How Ferrari overcame multiple threats to defend its Le Mans crown

As the golden age of sportscar racing hit its stride at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, Ferrari defended its crown against biggest challenger Toyota – albeit with the #50 taking the spoils this time around. But the Italian manufacturer needed to overcome numerous threats and trouble at a wet and wild Circuit de la Sarthe to achieve its historic feat

A Ferrari victory, a narrow one over Toyota. A late problem in the pits for the former and one on track for the latter. It all sounds familiar. Yet the 92nd running of the Le Mans 24 Hours wasn’t quite a repeat of last year’s centenary edition of the World Endurance Championship blue riband. This wasn’t just a two-car fight. The new golden era of sportscar racing has really kicked on this season, and the French enduro produced a multi-marque battle through its duration.

Ferrari notched up its 11th outright victory in the big race but there were an unprecedented number of entries on the lead lap and in with sniff of victory as the clock ticked down to 4pm. Four manufacturers - Ferrari, Toyota, Porsche and Cadillac - provided nine cars to be precise. To put that into context, never have more than two cars been in the hunt at the start of the final lap of the majestic 8.47-mile Circuit de la Sarthe.

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Author Gary Watkins

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.