The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a unique race. which spawned many motorsport legends. Very tough competition, not only for the cars, which have to give it their all, lap after lap, throughout the race, but also for the drivers, who are called upon to exert intense physical and mental effort.
Story of the 24 Hours of Le Mans it all started back on May 26, 1923 when, at the start signal, 33 cars competed in a very difficult race on a track that was not paved at the time, and in pouring rain. The legends that gave birth to this competition also inspired the world of cinema.
Among the latest films dedicated to this sporting event, one cannot fail to mention “Le Mans 66 – The Great Challenge” – a 2019 film dedicated to the figure of Ford driver Ken Miles.
Over the yearsItaly was the great hero of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.. In the 1920s and 1930s, racing was dominated by Alfa Romeo, winning four years in a row. The Alfa Romeo 8C was one of the best cars in terms of performance and was also driven by Tazio Nuvolari in 1933.
Ferrari achieved outstanding success at Le Mans. Over the years, 453 Ferraris have started, scoring 9 victories (10, including one in 2023…). Ferrari continued to race at Le Mans until 1973 in the main class before deciding to devote itself primarily to Formula One.
Among the most successful models we remember the Ferrari 166 MM, the first model of the brand to compete in the 24 Hours, the 250 LM, a prototype that dominated the competition and won three races in a row between 1963 and 1965, the 330 P4, a competitor. Ford GT40 Mk IV in 1967, 512 M and 333 SP.
In 2023, Scuderia Ferrari decided to return to racing in the top class of the WEC to try to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which Enzo Ferrari defined as “the main prize of human and technical capabilities“…50 years after its last participation in the main class, Ferrari returned to the track with the successful goal of winning the Centenary edition.
Last year, the No. 51 Ferrari 499P was the first to cross the finish line at La Sarthe, driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, who made history alongside his teammates James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi. A result that brought Maranello its tenth overall victory, achieved after returning to the top endurance class half a century later and 58 years after the most recent precedent. The No. 50 Ferrari, author of the Hyperfield with Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen, finished fifth.
Here are Ferrari’s overall performances at the 24 Hours of Le Mans:
- 1949 – Ferrari 166 MM – L. Chinetti, Lord Selsdon
- 1954 – Ferrari 375 Plus – J.F. Gonzalez, M. Trintignant
- 1958 – Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa – P. Hill, O. Gendebien
- 1960 – Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa – O. Gendebien, P. Frere
- 1961 – Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa – O. Gendebien, P. Hill
- 1962 – Ferrari 330 TR – O. Gendebien, P. Hill
- 1963 – Ferrari 250 P – L. Bandini, L. Scarfiotti
- 1964 – Ferrari 275 P – J. Guichet, N. Vaccarella
- 1965 – Ferrari 250 LM – J. Rindt, M. Gregory
- 2023 – Ferrari 499P – A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi
And now we come for the 2024 event, which will take place June 15-16. This promises to be an even more competitive race and Ferrari is clearly aiming for further success. Preparing for such a difficult race is very difficult. That’s why we wanted to talk to the Ferrari 499P drivers to find out more about the preparations, race organization and expectations for the new 24 Hours of Le Mans.
HDMotori was able to speak with Nicklas Nielsendriver 499P number 50 e Yifei Yedriving the number 83 car 499P of the private team AF Corse.
What does the 24 Hours of Le Mans mean to a driver? For Yifei Ye, this is one of the most famous sporting events in the world, the most important race of the year with the most points to be won. The Chinese driver also lived in Le Mans for 5 years when he moved to Europe from China at the age of 14. For this reason, he has many memories associated with the city from his time as a student here, and with the track, which he has competed on for several years.
For Niklas Nielsen, however, this race represents the essence of endurance. No matter what category you compete in, it’s something special. The driver believes that everyone who takes part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is very proud of their participation.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a complex and very difficult race not only for the cars, but also for the drivers. How to prepare for a race that tests both body and mind?
Yifei Ye does a lot of sports to prepare for the competition. He lives in the mountains and therefore participates in sports such as cycling, hiking and rock climbing, which allow him to improve his physical abilities, since he can spend several hours in the car. The driver emphasizes the importance of good physical condition, especially at the cardiovascular level, given that a lot of energy is expended while driving.
The Le Mans circuit is characterized by corners that must be negotiated at high speed, so it is important for Yifei Ye to work on a strong neck and back. Niklas Nielsen has no special preparation for the race. By completing many different endurance runs, you will learn how to properly use energy and what to do for your body. Nielsen adds that he plans his sleep so that he arrives rested. However, other than this, he has no specific method of preparation. Of course, we do our best to always stay in shape.
The race is very long and consists of movement changes, breaks, rest and nutrition. How do you physically cope with this type of endurance race?
Yifei Ye explains that you need to maintain good concentration for long periods of time, especially at night when there may be no cars nearby. Therefore, it is very important to always maintain 100% concentration. There is not much lighting at night, so you always need to keep your eyes open and focus on driving. There is still time to rest a little between shifts. In general, we split the time behind the wheel equally. Thus, during the race (between all shifts) each driver is on board the car for a total of approximately 8 hours. In case of unforeseen events (as in the case of safety cars), the time may vary slightly, but each driver works in 3-4 shifts with a total duration of 8 hours. You can rest between shifts.
When you’re done with your driving session, you’ll want to stay in the garage and keep an eye on what’s happening on the track. Yifei Ye explains that it is important to relax and clear your mind before getting behind the wheel again, and therefore it is very important to leave the garage, but only after speaking with the technicians giving feedback on the race. You need to know how to switch off so you can come back to your next driving session as refreshed as possible.
Of course, we eat because we consume a lot of energy, and in this regard, the Chinese driver adds that the team can count on a good cook.
Even for Niklas Nielsen, the most important thing is to rest during the various periods of a 24-hour race. However, the night is always a very long one and obviously a lot depends on what’s going on and how many shifts you drive. The correct approach after each driving shift is to get out of the car, eat and go to rest. The way the body converts adrenaline into energy is also impressive, the pilot said. However, the night is always a special moment of the race.
Ferrari returns to Le Mans as reigning winnerwe then asked the pilots if they feel favored in some way. Yifei Ye tells us that Ferrari returns to Le Mans as the reigning winner, which shows it knows what to do to win. However, there is strong pressure for the 2024 event, but winning will be even tougher than last year given there are even more competitive cars. However, this pressure is positive and forces you to work on the car to constantly improve it and be completely ready for the race.
According to Niklas Nielsen, after last year’s victory, many teams will probably consider Ferrari as favourites. However, this year will be very difficult, since there will be many more fast cars. However, compared to last year, a lot has improved, and this is positive for both the team and the drivers. It will be a very exciting race.
Finally, we asked Ferrari drivers What is the secret to driving fast at Le Mans?. For Yifei Ye, it is important to make as few mistakes as possible. However, this may not be enough. Sometimes you need a little luck to be in the right place at the right time.
We need to work on the setup and then avoid problems and fines. In addition, you need to take care of the car by trying to avoid curbs. If you are in the right place on Sunday morning, if there are no technical problems or other problems, you can get a significant result.
Above all, the secret to success at Le Mans, explains the Chinese driver, is to take care of everything in the first part of the race in order to enter the second with a competitive package.
Nicklas Nielsen adds that it is important to find the right compromise, a balance, so as not to be too aggressive. You must push yourself to the limit, but never go beyond it. You also need to make sure that the car is ready to give it its all until the end of the race if necessary. Also, you need to be very smart when there is heavy traffic on the track and never act stupid at the beginning of the race. In any case, you cannot relax.
[Immagini: Ferrari]
[Immagini: ufficio stampa FIA WEC]
Source: HD Motori
Ben Stock is an accomplished sports journalist. He currently works at 24 news breaker, where he has a reputation for providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives on the latest sports news. He has a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the sports industry. With a passion for storytelling, Ben’s writing takes readers closer to the action and the people behind it.