AF-Corse-Ferrari relies on rain tires
Rain tires are now being fitted to the AF Corse Ferrari #83 (Kubica/Schwarzman/Ye), which had led the race for hours until the 30-second penalty. This will find imitators…
Green again
That was quick! The yellow phase around the entire track was due to the stranded #45 APR-Oreca, but was lifted after a few minutes. The “three-wheeler” is now behind the guard rail and thus out of the danger zone.
And now yellow phase around the entire track!
The slow zone becomes a so-called full-course yellow, i.e. a yellow phase that is not only valid locally but affects the entire track.
And directly the first departure and more …
And the first car is already in the gravel! It is – again – the Nielsen-Oreca #24 from the LMP2 class. David Heinemeier Hanson, whose attack on the Ford Mustang had failed just a few minutes ago, has now apparently driven the car into the gravel on his own.
At the same time, there is also a problem for the APR-Oreca #45 (Kurtz/Braun/Catsburg). The left rear wheel is suddenly missing from this car. The car is currently parked at the side of the track: slow zone!
The rain is here!
This time the rain radar was accurate. Half an hour after the forecast, it actually started raining, and in different places along the route! So far, it doesn’t seem to have rained enough to think about changing to rain tires. The shower is supposed to get heavier, though…
Two cars in the gravel bed
In the esses between the Dunlop Arch and Tertre Rouge, two cars are stuck in the gravel. They are the Nielsen-Oreca #24 (Scherer/Heinemeier Hansson/Simpson) from the LMP2 class and the Proton-Ford #77 (Hardwick/Robichon/Barker) from the LMGT3 class. There was contact while lapping, which ended up off the track for both cars.
But first, slicks again
There is still time for one pit stop before the rain comes. The leading group is currently making one and the choice is of course slicks because it is still dry at the moment. The order of tires at the front has not changed. The Toyota #8 continues to lead ahead of the Porsche #6. In third place – depending on the time in the pit stop window – is the Toyota #7 or the Ferrari #50.
The next rain shower is coming
Back to the race, which is currently in the eleventh hour. And it is not the first time that rain has threatened. After having to change to rain tires several times, the next shower has now been announced. It is supposed to rain again in about half an hour…
Happy Birthday, Yifei Ye!
But there is not only disappointing news to report this night, but also good news. Yifei Ye, one of the three drivers of the AF Corse Ferrari #83, which is privately entered in the Hypercar class, is celebrating his birthday. Since it is already Sunday, the Chinese driver is no longer 23 years old, as he was at the start of the race, but 24. Happy birthday!
© Speedpictures
WRT boss comments on double crash
There are also statements from the WRT box, namely from team boss Vincent Vosse. He lost two of his cars in crashes (BMW #15 in the Hypercar class and WRT-BMW #46 in the LMGT3 class). In addition, the BMW #20 is far behind in the Hypercar field.
“Le Mans has been very rough on us so far. Having car #20 in the garage after contact with the track barriers, car #15 out of the race and a few hours later car #46 also having to retire, that’s hard to swallow. Thankfully all the drivers are OK! But how can we not be disappointed? As we all know, Le Mans is the big deal, but we will fight back!”
“The #31 car is still in the race and we hope to fight for a podium – a well-deserved one for the crew who have worked tirelessly over the past two weeks,” said Vosse.
© Motorsport Images
Alpine comments on double engine failure
After both Alpines had already retired from the race hours ago due to engine failure, the management has now spoken out.
Team boss Philippe Sinault: “This double retirement is cruel, even though we knew reliability could be an issue. Despite all the tests and simulations, only the truth in the race counts. Our start to the season has shown us a lot, so it is all the more disappointing and worrying to retire so early. But we have to take the positives and carry on. This week has confirmed to us that our car is fast. We have to keep working to pick ourselves up and make progress, even if the whole team is suffering tonight.”
Alpine Motorsport Director Bruno Famin: “We knew that this debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans would be a steep learning curve, especially because it was only the fourth race for the A424. But that does not change our disappointment. We will analyse the reasons for this mechanical problem so that we can come back stronger next year.”
© Motorsport Images
Ferrari follows suit
Now the Ferrari #50 is also in the pits, making its twelfth stop. This means that the Toyota #7 moves back up to third position. This car has already pitted 15 times – once more than the leading Toyota #8 and the second-placed Porsche #6.
And the AF Corse Ferrari #83? After its 30-second penalty, it is currently in sixth position and has made 13 stops so far.
Top group in the pits
At the front, the Toyota #8 and the Porsche #6 come in for their next pit stop at the same time. The Toyota’s tires are changed, but the Porsche’s are not. Nevertheless, the order remains the same when leaving the pit lane: Toyota ahead of Porsche.
It was the 14th pit stop in this race for both cars. The Ferrari #50, currently in third place, has only pitted eleven times, but had to serve a ten-second penalty at the first stop.
Double spin in the Daytona chicane
Double spin in the LMGT3 field in the duel for P5. Those involved in the synchronized spin in the Daytona chicane: Spirit of Race Ferrari #155 (J. Laursen/C. Laursen/Taylor) and United Autosports McLaren #59 (Cottingham/Costa/Saucy).
While the McLaren immediately drives on, the Ferrari gets stuck in the gravel, loses a lot of time and falls out of the leading lap of the class.
Slow zone lifted
For the cars still in the race, the race continues at racing speed around the entire course. The slow zone at the exit of the Porsche curves is gone. The Toyota #8 is still in the lead. The Porsche #6 is the closest pursuer.
The end of the Rossi BMW!
Meanwhile, WRT reports that the race is over for the BMW #46 of Valentino Rossi and Co.! Ahmad Al Harthy’s crash in the area of the Dunlop arch was too severe for the M4.
“After a small mistake after the Dunlop Bridge, the race is unfortunately over for the number 46. Ahmad is fine and is back with the team in the garage,” said the WRT statement.
This means that Valentino Rossi’s debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, after a strong performance, is over after just a third of the distance – what a pity!
© Motorsport Images