WEC 2024 Le Mans

I got it.... at 56:10 everyone else comes in for their stops. the 51 is 10th!!! There was no coverage of what was going on as they were showing the gT3 battle. The 5 , the 8 , and the 93 all had 40+% energy left.

This was a product of the 51 getting caught out with the 6 when everyone stopped under safety car.

 

if the toyota wins, they win the manuf title...stealing it out from under porsche.

 

15 mins to go

51 back on the podium.

sjd

 

2 mins

8
5
51

 

51 PASSES FOR 2nd on the LAST LAP!!!

 

P2 for the 51 but at least it was exciting

congrats to Toyota for snatching the manufacturer's title from Porsche at the last minute

 

Ferrari win the GT3 race!

 

Incredible come back by Toyota ... Porsche was really looking like they were going to win. Their drivers win though.

 

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Glad the Stuttgart piggies got beaten; they chose the lazy car spec and, as in the last 50 years, have an unfair number of cars entered.
Enjoy your kick in the rear on the way home Porker brigade.

Oh and well done to the Corollas or whatever the Toy's are called. Respect.

Last but not least, bravo e grazie ragazzi #50, 51 and 83!

 

Everybody won something. In the end that's the goal in BOPed races.

 

That's one point of view, of course.

Porsche chose the LMDh option to be able to race in the States (IMSA), as well as the WEC.
Porsche always sell their race cars to private teams, that's their philosophy since 1950.
When other brands come and go, Porsche has always supported endurance racing, and private entrants.
Other constructors may prefer to race only factory cars in selected events; LMH is more suitable for them perhaps.
In 2024, Porsche won 4 US races, and the heavily disputed IMSA championship (team and drivers).
In the WEC, Porsche won 3 races and finishes 2nd in the constructors championship, but 3 Porsche drivers are champions.
Not bad for a "lazy car spec" I think.

 

No. 51 Ferrari Stripped of 8H Bahrain Podium Finish
No. 51 Ferrari 499P handed severe penalty for exceeding tire allocation

 

well damn

these guys have been their own worst enemy this year

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I stand by my statement; 50 years of victories in great part achieved thanks to overwhelming numbers are cheap.

I don't contest their expertise and even owned 4 Porkers, with the engine in the right place not hanging off the rear wheels;-) 924, 924 Turbo, 944, 944S2.
Great little cars but zero charisma of course.

LMH cars are allowed in IMSA and Risi considered running a 499P but at 8M Euros just for the car and Ferrari not being ready to enter more he decided against it.

 

It does not change much to the championship result though. This year's achievement for Ferrari has been the Le Mans win, but they've not been consistent enough to be a real contender for the championship - this being said, Porsche's situation is probably more frustrating since they went to the last race in very good position, to finally lose to Toyota.

 

they've been consistent at bad strategy and stupid mistakes

 

That's Ferrari leveraging the F1 experience

 

Over the years, the majority of Porsche victories were obtained thanks to private teams.
All credit to Porsche policy to provide competitive and affordable cars and then support private entrants.
Some years, half of the field at Le Mans were Porsches !!

The overhanging engine is the "real" Porsche DNA that started with the 356 and was constantly improved over the years.
All front engine Porsche GTs were shunned by the public and ended up being failure, which says a lot, IMO.

I think it's a mistake for LMH constructors not to enter IMSA races.
First the US is the biggest market for sportscars.
Also, they miss competing on historic tracks like Daytona, Sebring, Watking Glen, or Indianapolis.
Finally, IMSA doesn't impose silly rules like the ACO, and Toyota or Ferrari could do well there.

 

Winning Le Mans is good but the goal is: win the championship.
They failed again.

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I beg to differ on that one; winning Le Mans is more important that winning the championship.
Le Mans goes back to 1923, and has an impecable lineage in motor racing.
It's the biggest and most prestigious endurance race, comparable to Indianapolis for oval racing.
It doesn't matter who win the championship, Le Mans is the jewel of the crown, the cherry on the cake.
For many makes and teams, participation to the WEC is the only way of being invited to race at Le Mans.
The championship only exists to support Le Mans. For many years, Le Mans was a stand alone race, not part of any championship.
Some makes used to race only at Le Mans, or made it the focus of their program.
Le Mans is run only once a year on public road; it's unique in not being shared by any other races, or other series.

 

Le Mans is bigger than the WEC championship even more than the Indy 500 is bigger than the IndyCar championship

 

Chuck’s little brother went rally cross driving in the rookie test

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A 12-position penalty seems to be incredibly harsh based on the nature of the violation.