With a close contested Le Mans 24 Hours that saw the top 9 cars finish at the lead lap, it was anybody’s win for the taking. But come the race end at 19:30 IST on Sunday, it would be the no. 50 Ferrari who would cross the finish line first.

Celebrations down in Maranello

With strong showing in terms of reliability and performance from most of the hypercar field, it was brewing to be an interesting race.

Through the night, a less familiar yellow Ferrari was at the top, the No. 83 of AF Corse. However, its first trouble came in the form of a collision with no. 15 BMW LMDh of Dries Vanthoor. Kubica was given a 30-second penalty for causing this collision.

This was the end of the no. 83’s lead run.

That car would not finish as they retired due to a hybrid system issue.

But come the race end, it ultimately boiled down to a Toyota vs Ferrari battle for the win. No. 50 Ferrari found another obstacle in their course when its right hand side door came undone. This forced Nicklas Nielsen to come into the pits in the final 2 hours of the race, out of sequence with everybody else.

After Toyota completed its final pit stop of the race, it suspected the 50 Ferrari would need to stop once again. But as the end of the race came near, it became clear to Toyota that Ferrari were not stopping. They asked Jose Maria Lopez in no. 7 car to bring home P2.

With Nicklas Nielsen at the wheel, the no. 50 car co piloted by Antonio Fuoco and Miguel Molina crossed the finish line first with no. 7 toyota in second and last year’s winners no. 51 crew in third after serving a 5 second penalty given to them for spinning the no. 8 Toyota.

With this win, Ferrari has maintained its 100% win percentage at the Circuit De La Sarthe with the mighty 499P.

Toyota’s valiant effort

The start of the WEC season was not a strong showing by the Japanese crew. Hence, the Toyotas were not on the winners prediction of many people. When the qualifying session came to an end, Kamui Kobayashi in no. 7 car was looking quick. However he ended up making a rare mistake and spun his car causing a red flag. This meant his lap time was deleted. The no. 7 car started the race in 23rd (last amongst the hypercars).

Apart from this, the regular driver of no. 7 car, Mike Conway had injured himself before the race in a cycling accident. He was replaced by Jose Maria Lopez.

After the retirement of no. 83 ferrari, it looked like a three way battle between porsche, Ferrari and the Toyotas.

All through the night, the no. 8 Toyota was at the top of the standings. The other Toyota (no. 7) in the hands of Kamui Kobayashi was looking fastas well as he posted the fastest lap of the race at lap 254 (3:28.756). As the race neared its end, the Toyotas were looking well suited to challenge for victory. However trouble arrived for the no. 8 as no. 51 Ferrari nudged the Toyota into the Mulsanne corner. It fell to 6th position and everntually finished in fifth.

The no. 7 Toyota almost completed a last to first challenge as it split the red Ferrari on the podium.

Porsches still not back to the top step at Le Mans

Porsche has had a strong start to the season with a win in Qatar and a 100% podium appearance. Hence, going into the Le mans 24 Hours , they looked strong competitors for the overall win. This was further strengthened when the No. 6 Porsche in the hands of Kevin Estre took pole on Thursday.

However come the start of the race, they were passed quite quickly by the strong Ferraris.

This along with a wrong wet tyre change strategy meant the Porsche was not off to a strong start. However as the night rolled on, Porsche was looked as being the frontrunners for overall victory.

But trouble was back for Porsche. No. 4 car of Mathieu Jaminet, Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy was out of the race as it crashed into the tyre wall at Indianapolis

The no. 5 and no. 6 were looking off the pace as the race got underway after the safety car period. They eventually finished in 6th and 4th respectively.

The mighty JOTA crew

In the qualifying session held on Wednesday night, Callum Illot at the wheel of the no. 12 JOTA lost control of his car in the esses. This crash did not looked heavy at first glance but when the mechanics looked closely, they found that the chassis of the car had been damaged.

This meant that if they wanted to field the no. 12 car in the race, they needed to build a car from scratch in just 24 hours! A usual build like this takes 3 whole weeks. But the mighty JOTA crew managed to complete it in just 24 hours. They did the shakedown on the Le Mans Airfield.

They eventually finished the race in P8 (no. 12) and P9 (no. 38)

Cadillac’s one lap pace

Cadillac might not appear as clear cut winners when you look at the final race standings. The no. 3 retired due to an engine issue and no. 311 fnished way behind the lead pack, 31 laps to be precise. Only the no. 2 Cadillac finished in P7 bagging points for the american outfit. Their one lap pace, however, looked mighty stronng. With factory Cadillacs finishing hyperpole in P2 (no. 3) and P3 (no.2), they certainly hoped for a better result out of the final race.

Lamborghini’s succesful debut

Iron Lynx’ operated Lamborghini effort had a pretty succesful debut at the 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours. With a race that tests every nook and crook of a car, the Italian outfit had both its cars across the finish line. The no. 63 car piloted by M. Bortolotti, D. Kvyat and E. Mortara even scored a point by finishing in P10. The other car no. 19 finished P13 with R. Grosjean, A. Caldarelli and M. Cairoliat the wheel.

Trouble for the BMW and Peugeot 

Unlike Lamborghini, BMW’s debut was not pleasant. Out of the two cars, no. 15 car of Dries Vanthoor suffered an accident while getting lapped by no. 83 Ferrari of Kubica. This led to the no. 15 shunting into tyre wall and effectively out of the race.

The other BMW no. 20 started the race in 16th and climbed up to P10 before Robin Frijns lost grip in the ford chicanes and crashed into the tire wall 2 hours into the race.

They rejoined the track 30 minutes later and eventually finished the race 215 laps down on the leaders.

Peugeot had a lukewarm race as well. On one hand they managed to complete the entire 24 hours with both their cars just 2 laps down on the leaders, but they lacked pace to contest for the top points paying positions. The better of the Peugeots, no. 94, got beat by the Lamborghini SC63 for the final points position by a mere 8 seconds.

Eventually 94 Peugeot finished in P11 while 93 Peugeot finished in P12.

Alpine’s engine woes

Alpine was the team that took the biggest loss in the hypercar category. At the start of the race, both the Alpines were doing pretty good and no. 36 ran in P13 overall.

But come the fifth hour, both the cars were out of the race due to an engine issue .

In a race where fellow debutants like Lamborghini and even Isotta Fraschini managed to finished to complete 24 hours, Alpine managed to do only 5. The French team surely need to ask questions and come up with solutions.

Close fight in the LMP2 class

In the LMP2 category, no. 22 machine of United Autosports piloted by Oliver Jarvis, Bijoy Garg and Nolan Siegel finished in first place in the Le Mans 24 Hours. This was the second class win for the team. The top five teams in the LMP2 category after a complete 24 hours of racing was a mere 40 seconds! Last year’s Le Mans LMP2 winners Inter Europol competetion team came in P2 by 18 seconds.

Manthey’s magic in LMGT3

In the LMGT3 class it was pure domination by the Manthey EMA no. 91 car. They finished a lap ahead of the second placed Team WRT BMW no. 31. This was Manthey’s debut at the Le Mans 24 hours in the LMGT3 era. The podium was rounded up by the Proton competetion no. 88 Mustang.

Elsewhere, the no. 46 BMW of Team WRT piloted by Ahmad Al Harthy, Valentino Rossi and Maxime Martin was leading the LMGT3 pack before a mistake by Al Harthy meant the car crashed into the tire barriers at the Dunlop chicane. This ended the no. 46′ race.

With a total of 23 hypercars starting the race and the top 9 hypercars finishing at the lead lap, praise shall also be showered at ACO, the conducting body of Le Mans 24 Hours for creating a true balance of power. Even in the lower classes, the racing was as close as ever. All these facts truly reflect that we are in the golden era of endurance racing.

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24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the most prestigious and gruelling motorsport events in the world, has a rich history of innovation and competition. Currently one of the most unique features of the race is ‘Garage 56’, a special entry slot dedicated to experimental cars that push the boundaries of automotive technology and performance. In the sea of “by-the-book” Hypercars and GT cars, Garage 56 offers a special testbed for the engineers and teams who see the art and potential of the road not taken.

History

Garage 56 was introduced in 2012 by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the organizing body of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The aim was to encourage technological innovation and advancements at Circuit de la Sarthe and in motorsport as a whole. This unique slot allows one car to compete outside the usual regulations, provided it demonstrates significant technological innovation or environmental benefit.

2012 – Nissan DeltaWing

Garage 56 debuted with the Nissan DeltaWing. Originally created as a new generation IndyCar it came to Le Mans to compete. The car was fielded by All American Racers (constructor), Highcroft Racing (team) supported by Nissan. It featured a radical design with a narrow front track and a lightweight structure, aiming to achieve high drag efficiency and low fuel consumption. A four-cylinder Nissan turbo propelled the car.

The car qualified 29th with Marino Franchitti, Michael Krumm and Satoshi Motoyama driving. While qualifying was pleasant to the project, the race wasn’t as much. The car was retired after 75 laps following an accident after a collision with #7 Toyota TS030 Hybrid.

2013 – GreenGT H2

The GreenGT H2, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered car, was selected for the 2013 race. However, it did not participate due to developmental issues that prevented it from being race-ready in time. It highlighted the potential of hydrogen fuel cells as a sustainable energy source for motorsport.

2014 – Nissan ZEOD RC

Driven by Lucas Ordóñez, Wolfgang Reip, Satoshi Motoyama, the car qualified 27th, and managed to set a lap using electric power in the warm-up, which accomplished the goal of the project to “set a purely electric lap time at racing speeds”. Although, a gearbox issue would plague the car and would eventually force the car to retire on lap five.

Panoz and Ganassi sued Bowlby and Nissan over use of intellectual property due to the similarities with the DeltaWing, the matter was eventually settled out of court in 2016.

2015

2015 would see the garage 56 empty due to the nominated entry of Welter Racing, a biomethane-fuel prototype fell behind schedule because of funding issues. ACO later determined that none of the candidates were unfit.

2016 – Morgan LMP2 SRT 41 By Oak Racing

2016 would be a truly beautiful and heart warming year for Garage 56 as it would welcome a project led by Driver Frédéric Sausset, a quadruple amputee. The SRT 41 LMP2 was modified to allow Sausset to drive using a specially adapted control system, Sausset operated a throttle and braking system which with his thighs, while the steering column was directly attached to his right arm limb. His teammates would race the car normally.

The team would Qualify 32nd and finish a highly respectable 38th setting multiple records along the way including being the first Garage 56 car to finish the race, highlighting advances in accessibility and inclusivity in motorsports, demonstrating that high-performance racing is accessible to all. The team found its place in the hearts of motorsports fans all across the globe.

2017 – 2020

These few years would see numerous attempts including the failed return of Welter Racing and Perrin with the Project 424, an LMP1-based electric car with an autonomous driving mode.

But ultimately ACO would once again deem the candidates unfit and not mature enough to race. 2020 would see itself as a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Credits: racecar-engineering.com

2021 – La Filiere by SRT 41 Oreca 07 LMP2

2021 welcomed Frederic Sausset once again to Garage 56, this time fielding a specially modified Oreca 07 Gibson LMP2 car with a lineup of three disabled drivers. Transcending barriers Sausset would this time round have not one but two drivers, paralyzed from the waist down racing his car.

The team would Qualify 29th and finish an incredible 32nd once again defying all odds and in the process the two disabled drivers became the first disabled teammates to compete and finish in the history of the race.

2022

Garage 56 would once again remain empty.

2023 – Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 StockCar

Nascar, to celebrate its 75th anniversary took the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 StockCar run by Henderick Motorsports, its most successful team. The modified Stockcar would be driven by 7x Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, 2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button and 2010 Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller.

The car was quite different to the traditional machines that normally graced the track, in it’s sheer size and brute force produced by it’s incredible V8. It truly was a Goliath in the sea of Davids, but this story ends differently; the team would qualify and finish a very respectable 39th putting up a good fight with the GTEs. While the GTEs had a clear advantage in the corners, the Chevy would thunder down the straights.

Future

As we look into the future, Garage 56 continues to be a beacon for innovation in motorsports. It offers a unique platform for testing and demonstrating new technologies that may eventually become standard in racing and commercial vehicles.

“Le Mans has always been a crucible for innovation. Garage 56 gives inventors and engineers a chance to dream big and bring those dreams to life in a way that can inspire the entire automotive world.”

Don Panoz, Founder of Panoz Motorsports 

As automotive technology continues to evolve, Garage 56 entries will likely explore new frontiers in electric propulsion, autonomous driving, advanced materials, and more. Thus maintaining its role as a crucible for the future of racing technology and the broader goals of sustainability and inclusivity in motorsport.

‘IRON DAMES‘, have you heard of this name? If not, then this article will introduce you to one of the leading forces in women’s motorsport. The Iron Dames is an all-female racing team that competes in high-profile endurance racing events, such as the FIA World Endurance Championship and the European Le Mans Series. They showcase exceptional talent and determination, therefore promoting female representation and empowerment in a traditionally male-dominated sport.

The Iron Dames’ exceptional track performances in endurance disciplines have earned them reverence in the world of motorsports. However, this did not happen overnight as in their formative years, they were no strangers to adversity:
During their first 2 years on track, they constantly battled mechanical woes, from engine stutters to gearbox issues. With elusive sponsorships and tight budgets, their financial status was as forlorn as their time on track. Above all, the male-dominated racing world shadowed them with many doubts, it was obstinate to the stage that Michelle Gatting, a gold-rated WEC driver, told The Race,

“It was a tough beginning because people expected nothing from us.”

“There was a sense that we were just another lineup trying to achieve something, but were not being taken seriously.” , “Often I felt like I was walking around knowing the faces of the drivers but people were never saying hello to us really. They were not expecting to see us there the year after, let’s say.“

“I didn’t feel respected in the paddock at first”

-said gatting on their early stages of participation, to ‘the race’

Despite these early challenges, the team knew that overcoming these stereotypes and gaining respect within this industry required a commitment to excellence. To achieve this, the team fostered strong communication and collaboration between drivers, engineers, and mechanics, this required patience and time of over 2 years. The Iron Dames progressed and overcame obstacles while laying the groundwork for future success. Their determination fueled their relentless pursuit of victory, emerging stronger and proving the power of sheer will. Today, the world sees the Iron Dames as a formidable force, here to stay and no longer to be dismissed as nobodies.

Timeline of Iron Dames

2018 – Iron Dames is born

The 12 Hours of Dubai saw an all-female lineup consisting of R. Frey, M. Gatting, and M. Gostner on the grid. The Iron Dames project is born.

2022 Top steps

First win in the European Le Mans Series

In 2022, Iron Dames lineup achieved their first win in the ELMS. They took to the top step of the podium in their #83 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo at Portimao. This also helped the team finish P3 in the championship standings.

Class win at 24H of Spa

The team also took the class win at 24 hours of Spa that year. Becoming the first all-female line-up to win in the race’s GT era.

2023 – Making history in WEC

2023 proved to be the most successful year of Iron Dames till now in WEC. The team finished 2nd in the championship. They also made history by winning the 8h of Bahrain, becoming the first lineup of women to win a race in the World Endurance Championship.

2024

Lamborghini Partnership

The Lamborghini Squadra Corse and Iron Dames-Iron Lynx have announced their partnership to compete as ‘Lamborghini Iron Lynx‘ in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship. This milestone has led Iron Lynx to become a factory-supported GT3 team in Europe and the US from 2023, thus providing a well-deserved boost to the Iron Dames’ initiative.

FRECA

Iron Dames’ most recent development is their participation in the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA). The team includes 2023 F1 Academy champion Marta García and Mercedes Junior Driver Doriane Pin. FRECA marks Iron Dames’ debut in single-seater racing. García and Pin will participate in all ten races, starting at Hockenheim. This move aims to elevate their careers towards higher levels like Formula 2 and Formula 1, while promoting female talent in motorsport.

Demanding Path Ahead as Challenges Persisits:

Women in motorsports still face gender bias and stereotypes, receiving less media coverage and sexist commentary that undermines their achievements. This was evident at the recent F1 Academy race in Miami. Additionally, securing sponsorship is always challenging due to stereotypes about marketability. At the grassroots level, women encounter barriers to equal access, opportunities, and influential networks, hindering their growth.

Despite these harsh challenges, Iron Dames continues to break barriers and inspire young girls and women in racing and engineering. They are not alone in their efforts, as other organizations like the F1 Academy have also played a significant role in promoting women in the single-seater Formula series, under the influence of prominent ex-driver Susie Wolff. Both F1 Academy and Iron Dames have contributed to combatting gender bias in motorsport. While the F1 Academy deserves its separate article, I have chosen to focus on the Iron Dames, which at times is overlooked by the mainstream media and audience. Their commitment to competing at the highest levels of mixed-endurance racing highlights their talent and determination, deserving all the praise in the world.

Ultimately, this serves as a powerful reminder that women can excel in any and every field. Continuing to achieve new milestones every day, the Iron Dames and many others have paved the way for the future of women in motorsports, proving that with passion and determination, anything is possible.