Le Mans Update: Dawn Approaches with Ferrari in Control
As the dawn breaks over the Circuit de la Sarthe, the 24 Hours of Le Mans enters a critical phase with ten hours remaining. The track conditions shift as teams transition from soft to medium Michelin tires, setting the stage for an intense race conclusion.
Current Standings and Key Drivers
The #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963, piloted by Matt Campbell, leads officially; however, the true pace setter is Phil Hanson in the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P. Having reclaimed the lead from Yifei Ye, Hanson enjoys a 14-second buffer over James Calado’s #51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P. The top five positions are contested by multiple manufacturers: Ferrari, Toyota, Porsche, and Cadillac.
Kevin Magnussen recently took the wheel of the #15 BMW M Team WRT M Hybrid V8, which has shown competitive speed yet trails the leading Ferraris. Raffaele Marciello of BMW acknowledged the gap: “We are quite happy… getting closer and closer, but the Ferraris are out there. If we cannot beat them, we’ll try to be the best of the rest.”
Notable Incidents and Strategy Changes
A setback for the #18 IDEC Sport ORECA occurred when a right rear wheel detached on Mulsanne Straight, forcing Andre Lotterer to retire the car on its out lap after consistent top-five performances in LMP2. This incident prompted a slow zone during which leading Ferraris executed early pit stops to extend their lead.
In LMP2, VDS Panis Racing’s Esteban Masson in the #48 ORECA holds the top spot, followed closely by Nick Yelloly’s #43 Inter Europol entry. The remaining IDEC Sport ORECA, driven by Job Van Uitert, sits in third.
In a noteworthy development, the #21 AF Corse Ferrari 296 surged into the LMGT3 lead under Alessio Rovera, edging out Tom van Rompuy’s #81 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R. This marked a significant moment, as it was the first time a Corvette led the GT3 category at Le Mans.
Richard Lietz, driving the #92 Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3R, is in pursuit of Van Rompuy for second place, while two Akkodis ASP Lexus RC Fs, piloted by Arnold Robin and Clemens Schmid, continue to perform solidly within the top five.
As the race progresses, all eyes remain on the evolving strategies and the potential impact of emerging tire conditions. The final hours of the event promise to deliver high-stakes drama.
