The Ferrari AF Corse driver recalls the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans where he won the race with the Prancing Horse’s No. 50 499P Hypercar.
Nicklas Nielsen etched his name into the Ferrari history books by crossing the finish line as winner of the 92nd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, round four of the FIA WEC, sparking scenes of wild celebration in the No. 50 garage with teary-eyed team-mates Miguel Molina and Antonio Fuoco falling into each other’s arms in complete ecstasy.
Three weeks after claiming the Prancing Horse’s 11th victory in the world’s greatest endurance race, Ferrari’s 27-year-old Danish works driver still finds it difficult to describe how good it feels to be the overall Le Mans winner for the legendary Italian carmaker.
“The emotions are still the same when I watch photos and videos from the race,” Nicklas Nielsen told fiawec.com. “It was a tough race.” And that’s putting it mildly.
In addition to the extraordinary challenges offered by the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the two-time LMGTE Am FIA WEC champion (2020, 2021) with AF Corse had to deal with an issue with the right-hand door coming loose in the changing track conditions during his final stint. “I was able to get to the door, but I couldn’t close it and continue like that. It was a very critical point in the race.”
This problem forced Ferrari to call the #50 499P into the pits and adopt a bold and ultimately race-winning strategy in terms of energy consumption. Saving every ounce of fuel in the final laps, Nicklas Nielsen took the chequered flag with just 2% of his energy allocation remaining and a gap of 14”221 to the second-placed #7 Toyota – the narrowest margin ever for a one-day race.
“The weather and the little issues we had made this win even better,” Nicklas said. “The amount of emotions I felt when I crossed the finish line was a testament to all the hard work I’ve done since the beginning of my karting career, all the sacrifices, all the time and effort my whole family has put in. I was so happy that my brother and dad were there to witness it. It was a life goal for all of us.”
“More than a team, I feel like we are a family”
Nicklas, who already won the French enduro in the LMGTE Am class in 2021, has become only the third Danish rider in history to triumph at Le Mans, following in the footsteps of John Nielsen and Tom Kristensen, who holds the record for victories at La Sarthe. “It’s something I’m very proud of. Riders race their whole lives trying to achieve it, and I’ve already achieved it. I still have many years left. I will try, but I’m not going to lie, it’s going to be very, very difficult to win it nine times like Tom.”
However, should Ferrari AF Corse manage to extend its unbeaten run in France in the Hypercar era, Nicklas Nielsen could win the Le Mans 24 Hours on more than one occasion. Last year, it was the sister #51 car of Alessandro Pier Guidi, Antonio Giovinazzi and James Calado that took the centenary race to its feet. “It’s a great achievement and a huge confidence booster, not just for the drivers, but for the team as well,” adds Nicklas. “All the hard work from all the engineers and mechanics is paying off. Without the people behind us, we drivers are not able to achieve what we are doing on the track. When it comes to the small details, the people behind us are always the key and I’m very grateful for them.”
The Dane also praised the camaraderie and never-give-up attitude of the Ferrari AF Corse teams that made the dream of winning two consecutive Le Mans a reality. “This year there was no room for error. The conditions were very difficult, but the three of us in the #50 car, and even in the #51, managed the situation very well. What made us the best team last year and this year is that we never gave up. More than being a team, I feel like we are a family. That’s what I really like about racing with Ferrari, because you feel part of the family and part of history.”
For Nicklas and Ferrari, the story continues in Brazil for round five of the 2024 WEC season, the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo, which takes place next week (13-14 July). The ultimate exponent of sports car racing will make its long-awaited return to Interlagos for the first time since 2014.
“I know some of the drivers have been there before in LMP1 and GT, but it will be something new for most of the teams. We will do everything we can to try and win the championship. It will be the perfect end to a very, very good season so far.”
