The #43 Inter Europol Competition overcame a late drive-through penalty to defeat the #19 VDS Panis Racing and secure victory in the LMP2 WEC class at Le Mans.
With one hour remaining, #43’s driver Nick Yelloly was under investigation for pit speed violations, before the stewards issuing a drive through penalty.
Consequently, the #19 VDS Panis Racing outfit inherited the lead with 33 minutes remaining and looked set to win, but a minor car mechanical issue saw the pendulum swing back in favour of the #43 Europol.
The Polish squad placed himself back on the top step after completing 367 laps and ended up victorious by a distant 1.55.753s.
Despite the apparent decline in speed from the #19, it held on to secure second place in the closing laps, finishing ahead of the #199 AO by TF lineup of Louis Deletraz and American duo Dane Cameron and P.J. Hyett.
The #9 Iron Lynx-Proton, the #29 TDS Racing and #11 Proton Competition all finished two laps behind the podium finishers, taking fourth through sixth place, completing 365 laps.
United Autosports’ #22 Pietro Fittipaldi recovered to seventh spot after his team-mate David Heinemeier Hansson struggled to adapt to race trim the opening hours, spinning twice at the same Dunlop Chicane, consequently making contact with the #193 Ferrari GT3 car.
The #25 Algarve Pro Racing team crossed the line in eighth, 22.7s behind the American squad, followed by AF Corse’s #183 car who couldn’t quite replicate Ferrari’s dominance in the Hypercar category.
The #34 Inter Europol Competition rounded off the top ten, followed by #23 United Autosports, #16 RLR M Sport and #45 Algarve Pro Racing.
#24 Nielsen Racing’s was the first of two retirements which arrived at the halfway point where Cem Bolukbasi collided into barrier at the Tetre Rouge Esses, marking the first retirement in the LMP2 car class.
Two hours later on the 14th hour, #18 IDEC Sport driver Andre Lotterer was left stranded in the gravel traps following a right-rear wheel detachment. A harsh ending following the collective effort of Andre Lotterer, Jamie Chadwick and Matthys Jaubert who occupied the top five after qualifying in 14th.
