Way OT: Toyota snatches defeat from the jaws of victory at Le Mans
The #5 Toyota had a 90 second lead on the #2 Porsche in the LMP1 (Prototype 1) class going into the final lap.
And their car turned off.
Couldn't get it restarted in time, fell from first place down to 45th (finished, but only technically). Porsche takes the trophy for the 18th time.
In happier news, the #68 new Ford GT beat out the #82 Ferarri 488 for their divisioon (GTE Pro), echoing the Ford GT's victory 50 years ago. And in third and fourth within the GTE Pro? #66 and #69 Ford GT's. Darn close to a 1-2-3 podium for Ford.
I need to read up on this - that is just stupid for Toyota.
It wasn't their fault. Just absolutely the worst luck I've seen in a long time. Like...since October last year bad luck.
I think this counts as "18 years getting actual 1st place" regardless of category, and I was mistaken and will edit the post accordingly:
Porsche won its 18th 24 Hours of Le Mans as a constructor today.
I believe that's correct.
And no worries. :)
Time for another Toyata recall.
...well done.
Someone in the commentstream I was in pointed out "it's a strange new world we live in where a Toyota breaks down and a Ford does not."
Like the new version of a certain commercial says, "If you want to catch a Prius, you've got to be a Prius."
It sounds like Toyota did not take its own advice on this one. Someone clearly was not a Prius at this race and it cost them dearly.
It's interesting you say that, because technically the point of these prototype chassis are to act as a testbed for company technology, which will eventually trickle down into production vehicles.
And seeing as the Toyota team was running a hybrid engine...put 2+2 together there ;)
Yup, I'm reading that too.
Very strange, I would have thought it could at least still *run* without a turbocharger -- how many Subi's around A2 have blown their turbos...
Your statement gives some credence to my claim that the LMP's really are prototypes for production car technology.
I come from a racing family (my Dad raced sports cars against Roger Penske and Dan Gurney in the early '60s), and I'm old enough to remember when the Ford GTs won at Le Mans in 1966, beating the long-dominant Ferraris. It was quite a phenomenon at the time.
Beautiful cars. Good to see them back.
There is a lot of unnecessary controversy, I guess some other teams are salty that the Ford GT is a supercar pretty much purpose built to beat the 488.
Most other cars (corvettes, Aston Martins...) are road cars (albeit expensive ones) that are just heavily modified.
There's also commentary on "sandbagging" and that the Ford GT had Balance of Performance changes last-minute. But so did the Ferrari 488s *shrug* I'm pretty happy with the result, and don't care about the rather faux controversy.
Ask me about the first Kentucky Derby, before they even had cars you young whipper snapper.
So how about that time back in 83 when the chariot races at the Circus Maximus were shrouded in controversy due to a horse-feeding scandal?
Oh yeah. That was in -83.
I don't really remember much about it.
I was just a kid.
One of my favorite sports memories from when I was a kid, and watching Gurney and Foyt win the next LeMans in '67 was up there too.
Again showing Ferrari who's boss
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is smiling.
As is Carroll Shelby.
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