Porsche misses out on the podium by just a few metres at Le Mans 24 Hours
Starting from pole position, the #6 Porsche had to make do with fourth place. Despite setting a strong pace at the end of the race, Laurens Vanthoor was unable to overtake the #51 Ferrari.
We know that in Le Mans, everything can be decided in a few meters. Even after 24 hours, the slightest tenth, the slightest centimeter, the slightest maneuver can make a difference. Porsche found themselves in this situation a few days ago.
Starting from pole position, car #6 with the trio Estre – Vanthoor – Lotterer quickly saw the two Ferraris overtake them in the first few laps. The Scuderia was on a mission. However, the German team had not said its last word by taking the lead of the race several times. Thanks to strategic play and pit stops.
Still in the running, car #6 was still in the hunt for victory in the last two hours. Very close to Ferrari #51, Laurens Vanthoor tried everything to overtake the Italian car. But the Belgian did not manage to find a way through. In the end, Porsche failed at the foot of the podium. For the first time this season, none of the 963 cars finished in the top three.
« The threshold of one’s twenties is sometimes difficult to cross.
We must admit that we were not completely free of mistakes today. We missed the podium by a few meters. Our Porsche 963 had potential, our drivers and the whole team did an exemplary job. I want to thank them for that. We will be back next year, announces Urs Kuratle, director of the LMDh program.
Car #6 was not the only official car to be entered at Le Mans. Porsche Penske had brought two other cars. Car #5 finished in sixth place, 42 seconds behind the leader. And car #4, invited by IMSA, did not cross the finish line. In the morning, Felipe Nasr lost control of his car 963 at the Indianapolis corner. The Brazilian violently hit the tire barrier. The impact caused too much damage to the Hypercar, which had to stop there.
« Our cars number 6 and 5 have given their best during the last four hours. Our team also pushed the strategic limits regarding tire choice to the maximum. We really wanted to challenge Ferrari and Toyota for victory. The best position for our number 6 car is fourth place. We had set higher goals for ourselves. Nonetheless, things went much better than last year. Another positive point: our team managed to earn a lot of points for the World Endurance Championship and strengthen its lead,” rejoices Jonathan Diuguid, director of Porsche Penske.
The constructor from Stuttgart still maintains the lead in the championship with 99 points for the #6.
A victory in GT3
After the race, through an advertisement and a post on its social networks, Porsche congratulated Ferrari on its victory. All with a touch of humor. The milestone of one’s twenties can sometimes be difficult to cross. Referring to the twentieth victory that the brand was trying to achieve in Le Mans.
If the German brand did not achieve victory in Hypercar, Porsche was represented on the top of the podium in GT3. Thanks to the Manthey EMA team and its #91.
This is Manthey’s fifth victory in his category at Le Mans, after 1999, 2013, 2018 and 2022. It was super exhausting, but as always, it was also a very special event and a great honor. When Wolfgang Porsche came to congratulate me, that’s when the tears started flowing. The decisive factor was the combination of the drivers, engineers, and mechanics. Many people think that success depends on a specific factor. But it’s the whole team that is behind it, praised Nicolas Raeder, director of Manthey.
The German team is therefore leading the GT3 standings. Both its cars are tied with 75 points. However, the #91 is in first place ahead of the #92, with this Le Mans victory that brings in more points.
