Ferrari chairman John Elkann described yesterday’s victory for Ferrari AF Corse in the centenary running of the Le Mans 24 Hours as “unforgettable” for the Italian manufacturer.
The #51 499P of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi pulled off a historic first win for the Ferrari Hypercar programme over the weekend in fine style. En route to victory, the trio survived multiple heavy downpours in the first half of the race, an off into the gravel that cost precious time overnight and a pair of late-race scares on pit lane when the car struggled to fire up.
The reliability of the 499P was something the team were nervous about heading into the race, but in the end the #51 proved to be near bullet-proof in its biggest test yet. The car’s newfound durability combined with its blistering pace was too much for the #8 Toyota GR010 HYBRID that emerged as the main rival for the winning crew in the second half of the race.
The win — the first overall for all three drivers in the race and Ferrari’s 10th at Le Mans as a manufacturer — was the first for the 499P in global competition and snapped Toyota’s five-year win streak at the event.
It was also Ferrari’s first overall win at Le Mans since 1965, when Jochen Rindt and American Masten Gregory led a 1-2-3 overall for the Prancing Horse aboard the North American Racing Team 250 LM.
“This has been an unforgettable day that I’d like to dedicate to everyone at Ferrari,” Elkann said. “After 50 years we have returned to compete in the highest category of endurance racing that has a place at the very heart of our story and that of all motorsport.
“We’re proud, indeed, to have taken Italy once again to the top step of the podium at Le Mans, celebrating in the best possible style the centenary of the most important race of its kind in the world.
“This victory that Antonello Coletta (Ferrari’s endurance program boss), Amato Ferrari (owner of AF Corse) and the entire team, from our mechanics to our drivers, have achieved today in such challenging conditions — because of the 24-hour duration, the unpredictable weather and the impressive strength of our competitors — serves as an example for us all.
We celebrate with all of our Tifosi and with our country
“The emotions they have given to our Tifosi on a great day that brings together past, present and future, is also a reminder of the importance of finding the courage and the humility to always improve.
“Full of enthusiasm and joy, I’d like to thank all our colleagues who have given us this extraordinary victory — a success that we celebrate with all of our Tifosi and with our country.”
Race winner Pier Guidi, after what was by far the most significant win of his career, said the magnitude of the result hasn’t yet sunk in. The 39-year-old Italian had a pair of Le Mans class wins with AF Corse to his name in GTE Pro prior to last weekend. This victory though, raises his legacy to new heights, winning the race overall on his first attempt in a top-class car.
“It takes time to grasp what we did,” said the Italian. “Probably now, we are part of the history of Ferrari, the biggest brand in the world.
“As an Italian, I have dreamed of driving for this brand since childhood. Now it’s real. We won Le Mans with a red car. It isn’t easy to describe what you feel. It’s a mix of emotions. If you think about how much work there is behind this victory. We worked 24/7. We tried to give our best, but everyone worked non-stop, the engineers and the mechanics, for one year, and the work finally paid off.
“We knew from the start that reliability would be a key factor. The car was new and the race crazy: the weather was mad, with many slow zones and safety cars. But in the end, Le Mans is always like this. You have to try to stay out of trouble or at least to minimise the mistakes. I think we did quite well.”
As an Italian, I have dreamed of driving for this brand since childhood
The outcome of the race was also a defining moment for Amato Ferrari, the foudner of AF Corse, one which he could only dream of when the 499P was signed off and handed to his organisation.
“We are living a special moment, just as we imagined would be possible,” he said. “Wonderful work has been done over the last eleven months. Ferrari believed in this project and helped us a lot and they put together a working group that integrated with our people. And this is the result.
“The drivers were a definite choice, as we had worked with all of them, and they were intentionally confirmed because we know their qualities. With this result, we improved on the opening race at Sebring, which started with a pole position and got better until we had a car that was more and more reliable and competitive.”
