Cadillac Takes the Lead in the 24 Hours of Le Mans After Six Hours
The No. 38 Hertz Jota Cadillac leads the 24 Hours of Le Mans after six hours, with BMW and Toyota close behind.
Key Takeaways
- The No. 38 Hertz Jota Cadillac leads the 24 Hours of Le Mans after six hours.
- The No. 20 WRT BMW and No. 8 Toyota TR010 are close behind, with the BMW having completed one less pit stop.
- The No. 15 BMW, which inherited the pole after the No. 38 Cadillac was penalized, has fallen a lap down after battling back to a fight for the podium.
- Toyota’s strategy of undercutting the field with both the No. 8 and No. 7 TR010 Hybrids has paid off, with the No. 8 crew currently running second.
- The Ferraris are struggling, with the No. 51 crew experiencing trouble due to contact and poor qualifying for the customer entry and defending Le Mans winning No. 83.
The Cadillac Takes the Lead
In my experience, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a race that can be won or lost in the first few hours. The No. 38 Hertz Jota Cadillac has taken the lead after six hours, with the No. 20 WRT BMW and No. 8 Toyota TR010 close behind.
The Cadillac’s lead is due in part to the No. 15 BMW’s misfortune. The No. 15 BMW, which inherited the pole after the No. 38 Cadillac was penalized, has fallen a lap down after battling back to a fight for the podium.
Despite the setback, the BMW is still in contention, with the No. 20 WRT BMW running second and the No. 12 Hertz Jota Cadillac running fourth.
Toyota’s Strategy Pays Off
Toyota’s decision to undercut the field with both the No. 8 and No. 7 TR010 Hybrids has paid off, with the No. 8 crew currently running second.
The No. 7 TR010 crew, however, is struggling in the Hypercar midfield due to not having the same luck with clean air as its sister team, and a slow puncture caused by debris picked up after contact between the No. 51 Ferrari 499P and an LMP2 car.
The No. 8 TR010 crew, on the other hand, has executed a driver swap and is currently running second, just behind the No. 38 Cadillac.
The BMWs’ Different Strategy
The lead BMW has more or less fallen in line with the Toyota strategy, partially by taking advantage of an FCY in the third hour to grab a splash of power on an emergency pit stop.
“We’re running a very different race than the Caddy at the moment,” Sheldon van der Linde said. “So it’s quite frustrating to see them coming. But we also know that we have to stick to our plan. I couldn’t defend, I don’t know who was in the car that passed me because we were on a completely different strategy.”
The BMWs’ strategy is clearly different from the Cadillac’s, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out over the remaining 18 hours of the race.
The Ferraris’ Struggles
The Ferraris are struggling, with the No. 51 crew experiencing trouble due to contact and poor qualifying for the customer entry and defending Le Mans winning No. 83.
The No. 50 is in the best spot for the Italian squad and was running fifth before a driver-swap stop, it now runs sixth behind its teammate the No. 51 but with a pitcycle ahead.
It’s clear that the Ferraris are not having the best day, and it will be a challenge for them to recover and contend for the win.
Genesis Magma Racing’s Strong Debut
In their first attempt at Le Mans and third-ever WEC race, Genesis Magma Racing has shown pace and, lap by lap, is better than the Aston Martins and Peugeot running 13th and 15th at the end of the sixth hour.
This is a strong debut for the team, and it will be interesting to see how they continue to perform over the remainder of the race.
| Pos | Car | Laps |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No. 38 Hertz Jota Cadillac | 101 |
| 2 | No. 20 WRT BMW | 101 |
| 3 | No. 8 Toyota TR010 | 100 |
| 4 | No. 12 Hertz Jota Cadillac | 100 |
| 5 | No. 51 Ferrari 499P | 99 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is currently leading the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
A: The No. 38 Hertz Jota Cadillac is currently leading the 24 Hours of Le Mans after six hours.
Q: What is Toyota’s strategy for the race?
A: Toyota’s strategy is to undercut the field with both the No. 8 and No. 7 TR010 Hybrids, which has paid off so far.
Q: Which team is struggling the most?
A: The Ferraris are struggling the most, with the No. 51 crew experiencing trouble due to contact and poor qualifying for the customer entry and defending Le Mans winning No. 83.
