Ferrari wins 2024 Le Mans 24 Hour

More than 60 cars took to the track for a race against the clock, inclement weather, a tough track and world-class drivers.

Ferrari beat the odds to take back-to-back wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, outlasting dozens of cars in the world’s largest endurance race.

The winning crew of Nicklas Nielsen, Miguel Molina and Antonio Fuoco took the chequered flag while running on fumes, gambling that their hybrid-powered Ferrari could save fuel to eke out a narrow victory from fast-finishing rivals in Toyota and Porsche.

Ferrari won a wild and wet 92nd edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours race. Photo by FRED TANNEAU / AFP

Nielsen ran to the flag in what racer turned commentator Anthony Davison described as “the hardest Le Mans I have ever seen”.

White-hot competition saw the race run at a fierce pace in treacherous conditions. Drivers had to master tricky weather in the day and night, often sliding across a greasy track on slick tyres designed for dry tarmac.

The Ferrari AF Corse, Ferrari 499P of Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen takes the flag at the finishing line to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images

The winning Ferrari crew was joined on the podium by teammates and 2023 Le Mans winners Antonio Giovinazzi, Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado, who finished third.

The Toyota of Jose-Maria Lopez, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries split the Ferraris to finish second.

It was a nervous finish for the Italian marque, which appeared to stretch its fuel strategy to breaking point at the end of the race.

Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen celebrate after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images

A hybrid power failure for a sister Ferrari led by former F1 driver Robert Kubica suggested the machine’s reliability might not be guaranteed.

The Ferraris looked fast from lap one, when the team overhauled the pole-sitting Penske Porsche 963 of Kevin Estre to take the lead.

Poor weather saw the race take place under safety car conditions after midnight and before dawn.

Porsche lacked the pace to take victory. Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images

The Penske Porsche led by Australia’s Matt Campbell fell from contention when teammate Fred Makowiecki was caught on the wrong tyres during a storm, losing almost 10 positions in the first half of the race.

Campbell drove well, passing several cars including former F1 world champion Jenson Button in the latter stages of the race before finishing sixth.

South Australia’s Yasser Shahin won the GT class.

Australia’s Yasser Shahin endured tough conditions to take a GT class win on his event debut.

Shahin said he was “emotional” and “over the moon” with the incredible result.

“What a feeling to do this on your first time,” he said.

“You gave us everything – rain, sun, night – all good.”

Ford's Mustang GT3 finished on the podium at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans. Photo: Supplied

Ford’s new Mustang GT3 joined the Porsche on the podium, securing two of the top five positions in a class for cars based on road-going machines.

Former Bathurst 12 Hour winner Dennis Olsen led Ford’s Mustang charge to finish third.

Originally published as Ferrari wins 2024 Le Mans 24 Hour