Sometimes great stories write themselves. The 24 Hours of Le Mans, the emblematic endurance car race, is celebrating its 100th anniversary and what better way to conclude this 2023 anniversary edition than the victory of an equally emblematic manufacturer, especially when ci returns to the premier category (hypercars)… after fifty years of absence.
Sunday June 11, at 4 p.m., it was Ferrari no. 51, of Italians Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovinazzi and Briton James Calado, which won, ahead of Toyota no. 8 – victorious last year. The Italian team put an end to the hegemony of its Japanese counterpart, ultra-dominant on the Bugatti circuit for the past five years.
A thrilling race
Less than two hours from the finish, however, nothing was decided. Barely thirty seconds separated the two prototypes, when Ryo Hirakawa, the driver of the no. 8, in second position, failed to brake before hitting a barrier.
The Toyota GR010-Hybrid was able to start again, but the Japanese had to return to the pits to change the bonnet, leaving the field open to the Scuderia to claim its first victory at Le Mans since 1965.
The No. 2 Cadillac finished in third place ahead of its sister car, the No. 3, in fourth. The other Ferrari entered in the premier category, the No. 50, which started from pole position, suffered damage during the night. She finishes fifth. As for the Toyota no. 7, victorious two years ago, it had to retire, victim of a collision just after midnight.
Ferrari was not the only legendary team to return to hypercars. Porsche, Cadillac and Peugeot too, offering a thrilling race, with many changes of leaders at the pace of pit stops, overtaking and other damage.
