Utterly devastating... What a sad end to the race. Porsche can't really be happy with their win and I do hope they don't take their regulations all too seriously to at least allow Toyota to show up on the board...
Seems there's still drama going on.
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/multiple-protests-in-wake-of-gte-pro-finish-at-le-mans/
Le Mans update: Winning Ford GT hit by post-race penalties
Both the winning and runner-up cars in the GTE Pro division of the 24 Hours of Le Mans were both penalised post-race, after the Chip Ganassi Team USA and Risi Competizione teams protested each other.
The winning #68 Ford GT ? driven by Dirk Muller, Joey Hand and Sebastien Bourdais ? was given a 50s penalty after Risi alleged it had been speeding in a slow zone. Additionally, stewards also found that the #68?s wheel speed sensors were not working properly ? and a further 20s penalty was added.
This would have handed the victory for the #82 Ferrari, driven by Giancarlo Fisichella, Toni Vilander and Mateo Malucelli.
Ganassi, meantime, had protested the Ferrari as one of its leader light panels was not working. The car had been shown a black and orange warning flag in the closing stages of the race to have this rectified, but failed to pit as instructed.
Stewards also gave this car a 20s penalty ?? and a EUR5,000 fine.
The re-issued final result means that the #68 Ford GT wins the class by 10.2s from the #82 Ferrari.
The #69 Ford, which finished third, closes to just 4.6s behind the #82 Ferrari. The top three cars were covered by 15s after 24 hours of racing.
The decision upholds Ford?s class victory 50 years on from its first Le Mans win, when it beat Ferrari for overall honours in 1966.
"The re-issued final result means that the #68 Ford GT wins the class by 10.2s from the #82 Ferrari
Ferrari
The #69 Ford, which finished third, closes to just 4.6s behind the #82 Ferrari. The top three cars were covered by 15s after 24 hours of racing."
So not only Ferrari team's attempt at pulling the rug from under Ford's feet backfired, they almost managed to lose their second place to another Ford? :lol:
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!
anyone else thinks ford should shut up about their category win?
Ford crew on Le Mans GT win: ?We?ll go down in history?
you won the fucking GT category! big woop
especially since it's a brand new car, which hadn't shown its capabilities beforehand and was treated very generous by the BoP
if you want bragging rights, go for an all out win!
they won the race, but in my eyes, haven't "achieved" anything
the big boss of toyota is called toyoda?
that's unfortunate :lol:
Ford doesn't give two shits about the overall win. They wanted to come back and beat Ferrari, Ferrari doesn't race LMP so they did it in GTE. They achieved exactly what they set out to do, and as a bonus produced maximum butthurt.