Images courtesy of Chadd Randall

After a four-year break, the World Endurance Championship made its return this Labor Day weekend to the Circuit of the Americas and its 3.14-mile, 20-turn track. The atmosphere was electric, not just because of the racing, but also due to the sweltering conditions, which tested drivers, crews, and fans alike. With Texas temperatures soaring into the mid-90s Fahrenheit and sweltering humidity everyone was prepared for a grueling day filled with excitement and drama.

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Qualifying sessions saw some fierce competition. it was the factory No. 51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P, driven by Antonio Giovinazzi, that snagged the coveted hypercar pole position. But it wasn’t easy, as the yellow No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari, piloted by none other than Robert Kubica, secured a second-place start right alongside the factory powerhouse. All eyes were on these two, promising an exhilarating race ahead. Things heated up even more in the LMGT3 category, where the Heart of Racing No. 27 Aston Martin, with Ian James behind the wheel, took pole position. Hot on his heels was the Iron Dames’ No. 85 Lamborghini, driven by the incredibly talented Sarah Bovy, who seized second place. With these fierce competitors locked in, fans were buzzing with anticipation for the race.

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With the 1:00 p.m. green flag, the No. 51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P, led into the first corner followed closely by the remaining 2 Ferraris. The No. 5 had to pit at the end of lap one because a pre-race mistake forced the Penske Porsche team to remove the safety cover from the pitot tube, which monitors airspeed. This issue continued the tough weekend for all the Porsche 963 cars. After 1.5 hours, all the Ferraris occupied the top three spots to this point. But then the No. 51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P, a heavy favorite, limped back to the pits on electric power only. Sadly, it met its demise following a collision with the No. 78 Lexus. The Tifosi, who were eagerly watching, saw their dreams of victory by the No.51 suddenly turn into tales of woe as the factory Ferrari was forced to retire early from the race.

As the event unfolded, it became evident that the heat was more than just a weather forecast as mistakes started to be made. In LMGT3, with 3.5 hours left in the race, the No. 85 Iron Dames Lamborghini attempted to make a move up the inside of the No. 81 TF Sport Corvette, which slammed the door shut at the apex, causing a puncture to the Iron Dames No. 85, driven by Rahel Frey. All that banging caused a full-course yellow to retrieve debris from the track and the Lamborghini had to pit for repairs. 

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Tough battles saw the No.7 Toyota right on the tail of the No.83 AF Corse Ferrari just as the clock ticked to 2 hours remaining. And to perform the undercut, the second-place No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid of Toyota Gazoo Racing pitted after Nyck de Vries had been pushing to the limits to get around the race leading No.83 AF Corse Ferrari with Yifei Ye behind the wheel. After a quick stop, the Toyota got out the pits and was successful with the undercut of the Ferrari who pitted the following lap. Thus, the No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid, with Kamui Kobayashi behind the wheel, took the lead of the race with just under two hours remaining. 

An on-track battle between Sebastian Buemi in the No.8 Toyota and No.6 Kevin Estre in the championship-leading No. 6 Penske Porsche had Buemi slide all the way across the track pushing the Porsche to the wall going down the backstretch deep into triple digits. Unfortunately, this fender-banging showdown didn’t end well for Toyota, as Buemi’s team received a costly penalty that could significantly impact its championship aspirations. 

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Meanwhile, the drama didn’t stop there. In the final hour of the race, the No. 7 Toyota GR10 received a drive-through penalty for failing to respect yellow flags while the Peugeot was being recovered from the side of the track. This kind of mistake is especially costly in endurance racing, where every second counts and any infraction can dramatically alter the standings. That penalty to the No. 7 Toyota GR010 allowed the No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P, with Robert Schwartzman, to retake the lead.

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In the end after six hours and 1000km, AF CORSE claimed a monumental victory with their No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P, driven by Robert Schwartzman, Yifei Ye, and the veteran leader Robert Kubica. Winning the Lonestar Le Mans 6hr. marked AF CORSE Ferrari’s first win this season, a moment worth celebrating for the team and its Tifosi. Following closely behind was the No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid of Toyota Gazoo Racing finishing second, in what would be the second-closest finish in WEC history. While the No. 50 AF CORSE Ferrari 499P secured the third spot on the podium.

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It’s worth noting that this victory came at a particularly celebratory time for Ferrari, who had just experienced a historic day by winning both the Italian Grand Prix and the FIA WEC Lone Star Le Mans race within the same 24-hours. If there’s ever a good reason to crack open the champagne in Maranello, this is it! 

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Despite their struggles throughout the weekend, the No. 6 Penske Porsche 963 managed to pull through, finishing in a points-paying sixth place. This result is significant because it allowed them to maintain their slim championship lead, albeit a mere 12 points over the hungry No. 7 Toyota and the fiercely competitive No. 50 Ferrari AF Corse. It’s a nail-biting battle that will keep fans on the edge of their seats as the season rolls on to the next round in Japan at Fuji.

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Meanwhile, the heart-pounding action wasn’t limited to the hypercars. In the LMGT3 class, the No. 27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 put on a masterclass of dominance by leading from start to finish in their home race. They faced stiff competition but ultimately secured the top spot, with the No. 92 Manthey Pure RX Porsche 911GT3R following closely in second and the No. 91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911GT3R rounding out the podium in third. With Manthey's strong performance, they managed to extend their championship point lead to a comfortable 28 points, showcasing their prowess in the competitive GT category.

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As teams battled under the unforgiving sun and drivers pushed their machines to the limit, the race showcased both the exhilarating highs and the heart-wrenching lows of motorsport. From high-speed duels and strategic tactics to unfortunate mechanical failures, this event was a true testament to the spirit of endurance racing.

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As the dust settles and the engines quiet down from this exhilarating race at COTA, one thing is clear: the championship battles are far from over. With only a few points separating the top contenders in both the prototype and GT categories, fans can look forward to an electrifying final two rounds of a season filled with fierce competition and unforgettable moments. Who will rise to the occasion next? The excitement is just beginning!

Images & Content - Courtesy of CHADD RANDALL.

Chadd Randall