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Leclerc wants to try real Le Mans after virtual debut

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is keen to try a real Le Mans 24 Hours after contesting the virtual version of the famous endurance motor race.

Leclerc was driving in the GTE class in a Ferrari 488, but his race was ruined by server issues, which at one point left his car upside down in the pit lane. The Monaco native finished 18th.

Despite those issues, the three-time F1 race winner enjoyed the whole experience.

The Le Mans virtual event was held in place of the real thing, which was supposed to be held at the Le Sarthe circuit on June 13 and 14. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it has been rescheduled for Sept. 19 and 20.

Server issues also hurt two of Leclerc's current F1 rivals, Red Bull's Max Verstappen and McLaren's Lando Norris, who teamed up with Redline. They were allowed to join the race after the final red flag period but finished in 25th.

Two-time F1 champion and Le Mans winner Fernando Alonso teamed up with Rubens Barrichello, but their entry hit trouble in the first hour when their car ran out of fuel. Alonso had to serve a penalty for a collision with Simona de Silvestro but had to serve it at his first stop rather than take on fuel. Like the Verstappen/Norris entry, Alonso/Barrichello was reinstated.

Alonso had already logged off and gone out for a cycle when he was put back into the race.

The two former Ferrari drivers ended the race in 17th.