24 Hours of Le Mans – The first post-race information

First post-race information on this 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This is Ferrari’s 11th victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the second in a row after that of 2023. With 29 other class victories in the Sarthe, it is the 40th success for the Italians at Le Mans.

By winning the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the same year, Ferrari is the first manufacturer to achieve this since 1934 and Alfa Romeo.

329,000 spectators have been announced for this 2024 edition, a new record after the Centenary of 2023.

The best lap in the race goes to Kamui Kobayashi (Toyota n°7) in 3’28″756 on the 254th lap. Only one other driver went under 3’29” per lap, Alex Palou (Cadillac n°2), brilliant debutant in Sarthe, in 3’28″938. In LMP2, the winner Oliver Jarvis (Oreca n°22 – United Autosports) sets the benchmark in 3’38″284, when Conrad Laursen offers himself the best lap in LMGT3 with the #155 Ferrari 296 GT3 – Spirit of Race in 3’57″429.

344.5 km/h, this is the best top speed recorded in this race for the No. 4 Porsche – Porsche Penske and the two Toyota GR010s.

In terms of averages, Brendon Hartley leaves Le Mans with the best average in 3’31″031 ahead of Dries Vanthoor (3’31″055), but who did not drive much following the collision with Robert Kubica in the Saturday evening. Yifei Ye (Ferrari n°83) is the best Gold in 3’31″184. In LMP2, Louis Delétraz (AO by TF) sets the average benchmark in 3’39″326. Joel Sturm imitates him in LMGT3 with the Porsche 911 GT3 R n°92 – Manthey Pure Rxcing in 3’58″597.

Once placed under investigation for violation of technical regulations, the two Ferraris No. 50 and No. 51 received a reprimand. It was the speed of deployment of the ERS that was in question on lap 261.

The Lamborghini SC63s are one of the satisfactions of this edition, after seeing the finish of their first 24-hour race. The only downside was Matteo Cairoli’s exit from the track at Tertre Rouge and a change to the front hood, part of the rear bodywork (light problem) and then the rear wing on the No. 19.

Cadillac Racing clearly had the label of serious outsider this year at Le Mans. But none of the V-Series.R was able to repeat the podium won in 2023. No. 2 – Cadillac Racing of Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn and beginner Alex Palou took seventh place, not without having regularly been in the lead of the race according to the different refueling strategies. The return of rain, however, did not help the American clan at the end of the race. “We arrived here much better prepared than last year, comments Earl Bamber. We checked all the boxes we wanted to improve. We can be proud, in view of the overall program, of what we have accomplished, of the progress we have made. All we have to do now is get a result. For the rest, I think we have made great strides forward. » The race of the No. 3 of Bourdais – van der Zande – Dixon ended six hours from the finish due to a hole discovered in the LMDh oil pan. The exit of Pipo Derani at Indianapolis a little less than 5h30 from the finish forced Whelen Cadillac Racing to make long repairs of 1h50′ before returning to the track.

Despite contact with the No. 22 Oreca – United Autosports, and also a penalty in the same action for not having respected the blue flags, DKR Engineering scored its third consecutive podium in Pro-Am. The consistency of Kendy Janclaes’ stable remains to be underlined.

Engine problem and change of nose for the #81 Z06 GT3.R, clutch and off-road passages for the #82, the event was not easy for the TF Sport clan in LMGT3. The two Corvettes completed 545 laps in this Le Mans edition with 11th and 15th places for the #82 and #81. “ We finished Le Mans with this 100% rookie car with Dani and Hiroshi, so I am happy with this result, which allows me to gain experience and continue to develop the Corvette, specifies Sébastien Baud, driver of the No. 82. We had some top speed issues, and I would have liked a better result in LMGT3. But eleventh isn’t so bad. »

A team, not specified by Goodyear, covered 45 laps, or 613 km, on the same set of tires during the race. Quadruple stints were the norm with the compounds provided by the manufacturer, proof of the good performance of the tires for their first outing in Sarthe.

Team WRT leaves the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the podium for the #31 M4 GT3 of Darren Leung, Augusto Farfus and Sean Gelael in LMGT3, but also with the Pit Stop Challenge prize, a habit for the Belgian structure. Another reward for the team, the Communication Prize for its press officer Luna de Wilde for the quality of her work during the week.