In its highly anticipated comeback to Le Mans after a 50-year hiatus, Ferrari couldn’t have scripted a more remarkable story in Le Mans.
Returning to the iconic French classic for the first time since 1973, the No. 51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P Hypercar achieved a monumental feat by ending Toyota Gazoo’s five-year winning streak, marking one of the most significant upsets in the history of the centenary event.
Antonio Giovinazzi, James Calado, and Alessandro Pier Guidi, despite the 50-year gap, secured Ferrari’s 10th overall victory at Le Mans and its first triumph since 1965 by successfully bringing the car to the finish line and claiming the checkered flag.
This leaves us with one lingering question: why did it take the Italian legend half a century to make the decision to return to the world’s greatest endurance race? If Ferrari had known about the success that awaited them, perhaps they would have made their comeback several years earlier.
The second-place finish went to the No. 8 Toyota, driven by Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and anchor driver Ryo Hirakawa, who crossed the finish line 1 minute and 21 seconds after the winning team.
Toyota’s aspirations of claiming victory were shattered approximately 1 hour and 44 minutes before the race concluded when Ryo Hirakawa locked up his brakes and collided with the wall. The resulting damage necessitated a three-minute pit stop for repairs, effectively extinguishing Toyota’s chances of securing their sixth consecutive win.
Securing the final spot on the podium was the No. 2 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R from Chip Ganassi Racing, driven by Richard Westbrook, Alex Lynn, and Earl Bamber, representing IMSA. Chip Ganassi Racing also claimed the fourth position with their No. 3 LMDH prototype, while Ferrari’s No. 5 entry rounded out the top-five finishers.
Laura Wontrop Klauser, GM sports car racing program manager, expressed her immense pride in all three Cadillacs successfully completing the race, considering the challenging circumstances. She acknowledged the intense competition at this year’s Le Mans and praised the team’s strong finish. Klauser also celebrated the class victory achieved by the Chevrolet Corvette team. Looking ahead, she eagerly anticipates returning next year and aiming for the top spot on the podium.
It is worth mentioning that Team Penske’s highly anticipated Porsche secured a sixth-place finish.
