24 Hours of Le Mans 2023: Ferrari get stuck in pit lane, surrender lead to Toyota - ‘Silence on the pit wall’
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ByEurosport
Published 11/06/2023 at 12:34 GMT
The #51 Ferrari headed to the box for a driver change on Sunday, but then disaster struck. They successfully changed drivers but then the car sat stationary. The second-placed #8 Toyota had also pitted – over a minute behind their rivals - and took advantage to take the lead. When the Ferrari finally got going again, they were just under six seconds behind the Toyota.
Ferrari get stuck in pit lane, Toyota take lead
Ferrari lost the lead of the 24 Hour of Le Mans - surrendering an advantage of over one minute to rivals Toyota - in curious circumstances on Sunday.
The #51 Ferrari headed to the pits for a driver change, with Antonio Giovinazzi handing over to Alessandro Pier Guidi.
The change itself was pretty seamless. However, as Pier Guidi looked to exit the pits, the car remained stationary, leaving Alex Brundle on commentary stunned.
“They could just not leave the pit box,” said Brundle. “I am not seeing a stop or hold, or anything on the race control screen so this is a problem then for #51 Ferrari [who are] leading Le Mans.
“They have got an issue in the pit lane; the #51 Ferrari is stuck in the pit lane. And silence on the pit wall as well, they are trying to find out how to fire the car.
“Toyota in the pit lane through to the lead!”
Entering the pits, Ferrari had a lead of over one minute, but would exit it in arrears to the tune of just under six seconds.
Ferrari would later report that the issue in the pit lane was that the car simply wouldn't fire up and a power cycle was required.
The Italian team have had superior pace all weekend, though, and would soon regain the lead.
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