2016 24 Hours of Le Mans

[mav1178]

http://live.fiawec.com

More than halfway into the race, Toyota leading Porsche by 50 seconds.

The Toyota Le Mans drought may finally be over this year...

[mav1178]

holy hell... not sure who actually saw the end of the race.

Toyota No.5 lead the last few hours of the race, trading leads only when pit stops were staggered.

On the very last lap, the car lost power on the front straight.

Porsche No.2 collects an overall win. Ford wins in its return to Le Mans.

Toyota No.5 crosses the line in 2nd place. Edit: and now they aren't even classified in 2nd place because ACO rules stipulate you must cross the finish line within 6 minutes of the checkered flag being waved.

[ScoobsMcGee]

I was watching the Ford stream so had a narrowed view, but both Le Mans and Nurburgring had rather exciting finishes this year.

For GTE Pro, I really hope the 82 Ferrari isn't DQ'd due to a failure to fix the lead light. While I was rooting for Ford, that would feel like a hollow way to sweep the podium. 1, 3, 4 isn't bad at all.

[sqd]

I watched the first two-three hours of the race, then at around the halfway mark, and the last hour today. I feel so damn sorry for Toyota, to come that fucking close, and lose pretty much on the last lap, two minutes to go. Goddamn..

[Rampage]

Toyota's streak of failing in top tier auto racing continues. I really thought they had it.

Congratulations to Ford for accomplishing what they set out to do.

[mav1178]

[ame]https://twitter.com/Porsche/status/744572580380696576[/ame]

https://www.facebook.com/JoestRacing...57096768990192

[Deep Six]

Special thanks to Fox Sports Network for making an unscheduled move from FS1 to FS2 with an hour and a half left. Makes a DVR useless.

[Vracer111]

Dang....so close this year. I followed the start and throughout the day yesterday on Ford's live feed. Was thinking about paying for the official Le Mans 24 feed (only like $11) but was busy doing things and knew I'd be driving to relatives this morning.

Good job Ford, maybe next time Toyota...

[mav1178]

Race highlights

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmvXF0smtks"]2016 24 Hours of Le Mans - All race Highlights - YouTube[/ame]

[mav1178]

and for those not-so-die-hard fans, here's why the No.5 Toyota was excluded:

10.15 Conditions for classifications
To be classified, a car must:
d) When 75 % of the time of the race has elapsed: at least 50 %
of the distance achieved by the car leading the race under pain of
exclusion;
e) Taking the last lap in a time inferior to 6 minutes (start/finish
line-start/finish line or pit exit loop-start/finish line), except in case
of "force majeure" at Stewards’ discretion.
It is forbidden to stop on the track to wait for the presentation of
the chequered flag.

[mav1178]

http://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/en/detail/12476843/

Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Corporation
From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank everyone who lent us their incredible support during this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. We of Toyota GAZOO Racing put tremendous pressure on ourselves to break our losing streak at Le Mans and fought so hard to make up for the unfortunate results of the past. All of the mechanics, engineers, drivers, suppliers, and everyone else involved with the team made incredible sacrifices and achieved constant improvements to build an even-better car for this year's Le Mans. Just as our dreams began to come true, we all made to burn that moment into our minds even as unbelievable heartbreak unfolded before our very eyes. Toyota's cars have become so fast and so strong. But Porsche grew even faster and they were stronger. Throughout the 24 hours of the race―and, indeed, the 30 total hours including qualifying―it is not such an easy thing to continue to drive faster and more powerfully than anyone else on the road at Le Mans. When I think of what everyone in the team must be feeling… not to mention everyone who supported us… I honestly do not know what to say. I cannot find the words. We at Toyota GAZOO Racing are "sore losers." We do not compete without knowing the feeling of loss. Having tasted the true bitterness of losing, we will return to the World Endurance Championship arena next year, and we will return to compete in the battle that is the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For our quest to build ever-better cars… For this, we will certainly come back to the roads of Le Mans. I would like to express my gratitude to all of the cars and drivers who fought alongside us on the track at Le Mans; particularly Porsche and Audi. We will be back next year, reborn, and ready to take you on with all of our might. Look out for the "sore losers," Toyota, on the track next year. The fight is not over!

[IPGJames]

It was heartbreaking to watch what happened to Toyota...they deserved the win this year.

[krayzie]

Now idiotic Porsche fanboys can claim that their cars are more reliable than Toyotas.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by ScoobsMcGee

For GTE Pro, I really hope the 82 Ferrari isn't DQ'd due to a failure to fix the lead light. While I was rooting for Ford, that would feel like a hollow way to sweep the podium. 1, 3, 4 isn't bad at all.

Of interest:

Both 1st and 2nd in GTEPro were penalized. The resulting penalties did not change grid positions.

http://www.racer.com/wec-le-mans/ite...affect-results

-alex