Ten, like the absolute victories obtained by the Prancing Horse, the last of which twelve months ago with the 499P making its debut in the top class; 29, like the classy successes of the Maranello company between 1949 (the year that saw Ferrari at the start of the French marathon for the first time, which ended with an overall first place) and 2023, when Pier Guidi-Calado-Giovinazzi climbed on the top step of the podium in the Centenary edition.
A story that will continue with the 92nd edition of the race, scheduled for 15-16 June on the 13.626 kilometers of the French circuit, the fourth round of the FIA WEC 2024.
The winners #51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi
Photo by: Andreas Beil
Centenary
The most vivid memory for Ferrari fans dates back to last year when the Le Mans Hypercar with the registration number 51 crossed the finish line first on the La Sarthe circuit driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, who entered history together with his companions James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi for triumphing in the Centenary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
A result that earned the Maranello company its tenth overall victory, obtained upon returning to the top endurance class after half a century, and 58 years after the most recent precedent.
#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Extraordinary figures
The triumph came at the end of the 342 laps of a race which was admired live by the (record) number of 325 thousand spectators.
The photograph of the 499P returning to the pit lane, surrounded by all the members of the Ferrari – AF Corse team, is an instant entry into the collective imagination, no less than another indelible image, the one which immortalizes the start of the race with two 499Ps in first place on the starting grid: number 50, author of the Hyperpole with Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen (fifth at the end of the race) ahead of the teammates of number 51.
In addition to the victory and the Hyperpole, the perfect weekend in 2023 was completed by the best time in the race, achieved by the 499P number 50 with Fuoco (3’27″218, on the 307th pass, with an average speed of 236.7 km/h).
Ferrari history at Le Mans
Photo by: Ferrari
The past
Born in the wake of endurance racing, the myth of the Prancing Horse had a particularly important stage at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since the end of the 1940s. Suffice it to say that in 1949 the 166 MM Barchetta Touring, making its debut on the La Sarthe circuit, achieved a historic first place with the pairing of Luigi Chinetti and Lord Selsdon.
The car, with registration number 22, was powered by an iconic 1,995 Cmc V12 engine that delivered 103 kW (140 HP).
Ferrari history at Le Mans
Photo by: Ferrari
The confirmations
After the two successes in the 1950s, Ferrari’s legend at Le Mans intensified thanks to the six consecutive victories achieved between 1960 and 1965, results that brought cars and drivers destined to become legendary to the international spotlight.
Just think of iconic models such as the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, “queen” of the Sarthe in 1958 and then in 1960-61, or of champions of the caliber of Olivier Gendebien, the driver who in history achieved the greatest number of successes with Ferrari in Le Mans.
The Belgian born in 1924, in fact, signed four victories (in 1958, 1960-62) with three different models of the Prancing Horse.
The winning streak ended with the feat of the Ferrari 250 LM in 1965, with Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory first at the end of the 348 laps of a race that saw the entire podium occupied by Ferrari crews.
Since then the fans have had to wait 58 years until Ferrari, which returned to the top endurance class in 2023, returned to celebrate an absolute success.
#83 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE EVO LMGTE Am, Francois Perrodo, Nicklas Nielsen, Alessio Rovera
Photo by: AG Photo / Manganaro
2000s
Among the 29 class victories, some of particular importance were obtained in more recent years. Since the birth of the FIA WEC in 2012, the Maranello company has achieved eight successes.
Two of these victories were achieved, with the Ferrari 488 GTE, by Pier Guidi and Calado in the LMGTE Pro class: in 2019 together with Côme Ledogar, two years later sharing the car with Daniel Serra. In 2021 Ferrari also took first place in LMGTE Am with the 488 GTE driven by Nicklas Nielsen, Alessio Rovera and François Perrodo.
#51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE EVO LMGTE Pro, Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Come Ledogar
Photo by: Paul Foster
The absolute successes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1949 – Ferrari 166 MM – L. Chinetti, Lord Selsdon
1954 – Ferrari 375 Plus – JF Gonzalez, M.Trintignant
1958 – Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa – P. Hill, O. Gendebien
1960 – Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa – O. Gendebien, P. Frère
1961 – Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa – O. Gendebien, P. Hill
1962 – Ferrari 330 TR – O. Gendebien, P. Hill
1963 – Ferrari 250 P – L. Bandini, L. Scarfiotti
1964 – Ferrari 275 P – J. Guichet, N. Vaccarella
1965 – Ferrari 250 LM – J. Rindt, M. Gregory
2023 – Ferrari 499P – A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi
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