Porsche takes a sensational one-two at the end of the 6h of Spa-Francorchamps, the third stage of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship which will go down in history for the incredible succession of events, even quite controversial ones.
It was certainly one of the best races ever, but the management’s choice to restart everything with 1h44′ on the clock after the time was running out, while the red flag had been waved for the accident of the Cadillac on the 5th now, it will certainly cause discussion and create a significant precedent in the conduct of future events.
The one to thank in the Hypercar Class is therefore Porsche, victorious for the first time with a private 963 branded Jota, followed by the official #6 of Team Penske and with the Ferraris relegated to 3rd and 4th place.
In LMGT3 the German party continues with the 911’s one-two against the Lamborghinis, but let’s go through the story in order.
#5 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Matt Campbell, Michael Christensen, Frederic Makowiecki
Photo by: Paul Foster
HYPERCAR: Fortune kisses Weissach
The decision to start again when only the Porsches #12 and #6 (plus the Alpine #36) had stopped, and with the Ferraris skilfully taking the lead during the 5th Hour, effectively gave the success at the House of Weissach.
It must be said that the 963s showed themselves in great form in the Ardennes, but the 499Ps had also deservedly managed to face them and – up to that point – to have the upper hand.
With the restart and the round of stops, the German LMDh #12 of Jota found itself first overall and in the category reserved for private Hypercar teams, going ahead and triumphing with the Ilott/Stevens duo.
Place of honor is taken by the official 963 #6 of Team Penske driven by Estre/Lotterer/Vanthoor, which at the end was unable to keep up with the pace of the #12, but also without the need to exaggerate, considering that all the others were made outside the course of events.
#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen
Photo by: Emanuele Clivati | AG Photo
The Ferraris are biting bitterly, on the podium with the #50 of Fuoco/Molina/Nielsen and the #51 of Giovinazzi/Calado/Pier Guidi 4th also thanks to the Piedmontese who fought against the Toyota of Kamui Kobayashi at the last hour and managed to overtake it .
This time in Maranello they have nothing to blame themselves for, having unfortunately found themselves in the right position (1-2) at the wrong time, despite having a good pace which could have meant a double and prompt redemption for the mistakes in Imola.
The Porsche #99 of Proton Competition also climbs back into Top5, like the Ferraris mocked by the opposing strategy, with Andlauer/Jani in great form, especially the Frenchman who made applause-worthy overtakings. However, second place among privateers does not do justice to the great performance of the German team’s 963.
The Toyotas finished in seventh and eighth place in a tight race that put the GR010 Hybrid #8 of Buemi/Hartley/Hirakawa ahead of the #7 of Kobayashi/De Vries/Conway, penalized at the end with 5″ for a collision given by the Japanese to the Lamborghini of the Iron Dames in turn 1.
The Ferrari #83 of AF Corse driven by Kubica/Shwartzman/Ye finishes in eighth place overall and on the privateers’ podium, while in the overall Top 10 we also find the Alpine #35 of Gounon/Milesi/Chatin and the Peugeot #93 of Jensen/ Muller.
The BMWs remain empty-handed, Isotta Fraschini crosses the finish line 15th without any technical problem.
#91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3: Yasser Shahin, Morris Schuring, Richard Lietz
Photo by: Emanuele Clivati | AG Photo
LMGT3: Porsche coup
One-two for the Porsches in a sensational epilogue of the LMGT3 Class: the 911 #91 of Manthey EMA of the Lietz/Shahin/Schuring trio crossed the finish line first in a heart-stopping last lap, overtaking the #92 of Malykhin/Sturm/ Bachler in extremis.
For the latter it is a sensational result that repays the team for the efforts to rebuild the 911 demolished in the qualifying accident during the night, which still means championship leadership.
They are bitter in the Iron Lynx and Iron Dames because the Lamborghinis had been excellent until a crazy finish which saw the #60 of Schiavoni/Cressoni/Perera lose the comeback success due to a refueling at the final lap, only achieving third place, but the biggest disappointment is undoubtedly for the girls of #85, Frey/Gatting/Bovy, who led for a long time and then lost ground due to a slow penultimate pit stop, having to settle for fourth place.
Top5 for the McLaren #95 of Saucy/Costa/Cottingham (United Autosports), authors of a consistent performance, with behind the Ferrari #54 of AF Corse of the Rigon/Flohr/Castellacci trio and the Aston Martin #777 of Sorensen/Bastard/ Mateu (D’Station Racing).
Eighth and ninth place for the Proton Competition Ford Mustangs in the hands of Olsen/Pedersen/Roda (#88) and Barker/Robichon/Hardwick (#77), finally in the Top10 is the Lexus #78 of Miyata/Schmid/Robin (Akkodis-ASP).
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