AF Corse Ferrari wins at Lone Star Le Mans after Toyota penalty

At Circuit of the Americas, the AF Corse Ferrari team secured their first victory of the season at Lone Star Le Mans, marking the sixth different winner in the 2024 WEC season. The team, composed of Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, and Robert Shwartzman, won by just 1.7 seconds after a highly contested final hour of the race.

Penalty for Toyota decides the outcome

More than 65,000 fans watched as Shwartzman, in the yellow Ferrari 499P, maintained the lead ahead of Kamui Kobayashi from Toyota Gazoo Racing. Kobayashi was penalized for not slowing down under yellow flags, which cost him the lead. This penalty allowed Shwartzman to stay ahead and cross the finish line first, in what was one of the closest finishes between rival manufacturers in WEC history.

Ferrari celebrates double victory on a historic day

This victory was notable for Ferrari, as they celebrated their first win in an internationally recognized endurance race in over 50 years. Additionally, Ferrari also won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on the same day.

Leadership changes throughout the race

The lead changed several times during the race, with Kubica taking the lead in the first hour after overtaking pole sitter Antonio Giovinazzi. However, an incident with Stoffel Vandoorne's Peugeot and technical problems forced Giovinazzi and his teammates, James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi, out of the race.

The second Ferrari secures a podium finish

The second AF Corse Ferrari, driven by Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen, and Miguel Molina, finished in third place, securing a solid position on the podium. This result puts them closer to the championship leaders, Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer, and Laurens Vanthoor, who finished in sixth place.

Toyota's struggles during the race

Toyota also faced difficulties with their other car, the No.8, driven by Sébastien Buemi, who received two penalties, including a 30-second stop-and-go for an on-track incident with Kevin Estre's Porsche.

Cadillac and Alpine achieve their best results

Cadillac Racing achieved their best result of the season by finishing fourth, while the Alpine team, with the No.35 car, scored their best points of the season by finishing fifth.

LMGT3 victory for Heart of Race Team

In the LMGT3 category, Heart of Race Team achieved their first WEC victory with the Aston Martin Vantage AMR. Alex Riberas, Ian James, and Daniel Mancinelli led from start to finish, ending with a 20.5-second margin over the rest of the field. This victory was also the first for an American team in the category, highlighting the performance of the Aston Martin Vantage.

Incidents and penalties in LMGT3

On the other hand, the race was marked by several incidents, including the early retirement of the Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 due to technical issues. In the same category, the Iron Dames Lamborghini and the TF Sport Corvette collided, resulting in damage to both vehicles and a penalty for the Lamborghini.