
In the LMP2 class, the #22 United Autosports car claimed victory, with the podium rounded out by the #34 Inter Europol Competition car and the #28 IDEC Sport car. The LMGT3 category saw an epic battle, ultimately won by the #91 Manthey EMA car, followed by the #31 Team WRT and the #88 Proton Competition cars.
This year’s race was one of the most challenging in its history, with 15 cars retiring amid brutal weather conditions. Torrential rain and cold temperatures tormented teams, particularly during the night when visibility was so poor a four-hour safety car period was necessary. As dawn broke, the #8 Toyota led the field, but the race claimed several casualties, including both Alpine Hypercars and the #46 Team WRT LMGT3 car featuring motorcycling legend Valentino Rossi.
Teams constantly switched between wet and slick tires, struggling to adapt to the frequent showers. When the rain paused, the racing line dried quickly, creating hazards for slower cars moving off the line to allow faster vehicles to pass. This dynamic led to a dramatic incident on Sunday morning when the #27 Heart of Racing Team car flipped after a heavy collision with the barrier, having moved onto the wet part of the track to let a Hypercar through. Moments before, the #4 Porsche Penske also crashed in the same spot.
The #83 AF Corse Ferrari played a significant role in the first half of the race, leading for a considerable period despite serving a 30-second stop/go penalty. Unfortunately, it retired in the closing hours due to mechanical issues.
The true running order only became clear after the final pit stops, following a race filled with strategic variations. Controversy arose when the #8 Toyota, a serious contender for victory, was spun by the previous year’s winner, the #51 Ferrari. The incident, combined with a five-second penalty for the #51 Ferrari, dashed both cars’ hopes of winning.
This set the stage for a straight fight between the #50 Ferrari and the #7 Toyota. A critical spin by the Toyota at the second corner allowed the Ferrari to gain a decisive advantage. Despite concerns over an early final pit stop, the #50 Ferrari AF Corse held on to cross the finish line first, much to the relief and jubilation of the Scuderia team. This victory not only secured Ferrari’s second consecutive Le Mans triumph but also underscored their dominance in endurance racing amidst some of the most challenging conditions the iconic race has ever seen.
