Le Mans | 22nd hour: Ferrari precedes Toyota, the unknown rain remains

With two hours to go, the 2024 edition of the 24h of Le Mans is far from decided. At the moment it is a battle open to several manufacturers, with the Ferrari #50 driven by Nielsen in the lead after having stopped for a single fuel top-up about half an hour before the twentieth hour.

Following closely until just before the twenty-second hour was the #8 Toyota with Brendon Hartley at the wheel, but on a slightly different strategy than that of the Red, having strategically brought the stop forward by a few laps. The only other Prancing Horse Hypercar surviving after the electrical blackout on the #83, the #51 currently driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, is in second position, having however sent the Toyota into a spin with a maneuver that could soon end up under investigation . At the moment, therefore, it is a Ferrari versus Toyota challenge.

The Italian took command of the #51 Ferrari shortly after 12.30pm, replacing James Calado: having around two hours less driving than his teammates, it should be up to Pier Guidi to have the burden and honor of the final stint. On the other side of the garage, however, the final stint could fall to Antonio Fuoco. The two 499Ps had come under scrutiny for a possible unspecified technical infringement, but for which a reprimand was inflicted with the clear “suggestion” to fix the problem as quickly as possible.

There is also a great unknown, that of the weather. For the entire duration of this year’s edition the weather was the protagonist for better or for worse, giving both intense but very short showers and more lasting phenomena that led to a prolonged Safety Car period. In fact, about a quarter of an hour before the twenty-second hour, the race direction reported the imminent arrival of rain with a class 2 level, i.e. intermediate on their scale. Right towards the stroke of the 22nd hour the predictions came true, so much so that the teams were forced to face the rain.

The other Toyota follows a short distance away, the #7, with Jose Maria Lopez on board who, remember, had to replace Mike Conway for this year’s edition due to the Englishman’s injury. Behind the Argentine is the first Porsche, the #6 with Vanthoor at the wheel, followed in turn by the Jota duo with Ilott and Rasmussen. Ninth position is still the prerogative of the German manufacturer, but with the #5 driven by the young talent Campbell.

At the moment the #63 Lamborghini is in the top ten, which would be the objective of the Italian company, given that at the moment it precedes both the two Peugeots in difficulty, with the #94 ahead of the #93. Fourteenth overall goes to Isotta Fraschini, who in any case is not disfiguring in terms of potential and the race completed so far.

#19 Lamborghini Iron Lynx Lamborghini SC63: Romain Grosjean, Andrea Caldarelli, Matteo Cairoli

Photo by: Marc Fleury

Even in LMP2 it is an open challenge, with the United Autosports #22 preceding the Idec Sport #28 by about ten seconds. Third is Inter Europol #34 who are continuing to climb up the rankings until they are back in the podium area. Also be careful not to underestimate the #183 of AF Corse and the #37 of Cool racing, because the first five in the category are within about twenty seconds. Still on the subject of LMP2, AF Corse is put in a good position to win among the Pro/AM.

In LMGT3 Manthey Ema maintains the lead of the race with the #91 by Porsche, but the arrival of the rain has added a further unknown: at the moment in second position there is an excellent BMW from the WRT team with Sean Galael who is well figuratively, which in turn precedes the two Fords of the Proton team with the #88 ahead of the #44. The Iron Dames came fifth with the Lamborghini #85 car, while the first Lexus was that of the Akkodis team in sixth position. Immediately behind him is a Ferrari trio with GR Racing ahead of Vista AF Corse and Spirti of Race.

FIA WEC – 24h of Le Mans: LIVE ranking