Le Mans Update: Giovinazzi Maintains Lead Amidst Penalties and Mechanical Failures
As the clock winds down at Le Mans, Antonio Giovinazzi in the #51 Ferrari 499P continues to lead the race with seven hours remaining, despite a series of drive-through penalties affecting multiple competitors. Notably, Giovinazzi’s teammate Robert Kubica in the #83 Ferrari is a mere three seconds behind after resetting the fastest lap of the event at 3:26.562, intensifying the Ferrari team’s intra-squad battle.
Thirteen cars, including both Ferraris and leading GT contenders such as the #92 Manthey Porsche and the #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin, were penalized for exceeding speed limits in yellow flag conditions. Despite this setback, the #51 and #83 Ferrari retain their positions at the top, while the #50 Ferrari, driven by Antonio Fuoco, is currently third.
In the LMP2 category, the #43 Inter Europol Competition ORECA 07 leads ahead of the #48 VDS Panis Racing ORECA, driven by Tom Dillmann, who has managed to build a comfortable gap from the competition. The #28 IDEC Sport ORECA, driven by Paul Lafargue, is in third place but maintains a secure distance over the fourth-placed #9 Iron Lynx-Proton car.
Mechanical issues have plagued other competitors; the #311 Cadillac Whelen V-Series.R suffered a power loss and has officially retired, joining the #10 Racing Spirit of Léman Aston Martin in the list of retirements. Additionally, the #85 Iron Dames Porsche, having faced significant challenges, remains last in the LMGT3 class.
Noteworthy incidents during the race include a collision between Bernardo Sousa and Derek DeBoer, along with a spin from Jules Gounon in the #36 Alpine A424, which required a Full Course Yellow to clear.
The race continues to evolve with changing dynamics, as teams strategize to optimize performance with fewer hours remaining.
