24h Le Mans
Other than its legendary status in motorsports history, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is also a unique stop on the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) calendar, of which it constitutes the third round.
Photo : Christian VIGNON - ACO
The Le Mans classic thus carries with it a double allocation of points in comparison to other races on the calendar. The goal of WEC competitors in La Sarthe therefore will be to achieve the best possible result.
In prototypes, Toyota (LM P1) and G-Drive Racing (LM P2) - Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps winners - may acquire a decisive lead at the end of the 24 Hours. Audi and its drivers' objective will be to take advantage of the double points in order to make up what they lack…as long as Porsche doesn't win its 17th victory and join Toyota and Audi in the battle for the manufacturer's LM P1 title.
However, things will be a lot tighter in the two GT classes. In LM GTE Pro, only 21 points separate Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin in the manufacturer's rankings, where no less than 11 drivers are grouped within 14 points. In LM GTE Am, a duel between Aston Martin and Ferrari that is shaping up. The "races within a race" that make the 24 Hours of Le Mans and endurance special are proving to be exciting, for the final race result but also with an eye on the five remaining races in the WEC.
The provisional rankings of the different classes can be found at the WEC official website.
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
Photo: FRANCORCHAMPS (PROVINCE OF LIEGE, BELGIUM), CIRCUIT OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, WEC 6 HOURS OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, SATURDAY MAY 3 MAI 2014, RACE. Toyota, Audi and Porsche: the three victory challengers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans all in one image.
