Le Mans 24h, H18: Porsche surges ahead of Toyota as safety car returns

The factory #6 Porsche Penske 963 of Laurens Vanthoor was circulating a few seconds clear of the #8 Toyota GR010 HYBRID driven by Ryo Hirakawa after 18 hours of racing at Le Mans, with marshals still replacing the barriers at Indianapolis under the caution period.

Heart of Racing driver Daniel Mancinelli was being lapped by the #51 Ferrari LMH car when the Italian lost control of the #27 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 on his own and slammed heavily into the barriers, with his car going airborne and landing upside down on the track.

Mancinelli walked away unscathed from the crash, but the safety car had to be deployed to recover the car and replace the tyre barriers at the inside of the banked left-hander.

The #6 Porsche of Vanthoor was leading the race by 18s when the safety car bunched the field back up, having jumped the #8 Toyota in the previous round of pitstops.

Ironically, it was a crash for the sister #4 Penske car that helped Vanthoor circle into the lead, with the Belgian pitting under a slow zone caused when Felipe Nasr lost the rear-end of his 963 on slick tyres into Indianapolis. The incident put the additional Penske-run IMSA entry out of the race, with Nasr getting out of the car due to heavy damage.

The #8 Toyota had been leading the Hypercar class until that point, with Hirakawa having made a clean restart in the 17th hour after the racing finally resumed after a four-hour safety car period.

#8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 - Hybrid: Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

Hirakawa had pitted a few laps before Nasr’s off in green conditions, but was still running a comfortable second ahead of the sister #7 car driven by Nyck de Vries.

De Vries was the first Hypercar runner to switch to slick tyres as he was already due to make a pitstop, having been running out of kilter with its rivals. However, that also meant that he had to return to the pitlane under the safety car for more fuel and dropped down the order.

The #2 Cadillac was the main beneficiary as Earl Bamber assumed third place, but he is yet to complete his pitstop. Fourth place is being held by the #5 Porsche of Frederic Makowiecki, who fended off Robert Shwartzman in the #83 AF Corse Ferrari before the safety car period.

The #50 Ferrari of Antonio Fuoco was running right behind the duo and continues to hold sixth, ahead of the #7 Toyota now driven by de Vries’ team-mate Kamui Kobayashi.

The LMP2 class featured a number of changes in the last three hours, as the order shuffled during every pitstop phase.

At the end of hour 18, Ben Barnicoat was back in front in the #183 AF Corse ORECA, ahead of the #22 United Autosports car now driven by Oliver Jarvis.

#3 Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-SeriesR: Sebastien Bourdais, Renger Van Der Zande, Scott Dixon, #183 AF Corse Oreca 07: Gibson: Francois Perrodo, Ben Barnicoat, Nicolas Varrone

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

Vector Sport also made headways after putting platinum-rated Patrick Pilet in the car, while the #37 Cool Racing dropped to fourth as Lorenzo Fluxa took over.

In LMGT3, the class-leading #92 Manthey PureRxcing Porsche 911 GT3 R dropped out of contention with gearbox issues, as Klaus Bachler brought the car into the garage shortly after the race went green again. It took 24 minutes for the German squad to fix the problem, which meant it lost five laps and in the lower regions of the top 20.

The sister #91 Manthey EMA Porsche of Richard Lietz took over the baton from Bachler, but dropped to third late in the 18th hour after making a pitstop.

That put Gregoire Saucy ahead in the #59 United Autosports McLaren 720S GT3, ahead of the #87 ASP Lexus RC F GT3 of Jack Hawksworth.

2024 Le Mans 24 Hours - Hour 18 results

POS	#	STATUS	CLASS	TEAM	DRIVER	CAR	LAPS	GAPS	INT	LAST	BEST	SPD	PITS
1	6	RUN	Hypercar H	PORSCHE PENSKE MOTORSPORT	VANTHOOR Laurens	Porsche 963	221	-	-	7:31.491	3:29.566	333.89	20
2	8	RUN	Hypercar H	TOYOTA GAZOO RACING	HIRAKAWA Ryo	Toyota GR010 - Hybrid	221	1.386	1.386	7:31.546	3:29.519	339.12	20
3	2	RUN	Hypercar H	CADILLAC RACING	BAMBER Earl	Cadillac V-Series.R	221	2:25.244	2:24.266	7:31.886	3:30.377	337.01	20
4	5	RUN	Hypercar H	PORSCHE PENSKE MOTORSPORT	MAKOWIECKI Frédéric	Porsche 963	221	2:26.548	1.304	7:31.945	3:30.825	335.96	16
5	83	RUN	Hypercar H	AF CORSE	SHWARTZMAN Robert	Ferrari 499P	221	2:30.160	3.612	7:29.350	3:29.922	341.26	19
6	50	RUN	Hypercar H	FERRARI AF CORSE	FUOCO Antonio	Ferrari 499P	221	2:31.051	0.891	7:29.298	3:29.208	339.12	19
7	7	OUT	Hypercar H	TOYOTA GAZOO RACING	KOBAYASHI Kamui	Toyota GR010 - Hybrid	221	2:35.656	4.605	7:25.517	3:29.802	344.52	23
8	12	RUN	Hypercar H	HERTZ TEAM JOTA	NATO Norman	Porsche 963	220	4:29.952	1 lap	7:31.033	3:30.663	342.34	19
9	38	RUN	Hypercar H	HERTZ TEAM JOTA	BUTTON Jenson	Porsche 963	220	4:32.016	2.064	7:31.071	3:29.899	335.96	21
10	3	RUN	Hypercar H	CADILLAC RACING	DIXON Scott	Cadillac V-Series.R	220	4:37.587	5.136	7:31.184	3:30.325	334.92	20
11	51	RUN	Hypercar H	FERRARI AF CORSE	CALADO James	Ferrari 499P	220	4:42.003	8.593	9:48.632	3:29.635	340.19	21
12	19	RUN	Hypercar H	LAMBORGHINI IRON LYNX	CALDARELLI Andrea	Lamborghini SC63	219	2 laps	1 lap	7:31.961	3:31.091	338.06	18
13	94	RUN	Hypercar H	PEUGEOT TOTALENERGIES	DI RESTA Paul	Peugeot 9X8	219	4:32.928	4.411	7:30.744	3:31.701	343.43	22
14	311	RUN	Hypercar H	WHELEN CADILLAC RACING	DERANI Luis Felipe	Cadillac V-Series.R	219	4:33.988	0.827	7:30.764	3:30.717	335.96	19
15	93	RUN	Hypercar H	PEUGEOT TOTALENERGIES	MÜLLER Nico	Peugeot 9X8	219	4:35.201	1.213	7:30.555	3:31.130	341.26	21
16	63	RUN	Hypercar H	LAMBORGHINI IRON LYNX	MORTARA Edoardo	Lamborghini SC63	219	1 lap	3:04.674	7:32.215	3:30.730	334.92	18
17	99	IN	Hypercar H	PROTON COMPETITION	JANI Neel	Porsche 963	216	5 laps	3 laps	7:32.257	3:30.311	334.92	21
18	11	RUN	Hypercar H	ISOTTA FRASCHINI	VERNAY Jean-Karl	Isotta Fraschini Tipo6-C	215	7:26.811	1 lap	7:31.555	3:33.165	341.26	22
19	4	STOP	Hypercar H	PORSCHE PENSKE MOTORSPORT	NASR Felipe	Porsche 963	211	10 laps	4 laps	3:59.082	3:30.994	344.52	24
20	183	RUN	LM P2 P/A	AF CORSE	BARNICOAT Ben	Oreca 07 - Gibson	211	2:23.796	45:22.724	7:30.709	3:38.364	314.48	21
21	22	RUN	LM P2	UNITED AUTOSPORTS	JARVIS Oliver	Oreca 07 - Gibson	210	11 laps	1 lap	7:31.441	3:38.284	318.18	21
22	10	RUN	LM P2	VECTOR SPORT	PILET Patrick	Oreca 07 - Gibson	210	4:43.506	9.419	9:45.024	3:39.240	316.32	24
23	37	RUN	LM P2	COOL RACING	FLUXA Lorenzo	Oreca 07 - Gibson	210	4:46.661	3.155	9:49.494	3:39.192	318.18	22
24	34	RUN	LM P2	INTER EUROPOL COMPETITION	SMIECHOWSKI Jakub	Oreca 07 - Gibson	210	2.774	2:57.631	10:09.545	3:39.309	317.24	22
25	28	RUN	LM P2	IDEC SPORT	VAN UITERT Job	Oreca 07 - Gibson	210	3.480	0.706	10:21.951	3:38.890	320.06	23
26	14	RUN	LM P2 P/A	AO BY TF	DELÉTRAZ Louis	Oreca 07 - Gibson	209	12 laps	1 lap	7:31.082	3:38.316	317.24	20
27	33	RUN	LM P2 P/A	DKR ENGINEERING	HÖRR Laurents	Oreca 07 - Gibson	209	11 laps	2:59.426	7:32.014	3:40.774	317.24	23
28	25	RUN	LM P2	ALGARVE PRO RACING	CALDWELL Olli	Oreca 07 - Gibson	208	12 laps	1 lap	7:31.594	3:38.378	319.12	21
29	65	RUN	LM P2 P/A	PANIS RACING	BECHE Mathias	Oreca 07 - Gibson	208	13 laps	2:31.675	7:29.416	3:38.517	319.12	26
30	47	RUN	LM P2 P/A	COOL RACING	VESTI Frederik	Oreca 07 - Gibson	205	16 laps	3 laps	7:31.024	3:38.888	316.32	21
31	24	RUN	LM P2	NIELSEN RACING	SIMPSON Kyffin	Oreca 07 - Gibson	205	2:23.072	5:21.969	7:31.406	3:39.004	319.12	22
32	85	RUN	LMGT3	IRON DAMES	GATTING Michelle	Lamborghini Huracan LMGT3 Evo2	199	22 laps	6 laps	7:31.420	4:00.546	294.77	18
33	59	RUN	LMGT3	UNITED AUTOSPORTS	SAUCY Grégoire	McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo	199	4:36.420	1.830	7:30.762	3:59.661	292.38	21
34	87	RUN	LMGT3	AKKODIS ASP TEAM	HAWKSWORTH Jack	Lexus RC F LMGT3	199	4:37.388	0.968	7:30.658	3:59.064	295.57	20
35	91	RUN	LMGT3	MANTHEY EMA	LIETZ Richard	Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3	199	4:38.792	1.404	7:29.459	3:57.435	299.67	20
36	31	RUN	LMGT3	TEAM WRT	GELAEL Sean	BMW M4 LMGT3	199	4:41.206	2.414	7:27.811	3:58.663	294.77	20
37	95	RUN	LMGT3	UNITED AUTOSPORTS	SATO Marino	McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo	199	4.636	3:04.558	10:25.466	3:59.736	296.38	20
38	78	RUN	LMGT3	AKKODIS ASP TEAM	VAN DER LINDE Kelvin	Lexus RC F LMGT3	199	5.203	0.567	10:10.425	4:00.236	287.71	22
39	88	RUN	LMGT3	PROTON COMPETITION	RODA Giorgio	Ford Mustang LMGT3	199	6.142	0.939	10:25.800	3:59.224	295.57	21
40	44	RUN	LMGT3	PROTON COMPETITION	MIES Christopher	Ford Mustang LMGT3	199	2:27.350	2:22.436	7:29.507	3:59.602	291.59	20
41	86	RUN	LMGT3	GR RACING	SERRA Daniel	Ferrari 296 LMGT3	198	23 laps	1 lap	7:31.479	3:58.466	295.57	20
42	55	RUN	LMGT3	VISTA AF CORSE	MANN Simon	Ferrari 296 LMGT3	198	4:44.307	20.861	9:52.599	3:58.870	295.57	22
43	777	RUN	LMGT3	D'STATION RACING	BASTARD Erwan	Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3	198	1.520	2:57.408	7:30.395	3:59.215	288.48	20
44	155	RUN	LMGT3	SPIRIT OF RACE	TAYLOR Jordan	Ferrari 296 LMGT3	198	2:29.525	2:28.265	7:29.026	3:57.429	290.03	19
45	82	RUN	LMGT3	TF SPORT	JUNCADELLA Daniel	Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R	197	24 laps	1 lap	7:30.069	3:58.539	293.97	20
46	27	STOP	LMGT3	HEART OF RACING TEAM	MANCINELLI Daniel	Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3	196	25 laps	1 lap	5:09.306	3:58.793	289.25	17
47	70	RUN	LMGT3	INCEPTION RACING	IRIBE Brendan	McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo	195	26 laps	28:06.433	7:31.524	3:58.209	291.59	21
48	92	RUN	LMGT3	MANTHEY PURERXCING	BACHLER Klaus	Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3	194	27 laps	1 lap	9:44.739	3:58.075	292.38	21
49	81	RUN	LMGT3	TF SPORT	EASTWOOD Charlie	Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R	191	30 laps	3 laps	4:20.475	3:59.755	290.03	21
50	60	OUT	LMGT3	IRON LYNX	SCHIAVONI Claudio	Lamborghini Huracan LMGT3 Evo2	186	35 laps	4 laps	7:37.821	3:58.910	294.77	18
51	23	RUN	LM P2 P/A	UNITED AUTOSPORTS USA	ALBUQUERQUE Filipe	Oreca 07 - Gibson	186	7:25.226	2:44.817	7:31.282	3:39.039	318.18	23
52	77	RUN	LMGT3	PROTON COMPETITION	ROBICHON Zacharie	Ford Mustang LMGT3	146	75 laps	40 laps	7:31.436	3:57.562	293.97	15
53	20	IN	Hypercar H	BMW M TEAM WRT	VAN DER LINDE Sheldon	BMW M HYBRID V8	92	129 laps	54 laps	4:01.774	3:31.115	338.06	10
54	45	Ret	LM P2 P/A	CROWDSTRIKE RACING BY APR	BRAUN Colin	Oreca 07 - Gibson	149	72 laps	0.000	3:51.309	3:39.091	317.24	16
55	66	Ret	LMGT3	JMW MOTORSPORT	YOLUC Salih	Ferrari 296 LMGT3	112	108 laps	36 laps	4:26.952	3:58.162	291.59	14
56	30	STOP	LM P2 P/A	DUQUEINE TEAM	SIMMENAUER Jean-Baptiste	Oreca 07 - Gibson	112	109 laps	0.000	4:30.635	3:39.099	318.18	14
57	46	STOP	LMGT3	TEAM WRT	AL HARTHY Ahmad	BMW M4 LMGT3	109	112 laps	3 laps	5:51.684	3:59.663	295.57	10
58	15	STOP	Hypercar H	BMW M TEAM WRT	VANTHOOR Dries	BMW M HYBRID V8	102	119 laps	6 laps	4:00.411	3:29.517	341.26	10
59	36	Ret	Hypercar H	ALPINE ENDURANCE TEAM	LAPIERRE Nicolas	Alpine A424	88	133 laps	14 laps	5:06.414	3:30.577	340.19	10
60	9	STOP	LM P2	PROTON COMPETITION	RIED Jonas	Oreca 07 - Gibson	86	135 laps	1 lap	3:45.151	3:38.781	315.39	10
61	35	STOP	Hypercar H	ALPINE ENDURANCE TEAM	HABSBURG Ferdinand	Alpine A424	75	146 laps	11 laps	3:32.320	3:30.848	338.06	8
62	54	STOP	LMGT3	VISTA AF CORSE	FLOHR Thomas	Ferrari 296 LMGT3	30	191 laps	45 laps	4:03.825	3:59.650	294.77	3