24 Heures du Mans | +26:57:00

These are grand days atop the endurance-racing pyramid, with three major automotive manufacturers—Audi, Toyota, & Porsche—vying for overall victory around the Circuit de la Sarthe, & a fourth—Nissan—due to arrive on the grid next year, in '15. (There have been rumors of Ferrari returning to the top level of endurance racing, to renew their ancient rivalry with Porsche. I'd love to see the Prancing Horse back at Le Mans, if for no other reason than Italy is the only former Axis power not in competition, Audi & Porsche being German & Toyota & Nissan being Japanese.) All three makes had a chance to win this year's Le Mans.

The Audi R18 (six-cylinder, turbocharged Diesel engine, flywheel-based hybrid) was plagued by problems at Silverstone & Spa & two of the three R18s had to have repairs effected to their turbochargers over the course of the race (the third was crashed out of the race by an out-of-control Toyota in a downpour early in the race on Saturday afternoon), but ultimately had enough reliability to claim Audi's thirteenth victory in sixteen attempts.



The Toyota TS040 (eight-cylinder, naturally-aspirated gasoline engine, super capacitor-based hybrid) won the opening two rounds of the World Endurance Championship, at Silverstone & Spa-Francorchamps (Spa!), & the № 7 started from the pole at Le Mans & dominated the opening hours of the race, greatly outpacing both the Audis & the Porsches, before suffering mysterious & terminal mechanical failure sometime in the night, retiring from the race.



The Porsche 919 (four-cylinder, turbocharged gasoline engine, battery-based hybrid) had wicked top-end speed, the trade-off being slower speeds through the corners. The № 20, driven in part by grizzled, forthright former Red Bull Formula One pilot Mark Webber (#aussiegrit), lead for a long time after the demise of the № 7 Toyota, but had to retire with only a couple hours to go with unspecified mechanical woes, clearing the deck for Audi's victory.



Porsche holds the record for the most overall victories at the 24 Heures du Mans, with sixteen. Audi is rapidly making up ground, now with thirteen. I have to believe that this is a significant factor in Porsche's decision to return to the top category, L.M.P.1. Since first competing at Le Mans in 1999, Audi has won every 24 Hours except for '99 (B.M.W.), '03 (Bentley), & '09 (Peugeot). Wins, by constructor: 24 hours to glory-link.

I am already looking forward to next year's "Grand Prix of Endurance." Le Mans! Le Mans! Le Mans!