05 CAMPBELL Matt (aus), CHRISTENSEN Michael (dnk), MAKOWIECKI Frédéric (fra), Porsche Penske Motorsport, Porsche 963 #05, Hypercar, FIA WEC, atmosphere during the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024, fourth round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France on June 11, 2024 – Photo Julien Delfosse / DPPI
Brendon Hartley from Toyota exclusively revealed that he sees Porsche as the main threat for this weekend’s iconic race, which is in its 92nd edition. Porsche’s hybrid machine 963 has won two out of three races in this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship, making it a strong competitor. Additionally, Porsche impressed with a one-two finish during the Le Mans test session. However, Hartley believes that Toyota is among the rival manufacturers that can challenge Porsche in an exciting 24-hour spectacle.
Hartley expressed his thoughts about the upcoming race, stating: «It was a smooth test, we didn’t encounter any issues with the car. It’s hard to determine the performance at this stage since we were behind the Porsches. We don’t have information about their fuel and tires, but it seems like we can be in the fight with them. They have been the strongest team throughout the year, but it looks like we have a chance.»
Hartley also mentioned that Ferrari and Cadillac are competitors in the race, with Cadillac even having the fastest car on the track in 2023 before encountering problems. He predicts a fierce battle at the front, stating: «There is a great chance we’ll witness a fight between several cars in the final hours, which would be incredible.»
Aunque Porsche parece tener un paquete fuerte basado en el día de pruebas, donde Hartley logró el tercer tiempo más rápido, aún cree que la competencia será reñida. Él explicó: «[Porsche] está liderando el campeonato, mostró buen ritmo en el día de pruebas y tiene seis autos. Esto los convierte en los favoritos de alguna manera, pero creo que habrá muchos autos más rápidos en la pista. Cadillac ha pasado desapercibido, pero confío en que serán competitivos, y Ferrari también es un fuerte competidor. No hay un favorito claro en mi opinión. Estoy esperanzado y optimista de que será una batalla reñida.»
