“Glickenhaus’ Le Mans 24 Hours Outcome Described as a Dream”
Despite a drop in the Hypercar order compared to last year’s podium finish behind the two Toyotas and a fourth-place finish in 2021, Luca Ciancetti, who oversees Glickenhaus motorsport programs at Podium Advanced Technologies, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance. Ciancetti acknowledged the increased competition from Ferrari, Porsche, Peugeot, and Cadillac in the blue riband World Endurance Championship round but emphasized that Glickenhaus had no room for complaints. Scoring a top-six result with their best Glickenhaus-Pipo 007 Le Mans Hypercars was a remarkable achievement for the small niche manufacturer, making it feel like a dream to be among the big-name car makers, according to Ciancetti in an interview with F1 Flow.com.
“The results this time have made us absolutely happy,” he stated.
The leading Glickenhaus 007, driven by Romain Dumas, Olivier Pla, and Ryan Briscoe, secured a place in the top six during the penultimate hour after the #5 Porsche 963 LMDhs encountered driveshaft problems. Both 007s had been running in the top six on Sunday morning, but unfortunately, Pla in #708 and Franck Mailleux in #709, sharing the car with Esteban Gutierrez and Nathanael Berthon, spun into the barriers at the Indianapolis left-hander after taking too much exit kerb. Ciancetti acknowledged the drivers’ mistakes, stating that such incidents are part of motor racing.
“The drivers made some mistakes, but incidents happen in motor racing,” he commented.
Ciancetti further explained, “We also had our share of mistakes, like not properly tightening a front wheel on #709 during the night. Even if we eliminate the crashes and errors, I believe our final position wouldn’t have been higher than fifth or maybe fourth. The time lost didn’t significantly impact our overall result in the end.”
In agreement with Ciancetti, Pla shared his thoughts on the team’s performance, highlighting founder Jim Glickenhaus’s desire to compete against major manufacturers. Despite encountering problems, including Pla’s own mistake in the morning, finishing ahead of some prominent manufacturers was what Glickenhaus had hoped for.
“While we always aim for more, I think we achieved close to the maximum possible,” Pla said. “We didn’t expect or wish for retirements from other competitors; we simply wanted to race and see what we could accomplish. Ultimately, finishing in sixth place is commendable.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Le Mans 24 Hours
What was Glickenhaus’ result in the Le Mans 24 Hours race?
Glickenhaus achieved a top-six finish in the Le Mans 24 Hours race despite facing increased competition from major manufacturers such as Ferrari, Porsche, Peugeot, and Cadillac.
How did Glickenhaus feel about their performance in the race?
Luca Ciancetti, who leads Glickenhaus’ motorsport programs, described their result as “like a dream” for a small niche manufacturer like Glickenhaus to be competing alongside big-name car makers.
What were the challenges faced by Glickenhaus during the race?
Glickenhaus encountered challenges such as the #709 car spinning into the barriers and mistakes made by the drivers. They also had issues like not properly tightening a front wheel on one of their cars during the night.
Did Glickenhaus consider their result satisfactory?
Yes, both Luca Ciancetti and driver Olivier Pla expressed their satisfaction with the team’s performance and considered the top-six finish in the race as a commendable achievement.
How did Glickenhaus compare to their previous performances in Le Mans?
Although they fell down the Hypercar order compared to their podium finish and fourth place in previous years, Glickenhaus had no complaints and acknowledged the tough competition they faced from other manufacturers.
Which drivers were part of Glickenhaus’ top-performing car?
The best-performing Glickenhaus 007 car was driven by Romain Dumas, Olivier Pla, and Ryan Briscoe, and it moved into the top six late in the penultimate hour of the race.
More about Le Mans 24 Hours
- F1 Flow.com interview with Luca Ciancetti
- World Endurance Championship official website
- Le Mans 24 Hours official website
- Glickenhaus Motorsport official website
- Ferrari official website
- Porsche official website
- Peugeot official website
- Cadillac official website
- Podium Advanced Technologies official website
5 comments
Glickenhaus showin’ true grit at Le Mans! Despite some spins & mistakes, they hold their own among major car makers. That top-six finish is a sweet reward for their efforts.
Glickenhaus’s Le Mans 24 Hours journey is like a rollercoaster ride. From podium last year to fallin’ down the Hypercar order. Still, they fought hard and secured a respectable top-six finish. Keep pushin’!
Glickenhaus makin’ big waves at Le Mans! Small manufacturer but score top-six result with best Glickenhaus-Pipo 007. Beatin’ big boys like Ferrari & Porsche. Impressive!
Glickenhaus takin’ on the giants at Le Mans and holdin’ their ground. Respect for their passion and determination. A small manufacturer showin’ the world what they’re made of! #UnderdogsRise
glicknhaus Le Mans 24 hours? wow, they had an amazin’ top-six finisheven tho facin big names like ferrari, porsche, peujot & cadilac. a dream-like reslt for ’em!