Toyota claim Le Mans 24 Hours victory to end Ferrari’s winning streak
Toyota have claimed victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours after surviving a dramatic late battle with BMW and Cadillac, ending Ferrari’s recent dominance at the iconic Circuit de la Sarthe.
Former Formula 1 driver Kamui Kobayashi crossed the line in the number seven GR010 Hybrid, finishing 10.9 seconds ahead of the pursuing BMW M Hybrid V8.
Switzerland’s Sebastien Buemi secured third place in the sister number eight car, crossing the line a further 9.5 seconds adrift.
The winning three-driver line-up was completed by Britain’s Mike Conway and Dutchman Nyck de Vries.
Late drama and Ferrari struggles
This triumph marks a second career victory at the legendary endurance race for the 42-year-old Conway.
British ex-F1 racer Will Stevens narrowly missed out on a podium finish for Hertz Team Jota, bringing his American Cadillac V-Series R home in fourth.
The result breaks a significant streak for the Italian marque, whose 499P hypercars had won the past three events since their return to the top class in 2023.
The Prancing Horse endured a remarkably ragged race in north-west France, with their number 51 entry finishing more than two minutes behind the eventual winners.
Upgrades fuel Japanese resurgence
The number 50 Ferrari was forced to retire entirely following early contact with lower-class competitors.
Several drivers questioned the hypercar class’ controversial ‘balance of performance’ regulations as teams struggled to maintain the leading pace.
The Japanese manufacturer arrived at the event with a minor upgrade to their vehicle, which ultimately paid dividends in securing their sixth overall victory at the track.
They remain the only major marque to have stayed committed through the sport’s leaner years, having previously dominated the event between 2018 and 2022.
“Finally we bring in a new car and that’s made it happen. Mr Toyoda-san has been supporting big time – finally we’re back on top.”
Kamui Kobayashi
A golden era for sports cars
The World Endurance Championship has experienced a massive resurgence in popularity following the introduction of the new hypercar regulations in 2021.
Major manufacturers such as Peugeot, Alpine, Aston Martin, and Genesis have now joined the ranks to compete at the highest level of motorsport.
The flagship 24-hour race remains a sellout event every year, attracting approximately 350,000 passionate fans to the French circuit.
