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24 Hours of Le Mans

Emotional Le Mans victory 'best day' of career – Ferrari driver

Ferrari won a second consecutive Le Mans 24 Hours in a thrilling climax to the 2024 event.

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Ferrari driver Miguel Molina has described the #50 Ferrari AF Corse car's victory as the "best day" of his motorsport career, following a gruelling Le Mans 24 Hours. 

The #50 car started the 92nd running of the race in fourth place and always remained within touching distance of the lead cars. 

Rain caused chaos throughout the night in particular, with a four-hour safety car period having taken place in the early hours. 

In the closing stages, the #50 looked like it was suddenly out of contention for the win after an unscheduled pit-stop for the right door to be closed, having come loose. 

A late spin for the #7 Toyota put the #50 back in the lead though, with Nicklas Nielsen having managed his fuel and energy to absolute perfection to secure Ferrari back-to-back Le Mans victories.

Nielsen was very emotional as he crossed the finish line, whilst Molina was in tears whilst shouting in celebration from the pit wall having completed his stints, as was team-mate Antonio Fuoco.

"This is the best day of my career," an incredibly emotional Molina told Eurosport.

"Thanks to everyone, thanks to all the people that support me since I was young, to my family, to my my parents, to my wife, my kinds to everyone. Thank you very much."

'We did it'

Nielsen had an incredibly difficult job in the closing stages to bring the car home, as he was forced to drive slower to ensure that it made the finish without a further pit-stop. 

Had an additional pit-stop been completed, then a podium would have likely not even been claimed. 

It was also Nielsen who had to deal with the chaos of pitting for the #50 car's door to be shut closed.

"Yeah actually the worst part for me was when they asked me to go slower because that's when the mistakes happen, and then honestly the last lap was so long," Nielsen told Eurosport

"They [Ferrari] kept me updated on the gap, basically all the stint. So it was just about managing the gap to the car in P2. 

"But then obviously it was a very long stint and a very long last lap for me, but we did it."

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