FIA WEC – AF Corse Ferrari Takes Lone Star Le Mans after Toyota Penalty
83 KUBICA Robert (pol), SHWARTZMAN Robert (isr), YE Yifei (chn), AF Corse, Ferrari 499P #83, Hypercar, action celebration during the 2024 Lone Star Star Le Mans, 6th round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, from August 30 to September 1, 2024 on the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, United States of America - Photo Javier Jimenez / DPPI
Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Robert Shwartzman took a first victory of the season for the No.83 AF Corse Ferrari team after a dramatic final hour at COTA saw them win by just 1.7s.
The victory for the yellow Ferrari 499P ensured that there has been six different winners from each of the 2024 FIA WEC rounds so far this season, with just two races remaining on the schedule.
65,089 fans watched the thrilling action unfold at COTA as Shwartzman defended the lead from a flying Kamui Kobayashi in the No.7 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR010 Hypercar and held on to win by just 1.780s, the second closest finish between rival manufacturers in WEC history.
The remarkable finish occurred because former leader Kobayashi was adjudged to have not slowed sufficiently for yellow flags that were deployed to retrieve the stranded Peugeot 9X8 of Paul di Resta late in the race.
That meant the Japanese driver had to complete a drive through penalty meaning he dropped back behind the AF Corse Ferrari of Shwartzman, who then had to stay cool as Kobayashi hunted him down to the chequered flag. The 1.7s gap between the two was the second closest between two rival manufacturers in WEC history.
The yellow AF Corse Ferrari became the first customer Ferrari to win an internationally recognised sportscar race for over 50 years on a day when the Prancing Horse also celebrated winning its home Grand Prix at Monza.
Kubica picked up the lead in the first hour when he overtook pole sitter Antonio Giovinazzi in the No.51 Ferrari 499P. The Italian looked to be a contender until a spin while lapping Stoffel Vandoorne’s Peugeot and then technical issue ended his and teammates James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi’s race.
The sister Ferrari AF Corse 499P Hypercar of Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen and Miguel Molina spent most of the race in third position, which they maintained until the chequered flag. The 15-points ensured that the trio closed in on season long points leaders Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor who finished the race in sixth place.
There was further disappointment for Toyota as the No.8 GR010 Hypercar driven by Sebastien Buemi was given two penalties, the most severe of which was a 30-second stop/go penalty after an on-track altercation with Kevin Estre’s Porsche.
Taking fourth position was home favourites Cadillac Racing as Alex Lynn and Earl Bamber take their best result of the season, while Alpine also claims its best score as the No.35 car of Ferdinand Habsburg, Charles Milesi and Paul-Loup Chatin secure fifth position.
The triumphant No.83 AF Corse Ferrari squad also took the FIA Hypercar World Cup trophy to close the gap to the No.12 Hertz Team Jota team which suffered several technical issues throughout the Lone Star Le Mans.
Victory looked as if it was on its way to Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Nyck de Vries take victory in the No.7 Toyota Gazoo Racing
The Toyota trio, who were set to claim their second win of the season after getting the lead in the fifth hour, saw their hopes dashed when Kobayashi was given a drive-through penalty for not slowing sufficiently for a waved yellow flag to recover the stranded No.94 Peugeot 9X8
Completing the podium and making it a Ferrari 1-3 in Texas was the No.50 Ferrari AF Corse 499P of Miguel Molina, Antonio Fuoco and Nicklas Nielsen
The top six was completed by the Cadillac Racing V-Series.R in fourth, the championship points leading, the No.35 Alpine of Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg and Paul-Loup Chatin and the No.20 BMW M Team WRT car of Robin Frijns, Rene Rast and Sheldon van der Linde
No.6 Porsche Penske of Andre Lotterer, Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor takes seventh and sees its points lead in the title fight reduced
No.8 Toyota is penalised for avoidable contact after controversial incident between Sebastien Buemi and Kevin Estre in No.6 Porsche in penultimate hour
No.38 Hertz Team Jota Porsche 963 of Oliver Rasmussen, Jenson Button and Phil Hanson takes their second FIA World Cup victory in succession
