24 Heures du Mans 2018 - LMP1

The winning Toyota leads a Ferrari and a Ford through the Esses just before dusk.

The 2018 was never going to be a classic race with just one team entered in the LMP1 Hybrid class.  Perhaps, the only question mark was Toyota’s reliability, remembering that in the past they have even broken down with one lap to go.  In the end the Toyotas were very reliable and they took a one two victory.  It was a popular victory as it meant the Nakajima and Buemi’s loyalty to the team was rewarded and Alonso achieved the second stage of his Triple Crown ambition.  Alonso contributed to the victory with a fine drive during the night, allowing Nakajima to make the overtake on their team-mates early on Sunday morning.   It was particularly nice to see Toyota let Nakajima drive the final stint to allow him to forget the memory of that 2016 last lap he didn’t finish.   It was fairly close between the Toyotas for much of the race but it was decided 

The jets signify that the race is about to start.  Cloudy weather welcoming the cars.

The non-hybrid “class” was at least fairly numerous with Ginettas at last joining the fray.   However, they proved less reliable with only three of the eight cars making it to the finish.  The Rebellions were fairly impressive and they kept trying to apply some pressure and finished comfortably ahead of the LMP2 cars, but were no worry for Toyota due to the regulations.  The Bykolles started from the back after joining the pace lap late whilst a Rebellion and the DragonSpeed  tripped over each other at the start and thus they had to come back up the field.   We just have to hope that the new regulations attract more competitive takers for the top class.   Button’s car was sidelined with an electrical issue early on. 

The pace lap with eight LMP1 cars leading the fastest LMP2 car.

Pictures of every LMP1 car that competed the 2018 24 hours of Le Mans are featured below in the order that they were classified.

1st overall - 8 - Toyota Gazoo Racing - Toyota TS050 Hybrid - S.Buemi/K.Nakajima/F.Alonso.

Sébastien Buemi in the Toyota at Tertre Rouge on Saturday afternoon

The two Toyotas were often very close and here on Saturday evening are just split by an Aston Martin they are lapping.

The winning Toyota entering the start finish straight on Sunday morning.

Sunday morning and the leading Toyota heads through the Esses with the iconic Dunlop bridge in the background.

2nd overall - Toyota Gazoo Racing - Toyota TS050 Hybrid - M.Conway/K.Kobayashi/J.Lopez.

The second Toyota speeding out of the Esses during the Saturday morning warm-up.

The No.7 Toyota in second place at Tertre Rouge on Saturday afternoon.

The Toyota in the Dunlop chicane late on Saturday afternoon.

The number seven Toyota was in the lead for much of Saturday evening.

The leading Toyota heading down to Tertre Rouge just after dusk.

Having lost the lead, the number 7 Toyota on Sunday morning.

3rd overall - 3 - Rebellion Racing - Rebellion R13 Gibson - T.Laurent/M.Beche/G.Menezes.

Classic Le Mans shot with a Rebellion leading an LMP2 car out of the Esses during the warm-up.

Rebellion overtaking a Corvette on the way down to Tertre Rouge.

The podium finishing Rebellion in Tertre Rouge on Satuday afternoon.

The Rebelion entering the start finish straight in third place on Sunday morning.

4th overall - 1 - Rebellion Racing - Rebellion R13 Gibson - A.Lotterer/N.Jani/B.Senna.

Rebellion in Tertre Rouge, playing catch-up after a collision at the start where it lost its nose.

Rebellion in the Dunlop chcane.

The No.1 Rebellion at night in Tertre Rouge.

The Rebellion exiting the Esses on Sunday morning.

41st overall/5th in class - 5 - CEFC/TRSM Racing - Ginetta G60 LT P1 Mecachrome - G.Robertson/M.Simpson/L.Roussel.

After Spa, it was good to see the Ginettas actually out on track.

The No.5 Ginatta in Tertre Rouge early in the race.

The lead Ginetta at the dunlop chicane early Saturday evening.

Great to see one of he Ginettas actually get to the end and finish.

DNF - 11 - SMP Racing - BR Engineering BR1 AER - V.Petrov/M.Aleshin/J.Button.

The No.11 car speeding down to Tertre Rouge behind a GT Ferrari.

Jensen Button was another ex-World Champion at Le Mans for the first time and like Alonso did a lot of night driving.

Having survived the night, but with a number of problems, here is the BR1 on Sunday morning in the Esses.  It finally retitred after 23 hours.

DNF - 10 - DragonSpeed - BR Engineering BR1 Gibson - H.Hedman/B.Hanley/R.Van Der Zande.

The DragonSpeed LMP1 in Tertre Rouge on Saturday afternoon.  It had been involved in a collision at the start but kept going.

Iconic shot of the No.10 car in the Saturday morning warm-up when it was sunny.

BR1 in the Dunlop chicane.

Saturday evening in the Esses.  The car didn't get to the seventeen hour mark.

DNF - 6 - CEFC/TRSM Racing - Ginetta G60 LT P1 Mecachrome - O.Rowland/A.Brundle/O.Turvey.

The Ginetta is a good looking car.

Ginetta in the Esses.  It retired in the tenth hour.

Ginetta after dusk at Terrte Rouge overtaking an LMP2 car.  Love this shot!

DNF - 17 - SMP Racing - BR Engineering BR1 AER - S.Sarrazin/E.Orudzhev/M.Isaakyan.

Blasting past a Corvette out of the Esses.

In Tertre Rouge early in the race.

The two SMP cars in Tertre Rouge at dusk.

The No.17 car shortly before it retired around 11pm.

DNF - 4 - Bykolles Racing Team - Enso CLM P1/01 Nismo - O.Webb/D.Kraihamer/T.Dillmann.

Early in the race at Tertre Rouge.

The No.4 car in the Esses on Saturday afternoon.

The Bykolles car lasted longer than last year but was still the first retirement after a crash.

For the LMP2 cars at the 2018 Le Mans 24 hrs, click here.

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An SMP car passes the large crowd by the Esses.

SMP Car overtaking cars under breaking for Tertre Rouge.