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video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4gFYO5uAWg
The most dramatic Le Mans finish in race history
Technology
After racing at speeds upwards of 320 km/h (200 mph) for 23 hours and 57 minutes, and put themselves in a position to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the very first time, the lead Toyota TS050 Hybrid car stops from mechanical failure just beyond the start/finish line with 3 minutes to go until the checkered flag.
The Porsche 919 Hybrid, until that point a full minute behind the lead Toyota, goes on to win Le Mans to give Porsche an astounding 19th overall victory in the most famous endurance race in the world.
Imagine that before this video begins, the cars have been racing for 23 hours and 50 minutes - almost an entire day. In the 84 runnings of the 24 Hours (2016 included), NEVER had a leader abandoned the race so tantalizingly close to winning.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing team can only cry, and the Porsche Team is crying as well out of sheer shock and disbelief. If you listen you'll hear that all the TV commentators are crying as well and as a result are having a difficult time enunciating words to finish the race commentary.
No one can believe it, everybody's crying, except maybe for the Japanese managers at Toyota who somehow keep their composure - for the cameras, at least! But even the legendary samurai stone faces can't conceal deep shock at the unbelievable bad luck that stops their car within 3 minutes of victory.
Thankfully this story does end well and Toyota, with the same Toyota Gazoo Racing team, get their first Le Mans 24 Hours overall victory in 2018 when their cars finish 1st and 2nd.
The Porsche 919 Hybrid, until that point a full minute behind the lead Toyota, goes on to win Le Mans to give Porsche an astounding 19th overall victory in the most famous endurance race in the world.
Imagine that before this video begins, the cars have been racing for 23 hours and 50 minutes - almost an entire day. In the 84 runnings of the 24 Hours (2016 included), NEVER had a leader abandoned the race so tantalizingly close to winning.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing team can only cry, and the Porsche Team is crying as well out of sheer shock and disbelief. If you listen you'll hear that all the TV commentators are crying as well and as a result are having a difficult time enunciating words to finish the race commentary.
No one can believe it, everybody's crying, except maybe for the Japanese managers at Toyota who somehow keep their composure - for the cameras, at least! But even the legendary samurai stone faces can't conceal deep shock at the unbelievable bad luck that stops their car within 3 minutes of victory.
Thankfully this story does end well and Toyota, with the same Toyota Gazoo Racing team, get their first Le Mans 24 Hours overall victory in 2018 when their cars finish 1st and 2nd.
Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France
18 et 19 Juin 2016 - one day before the summer solstice
video | motorsports | Automobile | car racing | auto racing | Le Mans | 24 Hours of Le Mans | 24 Heures du Mans | technology | endurance racing | dramatic finish | Toyota | Porsche | tears | good luck | bad luck | speed
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