Both Japanese manufactured cars took the lead right from the start. The challenging Glickenhaus and Alpine entries could not match their Hypercar competitor.
LE MANS, France—On Sunday at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Toyota Gazoo Racing dominated the 90th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, taking their fifth consecutive victory and a 1-2 achievement. Sebastian Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Rio Hirikawa took victory over their sister car, number 7, the defending champions of the event.
Glickenhaus became the first American team since 1969 to achieve a podium spot.
For Alpine, it was an opportunity to try and take another victory, as it did earlier in the season, when the French team won in Sebring, Florida. But the odds were not in its favor on home soil because clutch and engine problems ruined their chances. The team took 25 minutes of repair time in the fourth hour to get their entry back onto the circuit but could finish no higher than 26th overall.
Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Jose Maria Lopez stayed with their team rivals for most of the race, switching positions as both cars took turns after pit stops. But the defending number 7 car witnessed early morning hybrid drive failures, finally enabling the number 8 car to take first place by Sunday afternoon.
The LMP 2 class had the most amount of competition. But after a steady race all night and day, both JOTA Cars took first and third, with Roberto Gonzalez, Antonio Felix de Costa, and Will Stevens taking the win ahead of the Prema Orlen squad.
Many thought that the GTE PRO class would be a battle between Porsche and Ferrari, but the Corvette Racing team seemed prime to compete until mechanical problems dropped them down the order by morning. Porsche number 92 took the win with Gianmaria Bruni, Roland Lietz, and Frederic Makowiecki claiming victory ahead of the two AF Corse Ferraris.
For the GTE AM division, Weathertech Racing dominated the entire competition until morning, when the TF Sport, driven by Ben Keating, Henrique Chaves, and Marco Sorensen, overtook them and won their first race at this circuit. The other Aston Martin car claimed third place.
