The legendary Le Mans 24 Hours race, a true test of endurance and speed, was heating up as it entered its final quarter. Ferrari, with its iconic racing pedigree, held a crucial one-minute lead over formidable competitor Toyota, setting the stage for a thrilling climax to one of motorsport’s most prestigious events. The battle in the Hypercar category had been intense from the outset, with shifting leads, strategic gambles, and unexpected drama defining the race thus far.
Hours 11-12: The Night’s Relentless Challenges
As the clock neared 2 AM, the early hours of Sunday brought a significant challenge for the number 50 Ferrari. A critical cooling problem forced the car into the pits, where it was swiftly wheeled into the garage. Mechanics immediately began extensive repair work, a sight that always sends shivers down the spine of any endurance racing fan, knowing that every second spent off-track is an advantage lost. While the #50 Ferrari grappled with its mechanical woes, the overall lead of the race became a fiercely contested four-way battle.
Nico Muller in the number 94 Peugeot, Sebastien Buemi piloting the sole remaining Toyota (after the unfortunate retirement of the number seven car earlier), James Calado in the number 51 Ferrari, and the resilient number two Cadillac were locked in a high-stakes struggle for supremacy. The tension was palpable as these elite machines pushed the boundaries of speed and reliability under the cloak of darkness.
Sebastien Buemi delivered a moment of triumph for Toyota, executing a decisive overtake on Muller for the lead of the race into the Mulsanne corner. This move provided a much-needed morale boost for the Japanese manufacturer, still reeling from the earlier retirement of its sister car. Not one to be outdone, James Calado in the #51 Ferrari immediately put pressure on the Peugeot for second place, ultimately making his move and passing into Indianapolis. The strategic dance between the top contenders was relentless, with drivers extracting every ounce of performance from their machines.
In a coordinated display of strategy, the two leading cars, Ferrari and Toyota, both pitted together. Emerging back in third and fourth, this momentarily handed the lead back to the number 94 Peugeot, a fleeting advantage until Gustavo Menezes was installed back in the car. However, Peugeot’s fortunes quickly took a turn for the worse. The number 94 car was first handed a five-second time penalty for a pit stop infraction, a costly error in such a tight race. The drama escalated further when Menezes spun off the track and collided with the barriers, inflicting heavy damage on his car. Despite the significant impact, the skilled driver managed to recover the wounded machine back to the pits, allowing the team a glimmer of hope to salvage their former front-runner.
The Toyota and Ferrari continued their strategic tango, pitting together once more. This time, the number 51 Ferrari gained a crucial advantage by opting for a fuel-only stop, while the number eight Toyota chose to take on new tires. This strategic call allowed the Ferrari to seize the lead as it exited the pit lane, showcasing the fine margins that define success at Le Mans. The penalties continued to flow, with the number eight Toyota subsequently receiving its own five-second time penalty for a pit stop infringement. Meanwhile, the beleaguered number 94 Peugeot was finally released from the pits after a frantic period of repair work, rejoining the race significantly down the order.
As the race reached its halfway point, the number 51 Ferrari firmly held the lead, with the number eight Toyota hot on its heels, separated by only a handful of precious seconds. The night had been a testament to both mechanical resilience and strategic brilliance, setting the stage for an even more thrilling second half.
Hours 13-14: Dawn Breaks, Leads Exchange
With the dawn beginning to break over the Circuit de la Sarthe, a new round of pit stops saw fresh drivers take the helm of the leading cars. Antonio Giovinazzi climbed into the cockpit of the leading number 51 Ferrari, eager to maintain his team’s advantage. Simultaneously, endurance veteran Brendon Hartley took over the controls of the number eight Toyota. Hartley immediately demonstrated his pace, taking over the lead of the race and swiftly began to pull away from Giovinazzi behind him. The rhythm of the race continued to be dictated by driver changes and strategic fuel and tire decisions.
In the fiercely competitive Hypercar category, the number two Cadillac, running solidly in third place, was the next contender to incur a five-second time penalty due to a pit stop infringement. These small errors, though seemingly minor, can accumulate and prove decisive over 24 hours.
Giovinazzi, a man on a mission, started to relentlessly eat away at Hartley’s lead. His consistent lap times demonstrated Ferrari’s unwavering resolve. The cat-and-mouse game continued until just before 6 AM, when Giovinazzi pitted from the lead, handing the magnificent 499P back to Alessandro Pier Guidi. This driver change allowed Toyota to momentarily reassume the lead of the race, adding another twist to the unfolding narrative of this epic contest.
Hours 15-16: Accidents, Drama, and Shifting Fortunes
The early morning hours of 6 AM brought a significant incident that momentarily disrupted the flow of the race. The number 88 Proton GT Am Porsche suffered a heavy accident at Indianapolis, necessitating a Slow Zone. Marshals worked quickly to recover the damaged vehicle and repair the safety barriers, a stark reminder of the inherent dangers of racing at Le Mans. Shortly after, Ben Barnicoat became the next retirement, crashing out the number 80 AF Corse LMP2 car at the challenging Porsche Curves, triggering yet another Slow Zone. Such incidents, while unfortunate, often reset the race dynamics, allowing trailing cars to close the gap or forcing leading teams to re-evaluate their strategies.
In the lead Hypercar class, Ryo Hirakawa had taken over the number eight Toyota, meticulously maintaining a lead of approximately a quarter of a minute over the chasing number 51 Ferrari, now driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi. However, the Ferrari team, known for its relentless pursuit, urged Pier Guidi to pick up the pace. He responded with a surge of speed, rapidly closing the gap to well under ten seconds as 7 AM ticked over. The intensity of the battle for the top spot was palpable, with both manufacturers pushing their machines to the absolute limit.
More drama unfolded in the Hypercar class when the number four Vanwall suffered a catastrophic engine failure at the demanding Porsche Curves. Smoke billowed from the back of the car, a grim sign for any racing team. Driver Tristan Vautier skillfully pulled the stricken car off the track and into retirement, ending their Le Mans campaign prematurely.
The two leading cars once again pitted together, a synchronized strategic move. During this crucial stop, James Calado took over the controls of the number 51 Ferrari. Critically, the front bodywork on the Toyota was replaced, a procedure that inevitably takes more time. This strategic difference allowed the Ferrari to assume a decisive lead as it exited the pit lane. Calado wasted no time, rapidly pulling away from his rival behind, capitalizing on every millisecond gained. He continued to gradually extend Ferrari’s lead, pushing the advantage to approximately 10 seconds as the clock ticked over to 8 AM. Ferrari’s commanding presence at the front was a clear statement of intent.
Beyond the Hypercar battle, other classes were equally competitive. Inter Europol held a strong lead in the LMP2 class, showcasing consistent performance throughout the night. The GTE Am category was led by the number 56 Project 1 Porsche, navigating its way through the demanding race with precision. A unique entrant, the Garage 56 Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Cup Car, continued to impress, running solidly in 31st place overall, a remarkable achievement for a car so different from its endurance racing counterparts.
Positions after 16 hours
| Pos | No. | Class | Team | Car | Drivers | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 51 | Hypercar (H) | Ferrari AF Corse | Ferrari 499P | Alessandro Pier Guidi/James Calado/Antonio Giovinazzi | 216 |
| 2 | 8 | Hypercar (H) | Toyota Gazoo Racing | Toyota GR010 | Sebastien Buemi/Brendon Hartley/Ryo Hirakawa | 216 |
| 3 | 2 | Hypercar (H) | Cadillac Racing | Cadillac V-Series.R | Earl Bamber/Alex Lynn/Richard Westbrook | 215 |
| 4 | 3 | Hypercar (H) | Cadillac Racing | Cadillac V-Series.R | Sebastien Bourdais/Renger Van Der Zande/Scott Dixon | 214 |
| 5 | 6 | Hypercar (H) | Porsche Penske Motorsport | Porsche 963 | Kevin Estre/Andre Lotterer/Laurens Vanthoor | 214 |
| 6 | 93 | Hypercar (H) | Peugeot Totalenergies | Peugeot 9X8 | Paul di Resta/Mikkel Jensen/Jean-Eric Vergne | 213 |
| 7 | 708 | Hypercar | Glickenhaus Racing | Glickenhaus 007 | Romain Dumas/Olivier Pla/Ryan Briscoe | 212 |
| 8 | 709 | Hypercar | Glickenhaus Racing | Glickenhaus 007 | Franck Mailleux/Nathanael Berthon/Esteban Gutierrez | 211 |
| 9 | 5 | Hypercar (H) | Porsche Penske Motorsport | Porsche 963 | Dane Cameron/Michael Christensen/Frederic Makowiecki | 210 |
| 10 | 50 | Hypercar (H) | Ferrari AF Corse | Ferrari 499P | Antonio Fuoco/Miguel Molina/Nicklas Nielsen | 209 |
| 11 | 94 | Hypercar (H) | Peugeot Totalenergies | Peugeot 9X8 | Loic Duval/Gustavo Menezes/Nico Mueller | 207 |
| 12 | 34 | LMP2 | Inter Europol Competition | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Jakub Smiechowski/Albert Costa/Fabio Scherer | 206 |
| 13 | 41 | LMP2 | Team WRT | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Rui Andrade/Louis Deletraz/Robert Kubica | 206 |
| 14 | 30 | LMP2 | Duqueine Team | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Neel Jani/Rene Binder/Nicolas Pino | 206 |
| 15 | 47 | LMP2 | Cool Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Reshad de Gerus/Vladislav Lomko/Simon Pagenaud | 122 |
| 16 | 65 | LMP2 | Panis Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Manuel Maldonado/Tijmen van der Helm/Job van Uitert | 205 |
| 17 | 48 | LMP2 | Idec Sport | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Paul Lafargue/Paul Loup Chatin/Laurents Horr | 122 |
| 18 | 31 | LMP2 | Team WRT | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Sean Gelael/Ferdinand Habsburg/Robin Frijns | 205 |
| 19 | 36 | LMP2 | Alpine Elf Team | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Matthieu Vaxiviere/Charles Milesi/Julienal Canal | 205 |
| 20 | 28 | LMP2 | JOTA | Oreca 07 – Gibson | David Heinemeier Hansson/Oliver Rasmussen/Pietro Fittipaldi | 205 |
| 21 | 10 | LMP2 | Vector Sport | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Ryan Cullen/Gabriel Aubry/Matthias Kaiser | 204 |
| 22 | 45 | LMP2 Pro/Am | Algarve Pro Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | George Kurtz/James Allen/Colin Braun | 202 |
| 23 | 35 | LMP2 | Alpine Elf Team | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Andre Negrão/Olli Caldwell/Memo Rojas | 202 |
| 24 | 23 | LMP2 | United Autosports | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Joshua Pierson/Tom Blomqvist/Oliver Jarvis | 201 |
| 25 | 22 | LMP2 | United Autosports | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Philip Hanson/Filipe Albuquerque/Frederick Lubin | 201 |
| 26 | 38 | Hypercar (H) | Hertz Team JOTA | Porsche 963 | Antonio Felix Da Costa/Will Stevens/Yifei Ye | 201 |
| 27 | 311 | Hypercar (H) | Action Express Racing | Cadillac V-Series.R | Luis Felipe Derani/Alexander Sims/Jack Aitken | 198 |
| 28 | 37 | LMP2 Pro/Am | Cool Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Nicolas Lapierre/Alexandre Coigny/Malthe Jakobsen | 198 |
| 29 | 4 | Hypercar | Floyd Vanwall Racing Team | Vanwall Vandervell 680 | Tom Dillmann/Esteban Guerrieri/Tristan Vautier | 119 |
| 30 | 57 | LMGTE Am | Kessel Racing | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Takeshi Kimura/Scott Huffaker/Daniel Serra | 198 |
| 31 | 24 | CDNT | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 | Jimmie Johnson/Mike Rockenfeller/Jenson Button | 197 |
| 32 | 56 | LMGTE Am | Project 1 – AO | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | PJ Hyett/Gunnar Jeannette/Matteo Cairoli | 197 |
| 33 | 54 | LMGTE Am | AF Corse | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Thomas Flohr/Francesco Castellacci/Davide Rigon | 197 |
| 34 | 33 | LMGTE Am | Corvette Racing | Chevrolet Corvette C8.R | Nicky Catsburg/Ben Keating/Nicolas Varrone | 197 |
| 35 | 25 | LMGTE Am | ORT by TF | Aston Martin Vantage AMR | Ahmad Al Harthy/Michael Dinan/Charlie Eastwood | 197 |
| 36 | 85 | LMGTE Am | Iron Dames | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Sarah Bovy/Michelle Gatting/Rahel Frey | 197 |
| 37 | 86 | LMGTE Am | GR Racing | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Michael Wainwright/Benjamin Barker/Riccardo Pera | 197 |
| 38 | 9 | LMP2 | Prema Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Bent Viscaal/Juan Manuel Correa/Filip Ugran | 197 |
| 39 | 911 | LMGTE Am | Proton Competition | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Michael Fassbender/Martin Rump/Richard Lietz | 197 |
| 40 | 98 | LMGTE Am | Northwest AMR | Aston Martin Vantage AMR | Ian James/Daniel Mancinelli/Alex Riberas | 196 |
| 41 | 100 | LMGTE Am | Walkenhorst Motorsport | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Chandler Hull/Andrew Haryanto/Jeffrey Segal | 195 |
| 42 | 74 | LMGTE Am | Kessel Racing | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Kei Cozzolino/Yorikatsu Tsujiko/Naoki Yokomizo | 193 |
| 43 | 43 | LMP2 Pro/Am | DKR Engineering | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Tom Van Rompuy/Ugo de Wilde/Maxime Martin | 192 |
| 44 | 39 | LMP2 Pro/Am | Graff Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Roberto Lacorte/Giedo van der Garde/Patrick Pilet | 189 |
| 45 | 80 | LMP2 Pro/Am | AF Corse | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Francois Perrodo/Ben Barnicoat/Norman Nato | 183 |
| 46 | 88 | LMGTE Am | Proton Competition | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Harry Tincknell/Donald Yount/Jonas Ried | 170 |
| 47 | 777 | LMGTE Am | D’Station Racing | Aston Martin Vantage AMR | Satoshi Hoshino/Casper Stevenson/Tomonobu Fujii | 163 |
| 48 | 77 | LMGTE Am | Dempsey-Proton Racing | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Christian Ried/Mikkel Pedersen/Julien Andlauer | 118 |
| 49 | 32 | LMP2 | Inter Europol Competition | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Mark Kvamme/Jan Magnussen/Anders Fjordbach | 107 |
| 50 | 63 | LMP2 | Prema Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Doriane Pin/Daniil Kvyat/Mirko Bortolotti | 113 |
| 51 | 7 | Hypercar (H) | Toyota Gazoo Racing | Toyota GR010 | Mike Conway/Kamui Kobayashi/Jose Maria Lopez | 103 |
| 52 | 66 | LMGTE Am | JMW Motorsport | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Thomas Neubauer/Louis Prette/Giacomo Petrobelli | 89 |
| 53 | 923 | LMP2 Pro/Am | Racing Team Turkey | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Salih Yoluc/Tom Gamble/Dries Vanthoor | 87 |
| 54 | 75 | Hypercar (H) | Porsche Penske Motorsport | Porsche 963 | Felipe Nasr/Mathieu Jaminet/Nicholas Tandy | 84 |
| 55 | 72 | LMGTE Am | TF Sport | Aston Martin Vantage AMR | Arnold Robin/Maxime Robin/Valentin Hasse-Clot | 58 |
| 56 | 83 | LMGTE Am | Richard Mille AF Corse | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Luis Perez Companc/Alessio Rovera/Lilou Wadoux | 33 |
| 57 | 16 | LMGTE Am | Proton Competition | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Ryan Hardwick/Zacharie Robichon/Jan Heylen | 28 |
| 58 | 60 | LMGTE Am | Iron Lynx | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Claudio Schiavoni/Matteo Cressoni/Alessio Picariello | 28 |
| 59 | 55 | LMGTE Am | GMB Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage AMR | Gustav Dahlmann Birch/Marco Sorensen/Jens Reno Moller | 21 |
| 60 | 21 | LMGTE Am | AF Corse | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Simon Mann/Julien Piguet/Ulysse de Pauw | 21 |
| 61 | 13 | LMP2 Pro/Am | Tower Motorsports | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Steven Thomas/Ricky Taylor/Rene Rast | 19 |
| 62 | 14 | LMP2 Pro/Am | Nielsen Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Rodrigo Sales/Mathias Beche/Ben Hanley | 18 |
Hours 17-18: Ferrari Extends Its Dominance Amidst Further Chaos
The 17th hour of the Le Mans 24 Hours race kicked off with yet another dramatic incident, underscoring the relentless nature of this endurance classic. Kevin Estre, piloting the number six Porsche Penske hypercar, encountered trouble through the demanding Porsche Curves. While attempting to lap an LMP2 car, Estre ran off track and collided with the tire wall at a moderate speed. The immediate fear for driver and car was palpable, but remarkably, Estre demonstrated incredible skill and composure. He managed to reverse the car out of the barriers and recover the relatively short distance to the pits for urgent repairs, a testament to both driver ability and Porsche’s robust engineering.
In a continuing pattern, the two leading cars, the number 51 Ferrari and the number eight Toyota, once again pitted in sequence together. James Calado, back behind the wheel of the Ferrari, skillfully maintained the lead, ensuring Ferrari’s dominance at the front of the Hypercar pack. The gap between the leading Ferrari and its Toyota pursuer gradually stretched to just under half a minute. Alexander Lynn, in the number two Cadillac, continued to hold a steady third position, running a strong and consistent race.
With Ryo Hirakawa back in the number eight Toyota, the Japanese squad began to mount a determined fightback. Hirakawa slowly but surely started to chip away at Ferrari’s lead, expertly taking five seconds out of Calado’s advantage in a matter of minutes. However, as the sun climbed higher, intensifying the heat on the 13km circuit, the gap between the two titans stabilized at around 20 seconds. The increased track temperatures and tire degradation likely played a role in this delicate balance, forcing drivers to manage their pace more conservatively.
Just when the race seemed to find a rhythm, drama struck the number 708 Glickenhaus hypercar. On the exit of Indianapolis, the car spun, leaving it stranded sideways across the track, a highly perilous position in a high-speed zone. After a considerable effort, the tenacious driver Olivier Pla eventually righted the car, showcasing immense resilience, before slowly recovering to the safety of the pit lane. Such incidents are a stark reminder of the mental and physical toll Le Mans exacts on its participants.
Sebastien Buemi, a seasoned veteran, was installed back into the number eight Toyota in second place. His immediate query over the radio – how he could put pressure on the leading Ferrari – highlighted his fierce determination. Buemi was instructed to push, and he responded instantly, locking up heavily into the first corner as he attacked with renewed vigor. The intensity of his charge was undeniable, signaling Toyota’s intent to close the gap.
However, the entire field was soon forced to slow temporarily under a Full Course Yellow (FCY). This precautionary measure was initiated due to a loose bollard and a significant amount of gravel scattered across various points of the circuit. The timing of this FCY proved to be incredibly detrimental for Buemi, who had just begun his charge to reel in the Ferrari. When the race eventually resumed, the gap between the leading Ferrari and the second-placed Toyota had unfortunately ballooned to approximately 45 seconds. Ferrari’s fortune in the timing of the FCY allowed them to reset and extend their advantage significantly. Over the next half an hour, Antonio Giovinazzi, now back in the #51 Ferrari, continued to gradually pull further away from the pursuing Toyota. As the 18th hour concluded, Ferrari’s lead had stretched to just over a minute from the number eight Toyota, with the number two Cadillac now almost a full lap behind in third. The momentum was firmly with the Italian squad.
In the LMP2 class, the number 34 Inter Europol car continued to demonstrate exceptional consistency, leading the second-tier prototype category by a full lap, a testament to their faultless performance. In GTE Am, the number 25 ORT by TF Aston Martin was scored in the lead after its three closest rivals had made their pit stops, illustrating the dynamic nature of strategy in this class. The Garage 56 NASCAR Cup Car, driven by the experienced Mike Rockenfeller, continued its impressive run, moving up into the top 30, securing 29th place overall – notably one position ahead of the class-leading GTE Am car. This unique entry captivated audiences and proved its endurance capabilities.
Positions after 18 hours
| Pos | No. | Class | Team | Car | Drivers | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 51 | Hypercar (H) | Ferrari AF Corse | Ferrari 499P | Alessandro Pier Guidi/James Calado/Antonio Giovinazzi | 247 |
| 2 | 8 | Hypercar (H) | Toyota Gazoo Racing | Toyota GR010 | Sebastien Buemi/Brendon Hartley/Ryo Hirakawa | 247 |
| 3 | 2 | Hypercar (H) | Cadillac Racing | Cadillac V-Series.R | Earl Bamber/Alex Lynn/Richard Westbrook | 246 |
| 4 | 3 | Hypercar (H) | Cadillac Racing | Cadillac V-Series.R | Sebastien Bourdais/Renger Van Der Zande/Scott Dixon | 245 |
| 5 | 93 | Hypercar (H) | Peugeot Totalenergies | Peugeot 9X8 | Paul di Resta/Mikkel Jensen/Jean-Eric Vergne | 244 |
| 6 | 5 | Hypercar (H) | Porsche Penske Motorsport | Porsche 963 | Dane Cameron/Michael Christensen/Frederic Makowiecki | 241 |
| 7 | 50 | Hypercar (H) | Ferrari AF Corse | Ferrari 499P | Antonio Fuoco/Miguel Molina/Nicklas Nielsen | 241 |
| 8 | 708 | Hypercar | Glickenhaus Racing | Glickenhaus 007 | Romain Dumas/Olivier Pla/Ryan Briscoe | 240 |
| 9 | 709 | Hypercar | Glickenhaus Racing | Glickenhaus 007 | Franck Mailleux/Nathanael Berthon/Esteban Gutierrez | 240 |
| 10 | 94 | Hypercar (H) | Peugeot Totalenergies | Peugeot 9X8 | Loic Duval/Gustavo Menezes/Nico Mueller | 237 |
| 11 | 34 | LMP2 | Inter Europol Competition | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Jakub Smiechowski/Albert Costa/Fabio Scherer | 236 |
| 12 | 41 | LMP2 | Team WRT | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Rui Andrade/Louis Deletraz/Robert Kubica | 236 |
| 13 | 30 | LMP2 | Duqueine Team | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Neel Jani/Rene Binder/Nicolas Pino | 236 |
| 14 | 65 | LMP2 | Panis Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Manuel Maldonado/Tijmen van der Helm/Job van Uitert | 235 |
| 15 | 36 | LMP2 | Alpine Elf Team | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Matthieu Vaxiviere/Charles Milesi/Julienal Canal | 235 |
| 16 | 31 | LMP2 | Team WRT | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Sean Gelael/Ferdinand Habsburg/Robin Frijns | 235 |
| 17 | 48 | LMP2 | Idec Sport | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Paul Lafargue/Paul Loup Chatin/Laurents Horr | 235 |
| 18 | 10 | LMP2 | Vector Sport | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Ryan Cullen/Gabriel Aubry/Matthias Kaiser | 234 |
| 19 | 28 | LMP2 | JOTA | Oreca 07 – Gibson | David Heinemeier Hansson/Oliver Rasmussen/Pietro Fittipaldi | 234 |
| 20 | 6 | Hypercar (H) | Porsche Penske Motorsport | Porsche 963 | Kevin Estre/Andre Lotterer/Laurens Vanthoor | 234 |
| 21 | 38 | Hypercar (H) | Hertz Team JOTA | Porsche 963 | Antonio Felix Da Costa/Will Stevens/Yifei Ye | 232 |
| 22 | 35 | LMP2 | Alpine Elf Team | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Andre Negrão/Olli Caldwell/Memo Rojas | 232 |
| 23 | 22 | LMP2 | United Autosports | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Philip Hanson/Filipe Albuquerque/Frederick Lubin | 232 |
| 24 | 45 | LMP2 Pro/Am | Algarve Pro Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | George Kurtz/James Allen/Colin Braun | 232 |
| 25 | 23 | LMP2 | United Autosports | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Joshua Pierson/Tom Blomqvist/Oliver Jarvis | 231 |
| 26 | 311 | Hypercar (H) | Action Express Racing | Cadillac V-Series.R | Luis Felipe Derani/Alexander Sims/Jack Aitken | 229 |
| 27 | 9 | LMP2 | Prema Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Bent Viscaal/Juan Manuel Correa/Filip Ugran | 227 |
| 28 | 37 | LMP2 Pro/Am | Cool Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Nicolas Lapierre/Alexandre Coigny/Malthe Jakobsen | 227 |
| 29 | 24 | CDNT | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 | Jimmie Johnson/Mike Rockenfeller/Jenson Button | 226 |
| 30 | 25 | LMGTE Am | ORT by TF | Aston Martin Vantage AMR | Ahmad Al Harthy/Michael Dinan/Charlie Eastwood | 226 |
| 31 | 33 | LMGTE Am | Corvette Racing | Chevrolet Corvette C8.R | Nicky Catsburg/Ben Keating/Nicolas Varrone | 226 |
| 32 | 56 | LMGTE Am | Project 1 – AO | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | PJ Hyett/Gunnar Jeannette/Matteo Cairoli | 226 |
| 33 | 85 | LMGTE Am | Iron Dames | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Sarah Bovy/Michelle Gatting/Rahel Frey | 226 |
| 34 | 54 | LMGTE Am | AF Corse | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Thomas Flohr/Francesco Castellacci/Davide Rigon | 225 |
| 35 | 57 | LMGTE Am | Kessel Racing | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Takeshi Kimura/Scott Huffaker/Daniel Serra | 225 |
| 36 | 86 | LMGTE Am | GR Racing | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Michael Wainwright/Benjamin Barker/Riccardo Pera | 225 |
| 37 | 911 | LMGTE Am | Proton Competition | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Michael Fassbender/Martin Rump/Richard Lietz | 224 |
| 38 | 98 | LMGTE Am | Northwest AMR | Aston Martin Vantage AMR | Ian James/Daniel Mancinelli/Alex Riberas | 224 |
| 39 | 100 | LMGTE Am | Walkenhorst Motorsport | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Chandler Hull/Andrew Haryanto/Jeffrey Segal | 222 |
| 40 | 43 | LMP2 Pro/Am | DKR Engineering | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Tom Van Rompuy/Ugo de Wilde/Maxime Martin | 222 |
| 41 | 39 | LMP2 Pro/Am | Graff Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Roberto Lacorte/Giedo van der Garde/Patrick Pilet | 219 |
| 42 | 74 | LMGTE Am | Kessel Racing | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Kei Cozzolino/Yorikatsu Tsujiko/Naoki Yokomizo | 219 |
| 43 | 80 | LMP2 Pro/Am | AF Corse | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Francois Perrodo/Ben Barnicoat/Norman Nato | 183 |
| 44 | 88 | LMGTE Am | Proton Competition | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Harry Tincknell/Donald Yount/Jonas Ried | 170 |
| 45 | 4 | Hypercar | Floyd Vanwall Racing Team | Vanwall Vandervell 680 | Tom Dillmann/Esteban Guerrieri/Tristan Vautier | 165 |
| 46 | 777 | LMGTE Am | D’Station Racing | Aston Martin Vantage AMR | Satoshi Hoshino/Casper Stevenson/Tomonobu Fujii | 163 |
| 47 | 47 | LMP2 | Cool Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Reshad de Gerus/Vladislav Lomko/Simon Pagenaud | 158 |
| 48 | 77 | LMGTE Am | Dempsey-Proton Racing | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Christian Ried/Mikkel Pedersen/Julien Andlauer | 118 |
| 49 | 32 | LMP2 | Inter Europol Competition | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Mark Kvamme/Jan Magnussen/Anders Fjordbach | 117 |
| 50 | 63 | LMP2 | Prema Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Doriane Pin/Daniil Kvyat/Mirko Bortolotti | 113 |
| 51 | 7 | Hypercar (H) | Toyota Gazoo Racing | Toyota GR010 | Mike Conway/Kamui Kobayashi/Jose Maria Lopez | 103 |
| 52 | 66 | LMGTE Am | JMW Motorsport | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Thomas Neubauer/Louis Prette/Giacomo Petrobelli | 89 |
| 53 | 923 | LMP2 Pro/Am | Racing Team Turkey | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Salih Yoluc/Tom Gamble/Dries Vanthoor | 87 |
| 54 | 75 | Hypercar (H) | Porsche Penske Motorsport | Porsche 963 | Felipe Nasr/Mathieu Jaminet/Nicholas Tandy | 84 |
| 55 | 72 | LMGTE Am | TF Sport | Aston Martin Vantage AMR | Arnold Robin/Maxime Robin/Valentin Hasse-Clot | 58 |
| 56 | 83 | LMGTE Am | Richard Mille AF Corse | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Luis Perez Companc/Alessio Rovera/Lilou Wadoux | 33 |
| 57 | 16 | LMGTE Am | Proton Competition | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Ryan Hardwick/Zacharie Robichon/Jan Heylen | 28 |
| 58 | 60 | LMGTE Am | Iron Lynx | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Claudio Schiavoni/Matteo Cressoni/Alessio Picariello | 28 |
| 59 | 55 | LMGTE Am | GMB Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage AMR | Gustav Dahlmann Birch/Marco Sorensen/Jens Reno Moller | 21 |
| 60 | 21 | LMGTE Am | AF Corse | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Simon Mann/Julien Piguet/Ulysse de Pauw | 21 |
| 61 | 13 | LMP2 Pro/Am | Tower Motorsports | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Steven Thomas/Ricky Taylor/Rene Rast | 19 |
| 62 | 14 | LMP2 Pro/Am | Nielsen Racing | Oreca 07 – Gibson | Rodrigo Sales/Mathias Beche/Ben Hanley | 18 |
Le Mans 24 Hours: The Final Stretch Beckons
As the Le Mans 24 Hours race entered its decisive final quarter, the narrative was unmistakably dominated by the intense Hypercar battle between Ferrari and Toyota. With 18 hours already completed, Ferrari AF Corse held a significant one-minute lead, a testament to their strategic acumen, flawless pit stops, and the relentless pace of their drivers, particularly James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi. The #51 Ferrari 499P had navigated the challenges of night racing, mechanical pressures, and unforeseen incidents with remarkable composure, establishing itself as a formidable front-runner.
Toyota Gazoo Racing, however, remained a persistent and dangerous challenger. Despite the early retirement of their #7 car and a series of penalties, the #8 Toyota GR010, piloted by a stellar lineup including Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa, had consistently demonstrated its raw speed and never-say-die attitude. Their efforts to close the gap, though hampered by a cruelly timed Full Course Yellow, underlined their commitment to fighting until the very last lap.
Beyond the leading duo, the Cadillac Racing entries, particularly the #2 and #3 V-Series.R cars, had shown impressive reliability and pace, securing solid positions within the top four, proving themselves as genuine contenders for the podium. Peugeot Totalenergies, despite their dramatic mid-race setback with the #94 car, still had their #93 machine running competitively, showcasing the potential of their unique 9X8. Porsche Penske Motorsport and Glickenhaus Racing also continued to be part of the Hypercar drama, each facing their own battles against time and rivals.
In the support classes, Inter Europol Competition had established a commanding lead in LMP2, executing a near-perfect race so far. The GTE Am category saw a constantly shifting lead, highlighting the intense competition among the GT cars. And, of course, the Garage 56 NASCAR Cup Car continued its journey, turning heads and proving its mettle in the demanding world of endurance racing.
With just six hours remaining, the Le Mans 24 Hours had already delivered a spectacle of speed, strategy, and sheer will. Every lap would now be critical, every pit stop a potential game-changer. The race was far from over, and the stage was set for an unforgettable conclusion to this iconic event, where history awaited the deserving victor.
World Endurance Championship
- WEC cancels its Qatar season-opener due to US-Iran war
- Porsche to end WEC Hypercar programme after just three seasons
- Mercedes won’t return to Le Mans because “we don’t like Balance of Performance” – Wolff
- “Luck” needed to win Le Mans because of Balance of Performance – Verstappen
- McLaren finally confirms it will enter the World Endurance Championship in 2027
Browse all World Endurance Championship articles