Le Mans 24 Hours event debutant and Iron Dames driver Celia Martin opened up about her first-hand experience in this year’s 93rd edition.

Iron Dames driver Celia Martin drove for the programme in the Le Mans Cup’s ‘Road to Le Mans’ support package last year, in a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 with Karen Gaillard.

This year, as an FIA World Endurance Championship season debutant, she took on the main event in the Manthey-run #85 Porsche 911 LMGT3.R with Sarah Bovy and Rahel Frey.

On the Le Mans test day, the #85 Porsche dropped on Michelle Gatting‘s right foot during pit stop practice, during which driver changes are rehearsed in preparation for the main race.

After she suffered a fractured foot, Bovy stepped in to replace Gatting, who entered the Iron Dames’ six Le Mans starts beforehand with Frey.

Martin reflected emotionally after her maiden start:

“Michi, I was not expecting to race without you […] I was looking forward to it.

“I was very sad, but then I was very happy to have Sarah racing here. Honestly, the girls did amazing. I drove a bit more than expected.

“I was racing for the first time, so I really saw what this race was [and] have even more respect, and I’m even more proud to be a part of it and to have made it to the finish line and to have done this first adventure for me with these girls.”

Iron Dames potential hampered by gearbox issues

The Iron Dames ran promisingly within the top five during the opening four hours of the race, having climbed from the rear of the grid.

Despite keeping themselves towards the higher end of the LMGT3 category, they showed potential but were hampered by gear-shifting issues in the 15th hour.

This prompted repairs in the garage, before returning and finishing the gruelling race at 4 pm on Sunday, 15 June, albeit seven laps down on the winning Manthey Porsche.

Even so, the Iron Dames beat the eight LMGT3 entrants – out of the 24 which started the race – to the checkered flag.

“It’s not how we wanted to finish, but that’s racing,” added Bovy.

“24 Hours of Le Mans; it’s part of the game, and I think we can be very proud.

“With Iron Dames, I think so far I’ve finished every single participation, always crossing the line because we never give up.

“I’m super proud of both my team-mates and the entire team.

“It was an absolute honour to join you for this race.

“Michi, you know we love you, and she was with us the entire time supporting us, but we still missed her.”

READ MORE – Richard Lietz cherishes rare consecutive Porsche Le Mans victory

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Porsche has raised 600,000 euros for charity after their factory 963 Hypercars completed a total of 1,159 laps at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Porsche Penske works team at the FIA World Endurance Championship round raised funds for the non-profit children’s charities, Interplast Germany e.V. and Kinderherzen retten e.V..

Their Racing for Charity initiative has run for three consecutive Le Mans, having begun in 2023, during which 500 euros is donated for every lap completed by each of the Porsche Penske cars, of which there were three this year, following the #4 963’s win of the 2024 IMSA GTP championship title.

Porsche raised 579,500 euros for this year’s effort but has rounded that up to 600k.

Racing for Charity has raised over 2.4 million euros since 2023. Kinderherzen retten e.V. collaborates with the University Hospital Freiburg to provide children with life-changing, one-time surgeries.

Interplast Germany e.V. focuses on humanitarian plastic surgery for treatment addressing accidents, burns, congenital malformations, or chronic wounds.

Porsche Penske fought hard to challenge the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P, which won. Kevin Estre asserted a monstrous opening stint in the #6 Porsche from the back of the 21-car Hypercar field towards the front.

The #6 Porsche Penske crew of Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, and Matt Campbell ended up in the highest-placed finish out of the Porsche Penskes, in second place after completing 387 laps, just 14.084 seconds behind the winning #83 Ferrari.

Their #5 Porsche driven by Julien Andlauer, Michael Christensen and Mathieu Jaminet followed in sixth position (386 laps) and the #4 Porsche trio of Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy and Pascal Wehrlein in eighth (386 laps).

READ MORE – Richard Lietz cherishes rare consecutive Porsche Le Mans victory

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The 93rd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans was a gruelling race for all 62 entries, as 14 cars failed to finish at the checkered flag.

With no wet weather this year to test the teams during the night, drivers faced the greater challenge of fatigue from behind the wheel.

On the other hand, the cars in the Hypercar, LMP2 and LMGT3 categories pushed the limits of mechanical and electronic reliability during the racing action.

Here, we list the retirements, non-classifications and the single disqualification – in chronological order – from the fourth FIA World Endurance Championship round.

Car – Laps / Racing time completed – Reason as applicable:

Note: racing time continued running for some despite being in the garage*

• #88 Proton Competition Ford Mustang LMGT3 – 46 laps / 3 hours, 11 minutes, 36.30 seconds – Broken rear-left wheel nut caused the wheel to detach before the Ford’s spin into the Tertre Rouge tyre barrier.
• #60 Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 – 57 laps / 6 hours 5 minutes 02.685 seconds – Retired in the garage after a broken alternator belt damaged the oil line.
• #95 United Autosports McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo – 80 laps / 5 hours, 35 minutes, 58.499 seconds – Stopped behind the barrier on Mulsanne straight due to drivetrain-related mechanical failure impacting fuel delivery.
• #46 WRT BMW M4 GT3 Evo – 156 laps / 11 hours, 2 minutes, 28.095 seconds – Technical issue affected the power and therefore power steering.
• #31 WRT BMW M4 GT3 Evo – 168 laps / 13 hours, 17 minutes, 27.884 seconds – Hit a rabbit during the night-time.
• #24 Nielsen Racing Oreca 07 LMP2 – 170 laps / 11 hours, 10 minutes, 29.565 seconds – Cem Bolukbasi crashed at Tertre Rouge (and released from the medical centre).
• #101 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Series.R Hypercar – 189 laps / 11 hours, 55 minutes, 38.240 seconds – Filipe Albuquerque parked at the second Mulsanne chicane following engine failure (the car had a new engine fitted in FP2).

Halfway point at Le Mans – 12 hours

• #54 AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3 – 192 laps / 14 hours, 4 minutes, 56.647 seconds – Cause unknown as of yet, though the car did not suffer a collision or overtly showcase physical signs of mechanical/electronic failure.
• #18 IDEC Sport Oreca 07 LMP2 – 206 laps / 13 hours, 34 minutes, 12.511 seconds – Andre Lotterer stopped after the right-rear wheel detached into the second Mulsanne chicane on an outlap after a pit stop.
• #311 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R Hypercar – 247 laps / 16 hours, 0 minutes, 31.169 seconds – Frederick Vesti lost power and retired, cause set to be investigated.
• #78 Akkodis ASP Lexus RC F LMGT3 – 268 laps / 19 hours, 2 minutes, 41.151 seconds – Finn Gehristz spun the rear at the Porsche Curves entry, making rear-left contact with the tyre barrier before driving back to the pits.
• # 28 IDEC Sport Oreca 07 LMP2 – 308 laps / 20 hours, 18 minutes, 29.995 seconds – Job van Uitert went off at the Forest Esses and beached in gravel and retired, possibly due to further reliability woes preventing his continuation.
• #59 United Autosports McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo – 314 laps / 22 hours, 52 minutes, 42.255 seconds – They faced an alternator issue earlier on, but Gregoire Saucy’s car seemingly stopped working on the stretch after the Mulsanne Corner. They were non-classified after completing a minimum 75 per cent race distance of the winner.
• #50 AF Corse Ferrari 499P Hypercar – 387 laps – Post-race disqualification (see here)

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Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, Adam Carter, was ‘satisfied’ with both Valkyrie Hypercars completing their Le Mans 24 Hours debut.

The Heart of Racing #007 and #009 Aston Martin Valkyrie Hypercars finished P12 and P14 on their Le Mans event debut last weekend against 19 other Hypercar competitors.

It was the first 24-hour race for the Valkyrie, having been unable to enter IMSA’s 24 Hours of Daytona due to the Valkyrie’s ongoing development process. However, it debuted at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

“It’s a great result for the team,” said Carter, “It’s a huge milestone in the programme.

“We come to Le Mans, and we come to the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA championship because they’re hard.

“We want to race the best competition in the world, and we’ve seen some great racing by some great competitors here.

“We’re now in the one per cent game. We’ve shown that we have a car – we’ve arrived, we’re present, we finished – two cars at Le Mans, which is no mean feat.

“The performance we need to improve, but we’re in that one per cent game now, and that means the opportunity is there.

“We can’t wait to come back next year, to the next Le Mans, and have another go – show again what we’re made of.”

Reaching the checkered flag as means of ‘satisfaction’

“‘Satisfaction’ is a good word for it,” he added.

“We’re racers – we want to be more competitive, we’d rather finish further up, same as everybody here.

“But we also reflect on how difficult it is to come to this race.

“We’ve seen some seasoned competitors finish behind us. Yes, they’ve had trouble, but that’s the point.

“It’s not easy, [and] it’s very difficult to compete at this level, and everybody on the programme should be immensely proud of what we’ve brought together, with very, very minimal faults through the race.

“It’s fantastic work by everyone. We’re not here just for fun.

“It’s all there – the opportunity is there. We just need to work through it and come back even better than we were here.”

Aston Martin (Heart of Racing) has competed in all races so far in their maiden WEC season, having finished the championship’s most gruelling race.

The next challenge in the Valkyrie effort will be this weekend’s IMSA Six Hours of the Glen at the iconic Watkins Glen International Circuit.

READ MORE – Kubica, Ye and Hanson take victory at Le Mans in yellow #83 Ferrari

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It’s not often a young driver goes to Le Mans and finishes second on his debut at the French endurance classic, in only his first year in an LMP2 car.

Except that’s exactly what Ollie Gray has done. The 20-year-old, racing for VDS Panis Racing in the #48 Oreca 07-Gibson, finished second in the LMP2 class alongside his teammates Esteban Masson and veteran sportscar racer Franck Perera.

The team led for a significant time during the race, with a gap of up to a minute and a half at one point during the night. Unfortunately, as is common in endurance racing, the only safety car of the race eliminated that gap.

“Great race overall, we all drove great throughout the race, pulling a minute and a half gap about 10 hours into the race, when a safety car took that away from us,” said Gray.

“We were then in P2 coming into the closing stages of the race. We had to go full attack to put pressure on the leader and force a mistake, which we did.”

The leading car at the time, the #43 Inter Europol Oreca — which would go on to win the race — had Nick Yelloly at the wheel. However, through the relentless pace of Masson, in the car for the last stint, Yelloly received a drive-through penalty.

This put Masson in the lead and would give Gray a win on his Le Mans debut. But there was more drama to come.

“We found ourselves in the lead with 20 minutes to go. when suspension failure stopped us from getting that win in Le Mans,” said Gray.

So, heartbreak for the young Brit and his two teammates. While second is still a huge achievement at Le Mans, it’s not the win — especially when they were leading with well under half an hour left to race.

However, Gray is staying positive. “We can all be proud of the job we did over the last week and we will come back stronger,” he finished.

Faster and more laps than Perera

Gray did 123 laps through the race, recording a fastest time of 3:37.373. This compares favourably to teammate Masson, in the car for 158 laps, setting a fastest time of 3:36.610. That’s just over six-tenths quicker than Gray.

However, the Briton was faster and did more laps than 41-year-old Perera, 21 years Gray’s senior. Perera did 86 laps through the course of the race, with a fastest lap of 3:37.775 for the Frenchman.

This makes Gray’s lap four-tenths quicker than Perera’s – a huge achievement for the young Briton.

We’ll have a full interview with Gray in the coming weeks, to discuss his European Le Mans Series, goals and dreams for racing, and his career before sportscars. Watch this space!

The post Ollie Gray, rising British star, finishes second at Le Mans appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Jakub Smiechowski explained how Inter Europol Competition’s Le Mans LMP2 victory was more difficult to claim compared to their 2023 victory.

“It was a crazy race, obviously, for us, with highs and downs all the time,” Smiechowski told Motorsport Week after the race.

“We got a penalty (drive-through for pit speed violation), then we made a mistake and lost a lot of time in the pit stops.

“Then I went through the gravel again… but then we recovered. It was a beautiful race.

“Somehow it felt much more difficult to win this time than it did in 2023, although you cannot really compare. But yeah… somehow it just felt harder.

“This year the #48 VDS car was always there — always putting pressure on us.

“Whereas in ’23, at some points, we were quite a bit quicker, and we could recover a lot.

“But this year, it was really, really hard competition.

“It’s an amazing feeling, you know, to hear the national anthem again. And with Robert [Kubica] winning today, it’s been a long time coming already.

“At the end, we were just tripling [tyre stints] because of the heat.

“So we didn’t really need to manage the tyres much, to be honest.

“The [tyre] wear here in Le Mans anyway is relatively low. So it’s also nice to be able to push every lap.”

Tom Dillmann started Inter Europol’s #43 Oreca 07 LMP2 in second position against 16 other competitors in the class.

VDS Panis Racing’s #48 Oreca kept within distance of the #43 Inter Europol Oreca throughout the race, with debutant Oliver Gray having closed down the #43 during the closing stages.

The #48 Oreca suffered issues as Yelloly retook the lead from #48 Oreca driver Esteban Masson just 10 minutes before the end.

READ MORE – #43 Inter Europol Competition secures LMP2 Le Mans class victory

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Ferrari AF Corse’s #50 499P has lost fourth place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, having been disqualified due to a technical infringement.

The 2024 Le Mans winners, Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen and Miguel Molina, drove once again in this year’s 93rd edition.

They were the lowest finishing out of the three Ferrari Hypercars in fourth behind the #51 Ferrari by the time of the checkered flag at 387 laps.

Post-race scrutineering checks determined the car was “not in compliance with the deflection test indicated in Article 3.8.7 of the 2025 LMH Technical Regulations and the homologation form for car #50”.

As a result, it has been disqualified from the final race results, which has promoted the Hyperpole-sitting #12 JOTA Cadillac V-Series.R into fourth, and the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid into fifth.

Alpine, as a result, finished in the top 10 with both #35 and #36 A424 Hypercars, after having suffered a heartbreaking double mechanical retirement last year by the sixth racing hour.

The stewards decision solely affected the #50 Ferrari, meaning that the #83 retains their overall victory as the #51 keeps their third-placed race finish.

Even though a mechanic noticed Ferrari’s #50 rear wing support missed four bolts at the final pit stop, the team took no further action to the end of the race.

The rear wing deflection test recorded 52mm, exceeding the maximum of 15mm. Furthermore, the #50 Ferrari set its top speed on lap 380 as Ferrari AF Corse claimed no performance gain from the absent bolts; meanwhile, the stewards highlighted a potential safety risk for the wing under high-speed stress and fatigue.

Ferrari accepted the wing-deflection measurement and the non-compliance with wing homologation rules.

READ MORE – Kubica, Ye and Hanson take victory at Le Mans in yellow #83 Ferrari

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Endurance racing is a captivating world where races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans test not only the limits of vehicles but also the skills and strategies of drivers and teams. In these events, numerous variables come into play, from driver stamina to pit crew efficiency, making it essential to understand how each factor can impact race outcomes.

For bettors looking to engage with endurance racing, identifying key elements such as driver performance and team dynamics becomes vital. By analysing these aspects, you can position yourself to make use of the variations in odds that the best sportsbooks provide and to make bets informed by your research and potentially reap greater rewards.

Key factors in endurance racing

Driver stamina is a critical component in endurance racing. Unlike shorter races, these events demand sustained concentration and physical resilience over extended periods. The ability of a driver to maintain performance under fatigue can significantly influence the race outcome. When evaluating bets, consider drivers with proven track records in endurance settings, as their experience often translates into better performance.

Pit strategy also plays a pivotal role in determining race results. Teams must decide when to refuel and change tires strategically without losing crucial time. Efficient pit stops can make or break a team’s success in endurance racing. Observing past performances of teams during pit stops can provide insights into their operational efficiency and reliability.

Car reliability is another essential factor to consider when placing bets on endurance races. Mechanical failures are not uncommon due to the stress endured by vehicles over long distances. Reviewing historical data on specific car models and their performance in past endurance races can help you assess their reliability and potential for success.

Choosing the right sportsbooks for race odds

Selecting the best sportsbooks is vital for those interested in betting on endurance races. Different platforms offer varying odds and options that can affect your potential returns. It’s important to research which sportsbooks provide comprehensive coverage of endurance events and offer competitive odds that align with your betting strategy.

When comparing sportsbooks, look for those that specialize in motorsport betting or have a reputation for accuracy and fairness in odds setting. These platforms often provide detailed insights into upcoming races, helping you make more educated decisions. Additionally, consider customer reviews and industry reputation as part of your selection process.

The diversity of betting options available can enhance your experience if chosen wisely. Some platforms may offer live betting opportunities during endurance events, allowing you to adjust your strategy based on real-time developments. Such features can be advantageous if utilized effectively.

Analysing data for informed betting decisions

To excel in endurance racing betting, it’s essential to delve into data analysis. Historical race data provides valuable insights into team performances and trends that could influence future races. By examining past results, you can identify patterns such as how certain teams perform under specific weather conditions or track layouts.

Advanced metrics like lap times, pit stop durations and driver consistency are invaluable tools for bettors aiming to gain an advantage. These statistics enable you to evaluate potential outcomes more accurately by understanding how various elements interact during a race.

Balancing risk and reward is crucial when interpreting data for betting purposes. While some bets may seem appealing based on recent performances, it’s important to consider long-term reliability and consistency over fleeting successes. A strategic approach that incorporates both statistical analysis and an understanding of race dynamics will enhance your ability to make sound betting decisions.

The strategic balance of risk and reward

A successful approach to endurance racing betting requires balancing risk with potential reward strategically. Assessing the probability of different outcomes based on available data helps refine your betting strategy while minimizing unnecessary risks.

Effective bankroll management is another essential aspect of maintaining a sustainable betting strategy in endurance racing. Allocating funds wisely across different bets ensures that no single loss significantly impacts your overall finances. Diversifying your bets by exploring various types such as outright winners or fastest laps can also mitigate potential losses.

Ultimately, having a clear understanding of how each bet aligns with your overall strategy helps maintain focus amidst the complexities inherent in endurance racing events. Continual learning through post-race analysis allows you to refine strategies further for future opportunities.

The post Mastering endurance racing betting strategies for the ultimate advantage appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Robert Kubica, one of three newest winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, told media at the post-race press conference that winning the race is a “special day”.

“This one for sure will be emotional,” said the Pole to a packed press conference room in the main pits building at Circuit de la Sarthe.

“Probably now is still a bit of tiredness, adrenaline. Just looking forward to to go and rest a bit and enjoy it.

“But yeah, very special day and for sure didn’t expect it.”

The Pole has personal experience of losing a win at Le Mans on the very last lap of the race. In 2021, Kubica’s debut in the French endurance classic was going well, leading going onto the final lap. But then, disaster struck: the car stopped on the final lap of the race, with Kubica at the wheel, losing the Pole the win.

And, even better: one of his teammates in that race was Yifei Ye, who is also his #83 AF Corse Ferrari teammate who he took the Le Mans win with.

“Of course, is a special day and in winning Le Mans,” he said, the first Pole to win Le Mans overall.

“Since I started being here in 2021, I really enjoyed my first Le Mans, although it ended up in the probably most dramatic way of losing the win in the LMP2 category on the last lap.”

“I really enjoy it and felt like a small kid when I was racing karting. But the difference was that I was already 36 years old. But the emotions that this weekend gave me was something special.”

No celebrating until ‘last possible moment’, says Hanson

Kubica’s teammate, Phil Hanson, shared similar thoughts.

I echo what Robert said,” the Briton told media.

‘The emotions probably haven’t really hit yet.’

‘It’s just a lot of relief at the moment, from those last few minutes. I was actually racing against these two when they broke down on the last lap.

‘So I know Le Mans can break your heart at the last possible moment. So I wasn’t going to celebrate, or let anything out until the car physically crossed the line today.

‘It’s just relief to be honest. Plus the last time these two raced together, they had that issue. I almost thought they were a little bit jinxed.’

The Briton shared the car with Kubica and Ye. Both Hanson and Ye completed nine stints, totalling roughly between 6 hours and 30-40 minutes. Kubica, on the other hand, completed 15 stints — totalling more than 13 hours in the car, more than half the race. For context, the most a driver can do is 14 hours in the race, so Kubica was not far off this at all.

READ MORE: Kubica, Ye and Hanson take victory at Le Mans in yellow #83 Ferrari

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Richard Lietz appreciated the rare feat of a consecutive 24 Hours of Le Mans victory following his 2024 win in a Manthey-run Porsche 911.

“It’s really nice,” he told the media, including Motorsport Week, after the race.

“This doesn’t happen very often in life.

“Manthey did it at the Nordschleife, yes, but I wasn’t part of that group when they were so successful there.

“Now it’s basically my third win with Manthey, and that’s really special.

“We went to the simulator, prepared really well, and spent a bit less time working on setup and more time on driver development.

“That’s something Manthey is doing in DTM as well.

“And I have to say – even though I’m old – I’ve never been this well-prepared for a race in my life.

“I’m 41 years old, but I’m still learning a lot. The preparation the young guys are doing now… It’s a lot of work.

“I still have to process that a bit.”

“To be honest, I think more temperature would have helped us even more,” he said when asked about the race’s cooler conditions than the practice and test day running earlier in the week.

“In the past, we lost engine power when it was hot.

“Now, with the driveshaft measurement, everybody has the same power whether it’s hot or cold.

“… So, I think the cooler temperature may have helped some of the other cars a bit more than it helped us.

“But honestly, it’s also nice when you can push like crazy and the tyres survive. So overall, it was a good temperature for racing.”

Before Lietz, Julien Canal was the last driver to achieve consecutive GT victories in 2012, 2011 and 2010 in Larbre Competition’s Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1.

READ MORE – Richard Lietz secures sixth Le Mans win, back-to-back for Manthey

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