Ferrari 499P number 51 with driving Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi It has won the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. For the Prancing Horse, this is truly an incredible result. Returning to the top class of the World Endurance Championship after a 50-year absence, Maranello won the most important endurance race in the world. For the Ferrari 499P, this is also the first victory in history.
Thus, Maranello rises to 10 victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans races after victories won in 1949, 1954, 1958, 1960-1965. It immediately became clear that the Ferrari 499P is especially competitive on this track. Reds 50 and 51 were very fast from the start, so much so that Antonio Fuoco’s 50 hit hyperpole. However, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a tough race and anything can happen right up to the last lap.
𝑻𝒉𝒆. 𝑷𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒖𝒎.#Ferrari #FerrariHypercar #Ferrari499P #VEK pic.twitter.com/R2gmcgEmqp
— Ferrari Hypercar (@FerrariHypercar) June 11, 2023
In fact, the victory was especially sweaty and there were a few twists and turns, as is always the case in races like this. The No. 51 499P had a long duel with the No. 8 Toyota, which then finished in second place. In particular, Alessandro Pier Guidi was called to work overtime during the race. The final thrill, which raised fears that the dream of victory might collapse, came near the end, when the car stalled during the last pit stop. It took a reset to get it working again.
Thus, Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi managed to keep the number 8 Toyota behind, which also ran into some problems. For example, at 22:00, an off-piste event forced the car into the garage to replace the nose. An operation that cost more than 3 precious minutes. The No. 7 Toyota, another favorite car, dropped out of the race prematurely after being hit from behind by an LMP2.
Racing is in our DNA, that’s who we are.
After 50 years we are back in #LeMan24 with an incredible victory 🏆 Thank you to everyone who joined our journey ❤️💛#Ferrari #FerrariHypercar #Ferrari499P #LeMansCentenary #VEK pic.twitter.com/gS7XHfCHUE
— Ferrari Hypercar (@FerrariHypercar) June 11, 2023
On the other hand, another 499P, driven by Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Niklas Nielsen, was very unlucky. Already at the start of the race, I had to make an early pit stop to remove the stuck damper in the hood air intake. However, a more serious problem arose at night when Sasso damaged the ERC radiator forcing the car to a long stop in the boxes for repairs. A real shame, because given the performance of the 499P, there could have been two Ferraris on the podium. As a result, Ferrari 499P at number 50 finished the race in fifth place. The third step of the podium was taken by Cadillac at number 2.
With the result obtained at the fourth world stage of the WEC, Ferrari remains second in the standings of the constructors, closing the lead over Toyota by 19 points.
Source: HD Motori
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