Ferrari AF Corse drivers have been reflecting on a historic day for Ferrari following their win on the Lone Star Le Mans, the sixth spherical of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship. Their victory signifies that the Italian marque received two world championship races on the identical day for the primary time of their historical past, following an excellent victory for Charles Leclerc at Monza within the 2024 Italian Grand Prix.
The weekend began robust for the Scuderia, with all three of their Ferrari 499P race vehicles qualifying within the prime 5 of the grid. The blemish on the weekend got here for the pole place #51 automobile, which was compelled to retire inside the first two hours of the race following harm attributable to contact as Antonio Giovinazzi tried to lap two vehicles on the hairpin flip 12.
That left the manufacturing facility #50 automobile and the privately run #83 AF Corse automobile to defend Ferrari’s honour and combat for victory. Following a improbable battle with different opponents, such because the #2 Cadillac Racing automobile and the #7 Toyota Gazoo Racing automobile. The Toyota needed to serve a drive by means of penalty with 45 minutes remaining, giving the #83 Ferrari some respiratory area on the entrance, giving them the chance to make it to the road on demonstrably worse tyres than a fully charging Toyota. Ultimately, the successful margin after six hours of racing was a mere 1.7 seconds.
This victory has been a very long time coming for the #83 crew. They’ve been extraordinarily quick all season, notably on the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans. The distinctive yellow Ferrari was very aggressive, certainly battling for the win, till catastrophe struck within the twentieth hour of the mammoth endurance race. They pitted with smoke billowing from the automobile they usually was compelled to retire.
“I can’t describe what I’m feeling” enthused an ecstatic Ye Yifei, a part of the #83 driver squad. “We started the weekend in the absolute best method with a robust qualifying efficiency, and the race itself was flawless, with no errors from the crew or us drivers. They’re proud to be a part of this extraordinary day for Ferrari, which has received within the FIA WEC and Components 1 right here in America and Italy. We’ve lastly gained payback after the unlucky race at Le Mans. This win repays us for a lot effort and offers us confidence heading into the season’s ultimate two races.”
“At present, we’ve got written a web page of historical past for Ferrari and our crew” Robert Shwartzman beamed. “It was a really troublesome race” he added, being in a greater place than most to know that, having been the motive force who withstood the onslaught from Toyota on the finish of the race. “Toyota was a tricky opponent and put us underneath plenty of strain. Nonetheless, ultimately, we maintained our lead and achieved an impressive outcome. I wish to thank your complete crew for his or her excellent work and my teammates, who have been actually robust. After our retirement at Le Mans, the place we have been large contenders for therefore lengthy, I’ve been ready for a second like this.”
For the #50 Ferrari, this outcome helps increase their championship possibilities. They’re now tied in 2nd within the championship with the #7 Toyota Gazoo Racing crew on 113 factors, simply 12 factors adrift of the #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport crew who lead the championship. With 25 factors out there for the win on the upcoming 6 Hours of Fuji, Toyota’s residence race, and 38 factors for successful the season finale, the 8 Hours of Bahrain, the championship continues to be very a lot all to play for.
Le Mans winner Nicklas Nielsen, driver of the #50 automobile, was philosophical in his response to the race. “We secured third place,” he mused, “which, whereas leaving us with some remorse as we have been aiming for the highest spot, nonetheless allowed us to achieve worthwhile factors for the standings. Now, we flip our focus to the following race at Fuji in a fortnight. Though the Japanese observe will not be the one which most accurately fits our 499P, we’ll give it our all to maintain our championship problem alive.”
The penultimate spherical of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship is the 6 Hours of Fuji on Sunday 15 September. Observe The Checkered Flag for full race reviews and updates on all of the motion.
