Porsche Wins Wild, Unpredictable 24 Hours Of Le Mans

Column By: JOHN DOUGLAS / RPW – LE MANS, FRANCE – In a race that saw just about every imaginable scenario unfold, The No. 2 Porsche factory team of Timo Bernard, Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber took the overall win at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Though that sounds ever-the-norm at the world’s biggest endurance event, the events leading to that win were anything but. This may very well go down as the most shocking race at the famed circuit in Le Sarthe, France in history.

The Toyota brigade brought three machines to Le Mans hoping to make up fo 2016’s heartbreaking loss on the final lap. Running quickly all weekend, the Toyota TS050 cars set new lap records, and as the race got under way, established early dominance.

The No 7. Toyota took the overall lead on the start and pulled away steadily as the race progressed, clicking off fast lap after fast lap with no real signs of stress or fatigue. As the shroud of nightfall befell La Sarthe Toyota held the top two positions overall over the trio of Porsche 919’s entered by Stutgart.

Over recent years endurance racing has somewhat become nothing more than long-tern sprint racing. Teams have been pushing harder and harder every year to the point where now it seems, they’ve gone too far. With just over 14 hours remaining the first big shock came. The No. 7 Toyota leading handily and logging laps, slowed as it entered the Mulsanne straight.

The team tried to nurse the stricken car around the track on electric power. The hybrid system needed to carry the machine less than one lap back to the pit area for repairs. Unfortunately, the hybrid system just didn’t have enough to bring the car home and the No 7 was out. Kamui Kobayashi exited his car and waved to fans as he walked to the marshall’s station dejected. Two years of heartbreak in a row for Toyota No. 7 was evident on the face of Akio Toyoda, CEO of Toyota.

Just as Toyota began to recover from the loss of No. 7, the unimaginable happened. With Porsche’s team down to just one contender after their No. 2 car sat in the pits for over an hour receiving repairs, it seemed Toyota could pace themselves with the No.9 machine to pick up the win. Again assumptions were wrong. Just 17 minutes after the No. 7 came to its final resting place the No. 9 followed suit. Slowing just after the Mulsanne Straight, the No. 9 also tried to crawl back to the pit lane on electric power only to come up 200 meters short.

Now it was Porsche No. 1’s time at the front of the field. P2 cars running 2nd and 3rd, the Porsche simply needed a clean run to the checkers to solidify Porsche’s 2nd win in as many years. It wasn’t meant to be. Just as with the Toyota’s the Jno 1 Porsche slowed as he entered Mulsanne and began the seemingly impossible task of getting back to the pit on electric power only. Again try as they may, the car failed to reach its destination and was retired.

P2 machines now held all three places on the overall podium. Something never before seen in Le Mans history. Porsche however weren’t to keen on things staying that way, and they had one final bullet in the gun. In a display of true prowess and resolve, Porsche No 2. caught the leading Jackie Chan DC Racing leading P2 competitor and retook the overall lead with just 49 minutes remaining.

Somehow the fireworks show that was the 24 Hours of Le Mans decided it needed a fitting finale. With the overall race looking sewn up by the Porsche team’s unbelievable comeback, focus shifted to the GTE Pro class race, which was neck and neck all race long. Most competitors were still on the lead lap as the race approached half way.

The No. 63 Corvette with American driver Jordan Taylor looked to cross the line for yet another Le Mans victory in the history of the factory teams effort as they led in the final stages of the No. 97 Aston Martin. The to two were in a proper dog fight for the top spot as they headed onto the final lap line astern. As the duo entered the Mulsanne straight for the final time, Taylor fended off the advances of the Aston but something went wrong.

Forced to bail into the gravel trap at the first chicane, Taylor drove through the trap to the inside of the corner. At the next chicane it happened again. A tire was slowly deflating and there was only desperation left. Taylor attempted through another three corners to hold on to the machine and nurse it home in the top spot but it wasn’t meant to be. The No. 97 Aston went on to claim the class victory.

In a cruel final blow to their winning chances, as the Corvette came through the Ford chicanes to take the checkered flag, the leading Ford GT snaked by grabbing second place in class with the finish line in sight.

After the race, both Toyota and Porsche team members expressed disbelief in the outcome of the event, and Toyota in particular questioned the ability of hybrid systems to be used in a “limp to home” mode. For the Toyota team it’s 365 days of wondering whether they can win, or even if they should compete again. For Porsche its relief and excitement knowing that the German manufacturer has racked up it’s 19th win at Le Mans.

*Update: The No 31. Rebellion which finished second place in the P2 category was found to have an illegal body modification by ACO officials during post race scrutineer. A small hole on the right side rear body work caught the ire of officials leading to the decision to penalize the team. However a second penalty was also placed on the team as they were found to have worked on the car in some form as the cars sat in Parc Ferme.

The Rebellion team will appeal the ACO’s findings but at this time the car has lost its finishing place making the P2 team of Jackie Chan DC racing not only the P2 class winner, but the second place finisher as well.

Further updates will be available as they are released.

Full race results are available here: http://assets.lemans.org/explorer/pdf/courses/2017/24-heures-du-mans/classification/race/24-heures-du-mans-2017-final-classification-summary.pdf