24h Le Mans
The private British team pulled off a surprise result in the third round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship today. In LMGT3, Iron Lynx's #60 Lamborghini chased down win in the final 20 minutes of the race.
There were plenty of surprise twists today at the 2024 TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium with 88,180 spectators watching on in ideal Spring weather.
Proton Competition's #99 Porsche 963 Hypercar driven by Neel Jani and Julien Andlauer dominated the first three hours of the race until Ferrari AF Corse's #51 499P snatched the lead. Pole-sitter Porsche Penske Motorsport's #5 963 was forced to retire after butting the wall at the Bus Stop chicane.
With two hours remaining, Earl Bamber, fourth overall in the #2 Cadillac duelling with the #99 Porsche, made contact with Team WRT's #31 BMW in the Kemmel straight. The shocking off-track exit forced race control to neutralise the race for repairs to the safety rail. The race was then resumed for the duration equivalent to the neutralisation, i.e. 1 hour 44 minutes.
Hertz Team JOTA's #12 Porsche 963, unlike the #51 Ferrari, opted to refuel prior to the neutralisation and reclaimed the race lead. Callum Ilott and Will Stevens finished ahead of Porsche Penske Motorsport''s #6 Porsche 963 and Ferrari AF Corse's #50 Ferrari 499P. Hertz Team JOTA's win is the first for a private team in the Hypercar era.
1. #12 Porsche 963 – Hertz Team JOTA – 141 laps
2. #6 Porsche 963 – Porsche Penske Motorsport
3. #50 Ferrari 499P – Ferrari AF Corse
4. #51 Ferrari 499P – Ferrari AF Corse
5. #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing
In LMGT3, though the Iron Dames team's #85 Lamborghini Huracán LMGT3 Evo2 had clinched pole position, Manthey EMA's #91 Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 led the field up until the race neutralisation. Once again underway, Michelle Gatting brought the #85 Lamborghini back to the helm, but the Italian team lost all hopes of winning due to an error during refuelling. Iron Lynx was headed for the win with the #60 Lamborghini, but a final pit stop on the penultimate lap allowed the Manthey EMA's #91 Porsche to take the lead ahead of Manthey PureRxcing's #92 Porsche and the #60 Lamborghini as well.
1. #91 Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 – Manthey EMA – 130 laps
2. #92 Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 – Manthey PureRxcing
3. #60 Lamborghini Huracan LMGT3 Evo2 – Iron Lynx
4. #85 Lamborghini Huracán LMGT3 Evo2 – Iron Dames
5. #59 McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo – United Autosports
The next round of the 2024 FIA WEC season is the 92nd 24 Hours of Le Mans (12-16 June). After three different winners in as many races so far, it's anyone's game!
