The 90th edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours will be remembered for years to come, as Ferrari secured a historic back-to-back victory in the most dramatic of circumstances. The Italian marque’s 499P hypercar, driven by James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi, and Alessandro Pier Guidi, took the chequered flag after a thrilling 24-hour battle that saw multiple leaders and a late-race scare.
The #51 Ferrari, which started from pole position, dominated the early stages of the race, with Calado and Giovinazzi trading fastest laps. However, as the sun began to set on the Circuit de la Sarthe, the Toyota GR010 Hybrid of Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway, and José María López began to close in, taking the lead just before the halfway mark.
The Japanese manufacturer’s challenge was short-lived, as a puncture for Kobayashi during the night hours handed the lead back to Ferrari. The #51 crew then faced a new threat from the Peugeot 9X8 of Paul di Resta, Jean-Éric Vergne, and Mikkel Jensen, which had been quietly making its way up the order.
As the final hours ticked down, the Ferrari’s advantage was whittled down to just 30 seconds, with di Resta pushing hard to take the lead. But disaster struck for Peugeot when Vergne suffered a puncture with just over an hour remaining, dropping the French team out of contention.
Ferrari’s celebrations were put on hold, however, when Pier Guidi was forced to make an unscheduled pit stop with 45 minutes left on the clock. A loose wheel nut, which had been reported earlier in the race, had finally worked its way loose, requiring a hasty repair.
The Italian driver rejoined the track in second place, behind the Toyota of López, which had inherited the lead. But Pier Guidi was not to be denied, and he launched a stunning comeback, passing López for the win with just 20 minutes remaining.
As the chequered flag waved, the Ferrari crew erupted in joy, securing their second consecutive Le Mans 24 Hours victory. It was a testament to the team’s never-give-up attitude and the 499P’s incredible pace and reliability.
“This is an incredible feeling,” said Calado, who took his second Le Mans win. “We knew it was going to be a tough race, but we never gave up. The team did an amazing job, and we pushed to the limit. It’s an honour to be part of this team and to win again.”
Giovinazzi, who made his Le Mans debut last year, was overcome with emotion. “It’s a dream come true,” he said. “I’m so proud of the team and my teammates. We worked so hard for this, and it’s an amazing feeling to win again.”
Pier Guidi, who drove the final stint, was relieved to have secured the win after the late drama. “It was a crazy last hour,” he said. “We had a problem with the wheel nut, but we managed to fix it and come back. It’s an incredible feeling to win again, and I’m so proud of the team.”
The win marks Ferrari’s 20th overall victory at Le Mans, cementing their status as one of the most successful manufacturers in the history of the endurance classic. As the team celebrates their back-to-back wins, they will already be looking ahead to next year’s challenge, where they will face stiff competition from Toyota, Peugeot, and other manufacturers.
For now, however, the Ferrari crew can bask in the glory of their hard-fought victory, knowing that they have etched their names into the history books once again.
