Another 24 Hours of Le Mans is in the record books, and Audi has returned to its utter domination of the sport. As the clock ran down on the final lap, four Audi e-tron Quattro LMP1 racers crossed the finish line in formation, grabbing all three podium spots and fourth place, too, just for good measure.
Early in the race, however, it looked like Toyota’s hybrid LMP1 cars would give the Audis a serious run for their money. The Toyotas posted the fastest segment time down the Mulsanne Straight, but they lacked one ingredient necessary to win at Le Mans: just a bit of luck. By the end of the first day, both Toyotas would be retired with crash-related damage.
Four hours into the race, a Toyota LMP1 driven by Anthony Davidson attempted to pass a Ferrari GTE car driven by Pierguiseppe Perazzini as the cars approached the Mulsanne Corner. Perazzini apparently didn’t see the LMP1 car closing, and turned into the Toyota as it passed: the two drivers made contact at high speed, and that was enough to upset the airflow over both cars.
Davidson and Perazzini both had huge impacts with the tire barrier, which was able to dissipate enough energy to prevent more serious injuries to the drivers. Both were able to climb from their wrecked cars, and subsequent medical attention revealed that Davidson had suffered two fractured vertebrae in his back. A full recovery for Davidson is expected in less than three months.
This crash marks the second such incident in two years, bringing into question the wisdom of allowing pro and amateur drivers, in cars capable of vastly different speeds, to compete side by side over 25 hours. Tradition is one thing, but safety should always take priority.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
