24h Le Mans
This is what the 24 Hours of Le Mans is about. Flashback to Wednesday night’s qualifying session: Callum Ilott loses control of the #12 Hertz Team Jota Porsche 963 in the Forest Esses. The accident requires a chassis change – a huge undertaking. So, the team set off for a race against the clock to rebuild the car in time for the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The extent of the damage was far from evident. "I over-corrected my trajectory after a slight loss of control and hit the wall. At first, we thought the car was fine, but after further checks, the chassis had been affected. We had to change it", explains driver Callum Ilott. Thankfully, the car was already qualified for Hyperpole and therefore assured of 8th place on the starting grid.
There was just the simple matter of rebuilding a race car in a few hours. The Porsche Penske Motorsport factory team provided a spare bare chassis intended for testing. The race was on. “They do what normally takes three weeks to a month in just 24 to 36 hours. They work like crazy”, says Ilott admiringly, full of gratitude for his teammates.
For the Hertz Team JOTA mechanics, Le Mans already felt like an ultra-marathon before the race had even started! But they did it. By yesterday afternoon, the engine was roaring again. Round of applause in the pit lane.
Job done. Next step, shakedown. The team headed to the aerodrome across the road from the circuit to make sure everything was in correct working order. All good. And the test made for some super pictures too!
The British outfit still has the 15-minute warm-up session to finetune the prototype before the race. Will Stevens will take the wheel for the start of a race his team has already won in a way.
This pre-race feat is a reminder that the 24 Hours of Le Mans is not just about track action. A race team is made up of dozens of people working behind the scenes, putting heart and soul towards a common goal. The resilience, grit and determination are inspiring. Congratulations to all.
