The 10 Most Heartbreaking Motorsports Defeats Ever [w/ Videos]
A look at the final results of sheet of this past weekend’s 84th 24 Hours of Le Mans will tell you that the #2 Porsche 919 Hybrid won, scoring the German marque’s record-extending 18th overall victory in that fabled event. What the finishing order doesn’t tell you, however, is that the winning Porsche took the lead at the start of the very last lap after the #5 Toyota TS050 Hybrid – which had comprehensively dominated the race with a trouble-free run – ground to a halt just past the start/finish line with about four minutes remaining.
It was, quite simply, one of the most gut-wrenching, difficult-to-watch losses in racing history. Even the Porsche and Audi team drivers and bigwigs went to the Toyota garage after the race to offer condolences. However, racing has always been a cruel business, snatching defeat from the jaws of seemingly certain victory in the blink of an eye. Here, then, are the 10 race finishes that we feel are the ones where you most wanted to hug the vanquished drivers and teams. Does Sunday’s heartbreaker make the list? You’re going to have to read through to find out!