Ferrari chalks up back-to-back Le Mans victories
Ferrari defied the odds to last year win the centenary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the storied Italian marque proved it was no fluke by repeating the feat in the 2024 race.
Overcoming factory-backed challenges from Porsche, Lamborghini, Toyota, Peugeot, Cadillac, BMW and Alpine in the premier Hypercar category, the official Ferrari AF Corse team’s 499P number 50 crossed the chequered flag first after 311 laps to the applause of the 329,000 spectators – a record crowd figure for the historic race.
Danish pilot Nicklas Nielsen drove the car across the finish line, but his teammates Miguel Molina and Antonio Fuoco were equally instrumental in the nail-biting victory.
Finishing in third – behind the second-placed Gazoo Racing Toyota – was the number 51 car that led the race for 72 laps. Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi, who won last year’s race, finished just 36 seconds behind their teammates, capping a memorable day for Ferrari.
This result was the fruit of impeccable teamwork and shrewd strategy decisions that kept the Prancing Horse’s official 499Ps in contention for the lead throughout the race.
The team optimised the performance of the Hypercars and diversified strategies, particularly in tyre choices, during a race marked by rain that resulted in almost seven hours of Safety Car periods, particularly overnight.
The latest win is the Prancing Horse’s 11th overall victory in the classic French endurance marathon and its second consecutive win following the triumph on 11 June 2023 with the 499P number 51. Previous victories were in 1949, 1954, 1958, and 1960 to 1965.
The Maranello manufacturer’s enviable record at Le Mans also includes 29 class wins, for a total of 40 victories.
By triumphing at the 92nd 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Formula 1 GP, Ferrari is the first manufacturer to climb to the top step of the podium in two of the world’s most prestigious races in the same year since 1934. Along with the Indianapolis 500, these two sporting events comprise the "Triple Crown of Motorsport".
In addition to the 50 and 51 cars, a third Ferrari 499P – entered by the AF Corse Team – made its Le Mans debut and was a winning contender for much of the race. The Giallo Modena-liveried Hypercar – driven by official Maranello drivers Yifei Ye Robert Shwartzman and former F1 star Robert Kubica – led the race for a total of 83 laps but had to retire after 248 laps.
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