LE MANS, France — Ferrari secured back-to-back victories by enduring challenging weather conditions to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Sunday, with Nicklas Nielsen, Antonio Fuoco, and Miguel Molina driving the No. 50 car to a 14-second lead over the No. 7 car of Nyck de Vries, Kamui Kobayashi, and Jose Maria Lopez.
The No. 51 Ferrari, driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi, completed the top three in this iconic sports car race.
The race began under the flag of former French soccer star Zinedine Zidane and showcased intense competition among Ferrari, Toyota, Porsche, and Cadillac.
Rain and fog led to a safety car intervention for nearly four hours in the early morning, with Ferrari vying for the lead. As daylight broke, the race resumed with five teams contending closely, separated by less than a minute.
Less than six hours remaining, the No. 50 Ferrari moved up the grid just before more rain, with Fuoco advancing. Nielsen then faced late drama, requiring an unscheduled pit stop due to a flapping door, but held on to secure victory in challenging wet conditions.
“Fantastic! It’s truly a dream come true,” said Nielsen. “The victory seemed unlikely at times during the race, especially the end when we had a door issue. But everything turned out well.
“The final lap felt endless, unimaginable. I focused on avoiding risks and crossing the finish line as quickly as possible. I just had to maintain the lead.”
This marked Ferrari’s 11th win at Le Mans in the 101st edition of the endurance event.
