2024 FIA World Endurance Championship
Spa, Belgium
May 8-11, 2024
Photo: Stephen Fisher / Drew Gibson Photography
The 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship took place in Spa, Belgium from May 8-11, 2024. Callum Ilott and Will Stevens of JOTA team emerged as the winners of the extended 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps race. The race was marked by a major accident involving Cadillac’s Earl Bamber, which led to a red flag that halted the race for nearly two hours. Despite the interruption, Ilott and Stevens managed to maintain the lead and secure the victory.
Ilott initially qualified the car in fifth position, but moved up to fourth after the disqualification of Ferrari #50, which had initially claimed pole position. Stevens, who started the race, held onto fourth position early on, but gradually lost places as the race progressed. They fluctuated between seventh, eighth, and sixth places throughout the race, finishing in sixth place at the end of the fourth hour.
The race saw a battle for the lead between Fred Makowiecki in Porsche #5 and Julien Andlauer in Proton Competition’s Porsche #99. Andlauer managed to take the lead from Makowiecki and opened up a significant gap before the start of the pit stop cycle. Despite strong performances from the Ferraris, including a great showing from Antonio Giovinazzi in Ferrari #51, Andlauer maintained the lead after the pit stops.
The race took a twist when an accident involving the WRT #46 BMW M4 GT3, the JOTA #38 Porsche, and the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 brought the safety car out on track. The safety car period lasted almost an hour and when the race resumed, James Calado in the #51 Ferrari managed to overtake Neel Jani in the Porsche Proton to take the lead. Calado’s teammate, Alessandro Pier Guidi, took over the car and maintained the lead over Jani.
However, Jani lost the second position to Antonio Fuoco in the #50 Ferrari, who made a daring move on the Kemmel Straight. Earl Bamber, driving for Cadillac, was also closing in on Jani and a battle for third place seemed imminent. Unfortunately, a collision between Bamber and another car led to the red flag being waved.
The red flag lasted 1 hour and 44 minutes while the drivers involved in the accident were attended to and the track was cleaned. Once the race resumed, the time was extended to make up for the time lost during the red flag period. Pier Guidi initially led the race after the restart, but had to make a pit stop for emergency service due to low energy levels. This allowed Callum Ilott, in the #112 JOTA car, to take the lead, which he held until the end of the race.
Ilott maintained a comfortable lead over Kevin Estre in the factory #6 Porsche and crossed the finish line with a 12.363-second advantage. Fuoco in the #50 Ferrari secured third place, giving Ferrari its first podium of the year. Pier Guidi finished fourth, followed by Andlauer in the #99 Proton Porsche in fifth place. The top ten were completed by the two Toyotas, the AF Corse #83 Ferrari, the Alpine A424 #35, and the Peugeot 9X8 #93.
© 2024
Football player Cristiano Ronaldo made a surprise appearance at a charity event in Lisbon on Saturday night. The Portuguese star, known for his talent on the field, showed his generous side by participating in a charity auction for underprivileged children. Ronaldo was given a standing ovation by those present, who were moved by his presence.
During the event, Ronaldo made sure to interact with the children present, taking photos, signing autographs, and even playing an impromptu soccer match. His friendliness and humility won over everyone, showing that he is much more than just a talented football player.
In addition to his participation in the charity event, Ronaldo also took the opportunity to talk about his career and future plans. The player revealed that he is in negotiations to return to his former club, Manchester United. This news excited the fans of the English team, who eagerly await his return.
Ronaldo also expressed his love for football and his determination to continue playing at a high level. He stated that he intends to play for a few more years and is always seeking new challenges. His dedication and passion for the sport are qualities that make him an example for many young players.
At the end of the event, Ronaldo made sure to thank everyone present and reinforce the importance of helping those in need. His participation in this charity event certainly left a positive and inspiring mark, showing that he is not only a great football player, but also a generous and supportive human being.
