Robert Kubica completed a stirring chapter in motorsport history by clinching victory in the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours alongside teammates Ye Yifei of China and Philip Hanson of Britain. Driving the No 83 privateer Ferrari 499P run by AF Corse, Ferrari’s works partner, the trio secured Ferrari’s third successive overall win at the endurance classic, marking a milestone for both Poland and China as they celebrated their first ever overall Le Mans winners.
Kubica’s triumph was particularly emotional. Once a rising Formula One star, his career was derailed in 2011 after a rally crash that resulted in the partial amputation of his right forearm. At the time, he had been slated to join Ferrari’s F1 team the following season. Yet through sheer determination and resilience, Kubica returned to racing and has now captured one of the sport’s most coveted prizes. In a grueling finale, he completed five stints over three hours of relentless racing to bring the Ferrari home in first place, navigating high-pressure conditions with composure and precision.
The victory came in one of the most competitive Le Mans fields in recent memory. The hypercar class featured a deep pool of manufacturers including Toyota, Porsche, Cadillac, Peugeot, Alpine, BMW, and Aston Martin, with Ford and McLaren set to join the fray by 2027. The pace was unrelenting throughout, with only one safety car deployed and mere seconds separating the top contenders after 24 hours of racing.
Crossing the line just 14 seconds behind was the No 6 Porsche of Kevin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and Matt Campbell. Despite starting at the back of the hypercar field due to a disqualification in qualifying, the Porsche made an astonishing comeback. Estre charged through the pack from the outset, reaching third by the second hour and remaining a threat throughout. The No 51 Ferrari of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi took third, with the No 50 Ferrari of Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen finishing fourth all within 30 seconds of the winner.
Ferrari had appeared on course to win with one of its works entries until Pier Guidi spun into the gravel with under four hours remaining, relinquishing the lead to the No 83. The privateer crew seized the opportunity and fended off intense pressure from Porsche to the end.
In the LMP2 category, the Inter Europol Competition Oreca driven by Tom Dillmann, Jakub Smiechowski, and Nick Yelloly took victory, while the LMGT3 class was won by the Manthey Porsche trio of Richard Lietz, Riccardo Pera, and Ryan Hardwick.
