24 Hours of Le Mans – H+16: Ferrari takes the lead again, Vanwall stops there
Ferrari and Toyota went head-to-head against the clock, but also in the pits. The strategy of the Scuderia enabled car number 51 to take back the lead.
In the early morning, the drivers were much calmer. A few penalties were given here and there. But at 6:36 am, AF Corse number 80 woke up the sleepy audience in the stands at Le Mans. In the Porsche S class, the LMP2 car chased from behind and Ben Barnicoat couldn’t control his vehicle.
Goodbye Vanwall
The Briton destroyed his prototype in the tire wall. This is a new abandonment in this long race. The incident has created a new slow zone.
At 7:15, the engine of the Vanwall decided not to go any further. At the S Porsche exit, the Hypercar was stopped, against the safety barrier with a plume of smoke. The team has only completed one race this season, at Sebring.
Ferrari takes off
Alessandro Pier Guidi came back at full speed on Ryo Hirakawa’s Toyota. The Ferrari #51 stopped at the same time as the leading car in the pits. The mechanics of the Scuderia were more efficient as the red car came out in front.
The horse-powered Hypercar immediately built a comfortable gap of just under ten seconds. The Cadillac #2 was still lurking behind. Although two minutes behind, a safety car could bring it back into contention for the win.
The Inter Europol #42 was still leading in the LMP2 category ahead of the Team WRT’s #41. In the GT class, Kessel Racing, with number 57, was leading by a narrow margin ahead of the Iron Dames’ Porsche, which had made a pit stop: Michelle Gatting handed over the wheel to Rahel Frey.
