Heroic Kubica nets first Le Mans win and third-in-a-row for Ferrari
A marathon stint by the Pole was enough to give the Prancing Horse its third victory since returning to the endurance classic's top class in 2023.
AF Corse's team principal Amato Ferrari, and drivers Yifei Ye, Robert Kubica and Phil Hanson, together with the Global Head of Ferrari Endurance and Corse Clienti Antonello Coletta celebrate with the trophies on the podium after their victory in the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans. Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP
Former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica stayed off possible fatigue over a final three hour stint to give Ferrari its third victory in a row at the 93rd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend.
In becoming the first Pole to win the endurance classic, former Sauber F1 driver Kubica and teammates, Phil Hanson and Yifei Ye, also became the first privateer team to win since 2005 when Champion Racing took victory with the ex-works Audi R8 campaigned by Marco Werner, JJ Lehto and Tom Kristensen.
Results
Hypercar
A race described as comparatively uneventful with only 12 of the 62 entrants falling out and only one safety car period, the winning #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P covered 387 laps to finish ahead of the #6 Penske Porsche 963 of Matt Campbell, Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor.
Despite crossing the line third to make it a 1-3 for the Prancing Horse, the #50 works Ferrari AF Corse entry of Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen were disqualified after post-race inspection determined that the rear wing supports did comply with regulations.
In a statement on Monday evening (16 June) by event organisers, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, the disqualification involved missing bolts from the wing support, as well as an overall deflection of 52 mm versus the recommended 15 mm.
ALSO READ: Ferrari takes second straight win in dramatic 24 Hours of Le Mans
This resulted in the fourth place #51 Ferrari AF Corse entry of James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi and another former F1 driver, Antonio Giovinazzi, moving up a notch to third, and the #12 Hertz Team Jota Cadillac of Alex Lynn, Norman Nato and Will Stevens to fourth.
After a comparatively quiet race where neither it nor its #8 sister car had the pace to compete – not helped by a wheel nut coming off after a pitstop for the latter – the #7 works Toyota Gazoo Racing GR010 of former winners Mike Conway, Nyck de Vries and Kamui Kobayashi finished sixth, which ultimately became fifth following the #50 Ferrari's disqualification.
Out of the 21 cars entered, 18 finished, with the only casualties being the second works Cadillac with engine failure during the night, and the private Whelen entry that stopped on the run to the first corner with the same trouble on Sunday morning.
LMP2
In the second-tier LMP2 class, a late race mishap by the #48 VDS Panis Racing team of Oliver Gray, Esteban Masson and Franck Perera saw victory go to the #43 Inter Europol Competition entry of Tom Dillmann, Jakub Śmiechowski and Nick Yelloly, who themselves were one of the many crews slapped with penalties for speeding in the pitlane during the race.
Taking third in a class making exclusive use of the Gibson-powered Oreca 07 was the #199 AO by TF team of Dane Cameron, Louis Delétraz, P. J. Hyett, and in fourth, the Iron Lynx Proton #9 of Macéo Capietto, Reshad de Gerus and Jonas Ried.
Rounding the top of five of 14 classified LMP2 finishers out of the 17 that started, was the TDS Racing #22 of Mathias Beche, Clément Novalak and Rodrigo Sales.
LM GT3
In the LMP GT3 class, race long leaders, WRT, were forced into an retirement during the night when an electrical problem send their BMW M4 into the gravel with South Africa's Kelvin van der Linde at wheel.
Never challenged since the BMW's departure, victory went to the Porsche factory supposed Manthey 1st Phorm-run 911 GT3 R of Ryan Hardwick, Richard Lietz and Riccardo Pera.
In a top five occupied five different manufactures, the #34 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 of François Hériau, Simon Mann and Alessio Rovera finished second, with the final spot on the podium going to the TF Sport Chevrolet Corvette of Rui Andrade, Charlie Eastwood and Tom van Rompuy.
Filling the remainder of the top five in the 16 class car classified, with one not being classified and six others failing to finishing, was the Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage crewed by Mattia Drudi, Ian James and Zacharie Robichon, and the Akkodis ASP Lexus RC F of José María López, Clemens Schmid and Răzvan Umbrărescu.
NOW READ: Ferrari returns to top spot at Le Mans after over five decades
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
3 hours ago
- The Herald
The Audi RS Q8 is a high-riding supercar
A memorable throwback came across my social media feed this week. Eight years ago this month, we organised an interesting gathering of four exotic, open-air performers for a shootout. All were quite dazzling, of course, but there seemed to be a closer rivalry within the showdown between two contenders: the Audi R8 and Lamborghini Huracán, the two spiffy in Spyder form. While the car with the raging bull on its nose offered the obvious visual flamboyance, it more or less matched the substance wielded by the four-ringed option as the two were largely identical underneath, down to the shared V10 power sources. The kicker was that the Audi cost about half as much. The average buyer in this realm is not likely to rationalise decisions in such a way. If you want a Lamborghini and can afford it, the cheaper option is irrelevant. But for savvy purchasers who might want to fly under the radar and have some leftover change, Audi holds appeal for its low-key performance wares within the Volkswagen Group, viewed against the picks from Porsche and Lamborghini that share ingredients. The Q8, particularly in S and RS iterations, is good proof of this. By now you know that the Volkswagen MLB platform underpins the model, in addition to products such as the Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus. It is a proven architecture that has demonstrated versatility, served in a wide assortment of expressions, from plain vanilla (a cushy Touareg 3.0 TDI) to the fire-breathing V8 RS Q8 Performance we recently tested.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- TimesLIVE
Lanzante's new 95-59 supercar pays tribute to Le Mans glory
British automotive engineering firm Lanzante has confirmed its new limited-run supercar will be called the 95-59. The name is a nod to the Lanzante-run McLaren F1 GTR that famously won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995, while the 59 refers to the number of units planned for production — making this a decidedly rare machine. Details remain scarce, but Lanzante has revealed that the 95-59 will feature a three-seat layout with the driver positioned centrally, echoing the iconic McLaren F1. It will also offer space for luggage and a generous cruising range, pointing to a focus on real-world usability and versatility beyond just raw track performance. The Lanzante 95-59 will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 10.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
McLaren's Le Mans hypercar will be sold to (very few) members of the public
McLaren's Le Mans hypercar will be sold to (very few) members of the public Alongside Ford, McLaren has also committed to joining the Le Mans LMDh Hypercar category from 2027, which will make it one of the most competitive the top tier of the endurance series has ever been. Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! On the weekend of the 93rd running of the iconic and revered Le Mans, McLaren unveiled its soon-to-be challenger, which will officially take on the Circuit de la Sarthe in 2027. Dubbed Project: Endurance, the initiative is a collaboration between McLaren Automotive and McLaren Racing, centred around customer ownership of a genuine Le Mans Hypercar and direct involvement in the development of the brand's 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship challenger. Related: Road Test: Isuzu MU-X 3.0TD Onyx XT 4X4 Participants will be limited to a highly select group of clients that will join the McLaren racing legacy, one that includes victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995, two Indy 500 wins, 190+ Formula 1 Grand Prix victories, and the rare distinction of being the only manufacturer to have claimed motorsport's Triple Crown. The Hypercar itself will be built in partnership with Dallara, which has been critical in McLaren's IndyCar efforts. Behind the cockpit will be a rear-wheel-drive V6 twin-turbo hybrid powertrain, closely related to the one McLaren will field in the WEC's Hypercar class. McLaren says it promises to deliver authentic race-bred performance and the kind of driving experience typically reserved for professional endurance racers. A key selling point for what will realistically be a multi-million rand purchase will be integration into McLaren's factory development programme. The English automaker says that this includes testing phases and strategic briefings; they will shadow the creation of the 2027 WEC car alongside McLaren Racing's engineers, drivers, and management. The experience includes trackside immersion at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027, where McLaren will chase its next Triple Crown, and aim to win all three jewels in a single season once more. Related: All-New Honda Amaze Lands in SA – Pricing and Spec Each Project: Endurance owner will also take part in a two-year global track programme, covering world-class circuits in an arrive-and-drive format. This includes personalised driver coaching, dedicated pit crews, and race engineers at each event to maximise performance and deliver a genuine endurance racing atmosphere. McLaren Group CEO Nick Collins describes the venture as 'a bold, authentic Le Mans Hypercar customer ownership experience', adding that it 'delivers a new dimension in McLaren customer partnership'. His counterpart at McLaren Racing, Zak Brown, echoed the sentiment, calling it 'an incredible chance to own an authentic race car and get closer to the action on track'. More details will be revealed as the programme develops, but for those fortunate enough to be selected, Project: Endurance sounds like the ultimate entry into the world of motorsport. Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post McLaren's Le Mans Hypercar Will Be Sold to (Very Few) Members of the Public appeared first on CAR Magazine.
