The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the most prestigious endurance race in the world and the toughest in motorsport. Winning at the Circuit de La Sarthe is fantastic, but prevailing two years in a row is extraordinary. After its victory in the Centenary edition last year, Ferrari repeated the feat in 2024 with the 499P. It is the same car but with different drivers. In 2023, Pier Guidi, Calado, and Giovinazzi celebrated on the top step of the podium in the 92nd edition, while this year, their teammates Fuoco, Molina, and Nielsen in the number 50 car could rejoice. Two of the Maranello manufacturer's crews stood on the podium on Sunday, 16 June, a day that will live on in the fans' memories.
Nicklas Nielsen 499P #50: “Fantastic! It really is a dream come true. The victory seemed very difficult for part of the race, even at the end, when we had a problem with the door. But then everything went well. I’m speechless. I’m very proud of everyone. The last lap was very long, impossible to imagine. I worried about avoiding any risks and getting to the finish line as quickly as possible. I just had to manage the lead.”
Antonio Fuoco 499P #50: “We were perfect all weekend, so I think we deserve this victory. It’s been a long wait since last year, so we can enjoy it thoroughly. The result is even better because we finished on the podium with the #51. The atmosphere here is always incredible, starting on the test day when you meet the fans with Ferrari flags. These aspects also provide extra motivation to give your best. Even during the race, at night, with the rain, it was lovely to see a big turnout from the public along the track, in the stands. It’s incredible how much passion you can experience. No words can capture this moment.”
Miguel Molina 499P #50: “We worked hard to achieve this goal. We wanted this victory for a long time. We realised we had a chance to fight for victory, and we gave everything. I am delighted because it’s the best day of my sporting career
Alessandro Pier Guidi 499P #51: “Once again, the Ferrari was the best car at Le Mans. We’ve shown how extraordinary this car is every time we’ve come here. I want to congratulate my teammates: they did an extraordinary job. Our race was tough, but we got on the podium in the end, so having two Ferraris on the podium is fantastic. In the same way, it’s extraordinary to win two years in a row.”
James Calado 499P #51: “I’m extremely happy for Ferrari because they got another win at Le Mans for the second year in a row. It’s a fantastic result for the team. I’m very proud of the entire team and, obviously, of the #50 guys. They deserved this victory; they have been performing and focused throughout this week. From our point of view, it was a tough race. However, we are talking about a podium, which is still an excellent result. A first and a third place for Ferrari is not a bad way to end a day at Le Mans.”
Antonio Giovinazzi 499P #51: “The biggest congratulations must go to Ferrari for winning at Le Mans two years in a row. We are a fantastic team that deserves everything we get at the moment. It’s a shame for us in the 51 because we could have done better. But it’s great this way. We took yet another podium after last year. Getting on that podium here is always a great feeling, especially after a race as long and difficult as this one, with the rain and constantly changing weather. This result allows us to get back into the fight for the championship, which is the most important thing to consider right now. And now all eyes are on the next race.”
John Elkann, Ferrari President: “Our first and third place at Le Mans are a testament to how teamwork allows us to accomplish extraordinary results. I would therefore like to thank everyone who, during these extremely tough 24 hours, have shown courage and great tenacity. It gives me great pleasure that, with this year's and last year's result, all the Ferrari drivers have won at Le Mans – and with them all of Ferrari. Only a very cohesive and committed team could achieve this historic result."
Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Endurance and Corse Clienti “Returning to Le Mans and winning again, achieving the Prancing Horse’s eleventh overall victory in its history, is something extraordinary—the result of tremendous team effort that proves last year’s success was no fluke. Finally, in the fourth round of the 2024 season, where, until now, we hadn’t climbed the top step on the podium, we returned to victory in the most important race of the year—an achievement we are very proud of. I want to thank and congratulate the entire team, the drivers, and everyone who supports this project. Each one plays a vital role based on competence and passion.”
Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Endurance Race Cars: “Humility, passion, and determination were the foundation of this victory. We arrived at Le Mans knowing that we didn’t have the most competitive car, but aware that we could play to our strengths. Over the last few days, starting with the Test Day, we demonstrated the value of the entire team, analysing critical points and finding the best solutions for a good race. In recent months, although we didn’t use any waivers, we focused on our 499P, aiming to improve it in every way. Even in the most challenging moments of the race, we faced every problem with concentration. In the last phase, when it was time to attack, we decided to continue with the Medium tyres despite the risk of rain, capitalising on our 499P’s potential.”