This was an unpredictable race to predict with how strong of each three manufactures had in them, we had #8 Toyota leading for the first half of the race, until 14th hour when an electrical problem cause them to retired. Then #1 Audi lead, but troubles with the turbo caused them to slow down. Then, #20 Porsche lead with three hours to go, but gearbox problems cost them both LMP1-H Porsches' not finishing the race. Then the #2 Audi Sport Team Joest team took the lead and won the race overall and WEC LMP1-H class in their R18 e-tron quatrro with drivers Benoit Treluyer, Marcel Fassler and Andre Lotterer managed to do 379 laps altogether in dry/wet conditions to this years 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
This was Audi's 13th 24 Hours of Le Mans outright win in the last 15 years. While second was the second Audi Sport Team Joest of Tom Kristensen, Lucas di Grassi and Marc Gene to make it an Audi one-two finish. They were three laps down from the leaders at the end. Meanwhile, Toyota Racing team of Anthony Davidson, Nicolas Lapierre and Sebastien Buemi came in third place in their Toyota TS030 Hybrid, five lap down from the leaders after the #7 Toyota crashed heavly on the main strait early on in the race.
Three minutes highlights package of the race below from Michelin's own Youtube channel. So enjoy.
While, Porsche return to LMP1 at Le Mans for the first time in 16 years turned sour. The #20 Porsche of Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard an opportunity to fight for victory, putting the 919 Hybrid into the lead with just three hours to go. But, gearbox problems cost them a chance of winning the race and also finishing the race as they were Not classified for not passing the finishing line at the end with 346 laps (would have finished in thirteen place and 33 laps down from the leaders). While #14 of Marc Lieb, Romain Dumas and Neel Jani had the same problems too, as them were as-well Not classified for not passing the finishing line at the end with 348 laps (would have finished in eleven place 31 laps down from the leaders). So a high and low day for Porsche on their return to Le Mans.
Forth place was Rebellion Racing team of Nicolas Prost, Nick Heidfeld and Mathias Beche in their Rebellion R-One with a Toyota RV8KLM 3.4 L V8 engine to win LMP1-L class (a new category this season, designed solely for privateers without hybrid systems in their cars). They were 19 laps behind the leaders.
In LMP2 class, the Jota Sport team of Simon Dolan, Harry Tincknell and Oliver Turvey in their Zytek Z11SN, Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 engine won in LMP2 class and fifth overall, 23 laps down from the lead Audi.
While, Nissan Motorsports Global's Nissan ZEOD RC 1.5 litre Turbo 3 cylinder hybrid race car of Lucas Ordóñez, Wolfgang Reip and Satoshi Motoyama did not finished the 24 hours race, only managing just five laps. As the car lost drive and stopped at the Porsche Curves with Wolfgang Reip at the wheel, with the team stating it had suffered a suspected gearbox failure in the first hour. The car may return in future WEC events this season.
While in GTE Pro class, was won by AF Corse team of Giancarlo Fisichella, Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander won in their Ferrari 458 Italia GT2, finished in thirteenth overall, 40 laps down the leading Audi.
While in GTE Am class, was won by Aston Martin Racing team of Kristian Poulsen, David Heinemeier-Hansson and Nicki Thiim in their Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE and finished in seventeenth overall, 45 laps behind the leaders.
Next Stop 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas at mid September for the FIA World Endurance Championship.
End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.
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