Toyota Gazoo Racing secured the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Manufacturers' title with a thrilling victory at the 8 Hours of Bahrain. The #8 Toyota, driven by Sébastien Buemi, Ryō Hirakawa, and Brendon Hartley, claimed the top spot, solidifying Toyota's dominance in the series. While Toyota celebrated its championship, Porsche's Kévin Estre, André Lotterer, and Laurens Vanthoor secured the FIA Hypercar World Endurance Drivers' Championship.
A dramatic turn of events unfolded for Ferrari. The Italian team initially finished second with its 499P, driven by Antonio Giovinazzi, James Calado, and Alessandro Pier Guidi. However, a post-race penalty for exceeding the maximum tire allocation relegated them to 14th position. This penalty elevated the #5 Porsche Penske Motorsport car to second and the #93 Team Peugeot TotalEnergies entry to third in the final standings. The penalty also had a significant impact on the championship standings, as Ferrari's hopes for a strong finish to the season were dashed.
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WEC 2024: LMGT3
AF Corse's Ferrari 296 GT3, driven by Alessio Rovera, Simon Mann, and François Hériau, clinched a thrilling victory in the LMGT3 class at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Italian team edged out TF Sport's Corvette Z06 LMGT3R by a mere 3.022 seconds, securing a hard-fought win.
TF Sport's Corvette, initially led by Tom Van Rompuy, challenged the dominant United Autosport McLarens. Despite facing setbacks, the Corvette remained a strong contender. However, a strategic move by Rovera, capitalizing on a battle between Alex Riberas and Rahel Frey, propelled the Ferrari into the lead.
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Charlie Eastwood, driving for TF Sport, fought fiercely, briefly reclaiming the lead from Rovera in a thrilling side-by-side duel. Despite a late push, Eastwood couldn't close the gap, allowing Rovera to secure the victory.
Juncadella, driving for Iron Lynx, finished third after defending against Matteo Cairoli's Lamborghini.
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