24h Le Mans
Unlike the winners in the three other classes, JMW Motorsport's #84 Ferrari 488 GTE did not have to wait until the very end of the 24 Hours of Le Mans to learn its fate. It took control of the race on Saturday at 10:16 p.m. and never let go.
Like JMW Motorsport's Ferrari, its three underlings do not compete in the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). Consequently, Clearwater Racing's #61 Ferrari 488 GTE, fifth in the LMGTE Am class, marked the 50 points for its win (the 24 Hours of Le Mans counts double) and has taken the lead in the championship's Teams standings.
The car finished ahead of the #98 Aston Martin Vantage that earned 30 points for third place thanks to its eighth place finish at Le Mans, and the #77 Porsche 911 RSR of Dempsey-Proton Racing that ranked sixth while the team's co-owner, actor Patrick Dempsey, watched on.
It may seem strange the Drivers standings do not echo the Teams standings, but it is due to the sporting regulations. Only teams entered in the entire championship are eligible to score points. On the other hand, when an outfit in the championship enters an additional car in a race, those drivers are able to earn points.
Such is the case for the Spirit of Race team who entered a second Ferrari 488 GTE in the 24 Hours of Le Mans but only has one competing in the full season. However, JMW Motorsport, Scuderia Corsa and Beechdean AMR do not participate in the championship. Therefore, the 50 points for the win went to Marco Cioci, Aaron Scott and Duncan Cameron, second in Spirit of Race's #55 Ferrari, whereas Weng Sun Mok, Keita Sawa and Matt Griffin in Clearwater Racing's #61 Ferrari had to settle for 36 points for second place, while improving in the standings.
Drivers in the LMGTE Am class also earn points for the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) GT driver standings, but in the order of the cumulative LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am classifications.
The 6 Hours of Nürburgring, the fourth round of the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), will take place Sunday, July 16th.
PHOTO: Marco Cioci, Duncan Cameron and Aaron Smith (in Spirit of Race's #55 Ferrari 488 GTE) earned points for the win in LMGTE Am even though they finished in second place.
