WEC | Charles Leclerc also dreams of 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ferrari
09/07/2024 03:39 PM
Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc, fresh from victories at the iconic Monaco and Monza, has set his sights on another motorsport gem: the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In 2024, Ferrari claimed two-thirds of the “Triple Crown,” thanks to Charles Leclerc’s victory in Monaco and the #50 car’s win at the 24h of Le Mans. The flags at the historic entrance of Maranello now reference the victories in both categories, highlighting Ferrari’s renewed interest in endurance racing.
On the same Sunday that Charles Leclerc gave Ferrari fans a “home” victory at Monza, a few hours later, the AF Corse team's 499P won the 6 Hours of COTA. For the first time in history, a manufacturer won both in WEC and Formula 1 on the same day. A historic result, arriving during what many consider a golden age for the World Endurance Championship.
Many former F1 drivers are part of WEC teams today, but having a full-time double commitment would be unthinkable due to the packed calendar of the top-tier category. However, two of today’s F1 grid drivers have won the iconic endurance race: Nico Hulkenberg in 2015 and Fernando Alonso in 2018 and 2019. Both took advantage of "free" weekends during their regular Formula 1 seasons.
Despite the practical difficulties today, Charles Leclerc has admitted that he definitely wants to follow in their footsteps in the future. "I absolutely want to race at Le Mans one day," the Monegasque told motorsport-total.com. "I don't know if I'd want to try the Indianapolis 500 as well, it's not something I'm currently thinking about, but I’m sure about Le Mans. I hope it happens soon."
Having both programs “in-house” would certainly allow Ferrari to offer Charles Leclerc a "cameo" at the 24H, especially as he has a deep and genuine friendship with Antonio Fuoco, the winner of the 2024 edition. However, beyond the awkward prospect of having to “bench” someone, 2025 is already off-limits due to the clash between the French event and the F1 Canadian Grand Prix.
Despite the obstacles, the allure of Le Mans and the WEC in general seems stronger than ever, and in the coming years, we can surely expect more "special guests" at the world's most famous endurance race.
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