Ferrari extended its dominance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by taking a historic third consecutive overall victory, with the No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P crossing the line first after a grueling 387 laps around Circuit de la Sarthe. The 93rd edition of the iconic endurance classic saw record crowds, factory-team drama, and unforgettable personal triumphs.
A Landmark Win for Kubica, Ye, and Hanson
The No. 83 Ferrari was piloted to victory by a formidable lineup: ex-F1 driver Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, and Phil Hanson. The trio drove flawlessly through changing conditions and intense pressure from Porsche and sister Ferrari entries.
The trio’s flawless performance, relentless pace, and resilience through 24 intense hours were finally rewarded after post-race scrutineering ruled out both the No. 83 and No. 50 Ferrari entries. Porsche’s margin of victory was just over 14 seconds, reflecting a race that went down to the wire.
For Kubica, the win was a career-defining moment. Nearly 14 years after a life-threatening rally crash derailed his Formula 1 trajectory, the Polish driver became the first from his country to win Le Mans—joining Fernando Alonso as one of the few to claim both an F1 Grand Prix and a Le Mans victory. Yifei Ye also made history as the first Chinese driver to stand atop the overall Le Mans podium, while Phil Hanson earned his first Hypercar-class victory.
Their triumph was sealed in a tense final few hours. When the factory No. 51 Ferrari spun at the pit entry chicane, Kubica’s No. 83 AF Corse entry took the lead and never relinquished it. Kubica’s final stint included 59 uninterrupted laps—an extraordinary feat in endurance racing.
A Close Fight to the Finish
Despite a start from the back of the grid due to a technical infringement, the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 of Kevin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, and Matt Campbell fought back to claim second overall, finishing a mere 14.084 seconds behind the winning Ferrari.
The No. 51 Ferrari, driven by James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi, and Antonio Giovinazzi, completed the podium but lost second place in the closing hours due to the aforementioned spin. The sister No. 50 Ferrari initially finished fourth but was disqualified post-race due to excessive rear wing flex.
Ferrari’s Dominance Cemented
This victory marks Ferrari’s 12th overall win at Le Mans and their third in a row since returning to top-class prototype racing in 2023. The streak, achieved with three different crews and chassis evolutions of the 499P, mirrors Ferrari's golden age of endurance dominance in the 1960s.
The result has propelled Ferrari to the top of both the FIA World Endurance Championship Manufacturers’ standings and the Hypercar Drivers’ Championship. The No. 51 crew leads the drivers’ table, followed closely by the No. 83’s lineup of Kubica, Ye, and Hanson.
Other Class Winners
LMP2: The No. 43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca took top honors with Jakub Śmiechowski, Tom Dillmann, and Nick Yelloly behind the wheel, continuing Poland's strong showing at Le Mans.
LMGT3: Porsche’s No. 92 Manthey 1st Phorm Racing 911 GT3 R, driven by Richard Lietz, Riccardo Pera, and Ryan Hardwick, won the class—repeating their triumph from 2024.
Stats and Highlights
🏁 387 laps / 5,273 Kilometers completed- The longest distance of any race in the Hypercar era.
🏁Only one safety car period was needed in the 24 hours, highlighting the remarkable consistency and professionalism of the field.
🏁Ferrari has now won four straight WEC rounds this season: Qatar, Imola, Spa, and now Le Mans.
🏁The race began under the ceremonial start of tennis legend Roger Federer, and drew an estimated 332,000 spectators.
Looking Ahead
With its commanding performance and continued upward trajectory, Ferrari has clearly established itself as the team to beat in the modern Hypercar era. But with Porsche pushing them to the final laps, Toyota regrouping, and Cadillac, BMW, and Alpine improving, the fight for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship is far from over.
ARTICLE SPONSORED BY S4R ( ATHLETE, BUSINESS & BRAND DEVELOPMENT)
