The highest-achievers of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship were celebrated at a glittering FIA Awards gala in Rwanda on 13 December.
The stars of the show gathered at the BK Arena in the country’s capital, Kigali, to pick up their prizes during the course of a spectacular ceremony – the first to take place on the African continent. The winners’ trophies were designed by renowned American painter, sculptor and printmaker Frank Stella, and were presented by endurance racing legend, six-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Jacky Ickx.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe Vice-Chairman, Kazuki Nakajima, accepted the FIA Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers’ Championship accolade on behalf of the Japanese marque – its sixth consecutive success in the discipline’s top-flight – while Porsche Penske Motorsport trio André Lotterer, Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor stepped up to the stage to collect their Drivers’ trophies.
While Lotterer had already been crowned world champion once before – with Audi in the inaugural FIA WEC campaign back in 2012 – for Estre and Vanthoor, the result represented a maiden title in the series. The Belgian was quick to acknowledge the magnitude of the achievement.
There was a special recognition for another Porsche driver, as Proton Competition privateer Julian Andlauer – who has earned promotion to the works team for next season – saw off TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s Kamui Kobayashi and AF Corse’s Robert Shwartzman to win the ‘Action of the Year’ award for his audacious overtake on Alpine Endurance Team rival Paul-Loup Chatin at Eau Rouge during the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The Frenchman prevailed with an impressive 65 per cent of the fan vote.
Andlauer was unable to attend the ceremony, but one driver who did make the trip had the opportunity to look back upon an unquestionable career highlight, as Ferrari AF Corse’s Antonio Fuoco reflected on his victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside Nicklas Nielsen and Miguel Molina in June.
