Race Report: 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans—Final Hour Update
As the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans enters its closing hour, the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P, driven by Robert Kubica, is poised for victory, holding a commanding 55-second lead. Kubica’s performance underscores his resilience, despite battling physical distress.
In second place, Kevin Estre is steering the #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963. After a strategic pit stop allowed him to overtake the #51 Ferrari 499P, he successfully defended his position against Antonio Fuoco in the #50, even after compromising time by changing left-side tires.
Antonio Giovinazzi in the #51 Ferrari has regained ground, recently managing to overtake Fuoco amidst a dynamic battle, but he remains three laps behind the leaders.
The #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R, piloted by Will Stevens, is currently in fifth.
Unsurprisingly, the BMW M Team WRT faced significant setbacks in the penultimate hour. After the overnight retirement of both LMGT3 entries, both BMW M Hybrid V8s encountered mechanical issues. The #20 experienced an engine failure, followed by the #15 suffering from an alternator problem. Though both cars returned to the circuit after repairs, the #15 has since withdrawn to the garage.
In the LMP2 category, the competition remains razor-thin. Nick Yelloly in the #43 Inter Europol Competition ORECA 07-Gibson leads by a narrow eight seconds against Esteban Masson in the #48 VDS Panis Racing ORECA, following their recent pit stops. The #9 Iron Lynx-Proton entry and the #199 AO by TF ‘Spike’ continue to round out the podium spots.
In LMGT3, the #92 Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche 911 LMGT3 R holds a solid lead of nearly one minute over the #21 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 and the #81 TF Sport Chevrolet Corvette, who are effectively locked into second and third positions.
The race faced a minor disruption just before the hour mark when the #59 United Autosports McLaren LMGT3 suffered a suspected steering failure, bringing out a Full Course Yellow, which is expected to conclude as the final hour of racing begins.
With the finish line in sight, teams are preparing for a thrilling conclusion to one of motorsport’s most prestigious events.
