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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Motor Racing-Kubica happy to silence doubters with Le Mans win
FILE PHOTO: The 24 Hours of Le Mans - Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France - June 15, 2025 AF Corse's Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Philip Hanson cross the line to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo FILE PHOTO: The 24 Hours of Le Mans - Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France - June 15, 2025 AF Corse's Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Philip Hanson celebrate with their medals and trophy on the podium after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans along with team principal Amato Ferrari REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo Robert Kubica said his triumph at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Sunday, 14 years after a near-fatal rally crash that partially severed his right forearm, should erase any doubts about his capacity to compete in motor racing. The 40-year-old former Formula One driver became the first Polish overall winner of the French endurance race in a car shared with Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson. "I don't think my limitations are limiting behind the wheel. I think if someone had doubts in the past I showed those doubts should not be in place," he told the BBC. Kubica, the first Polish Formula One driver, won the Canadian Grand Prix and finished fourth overall in 2008. He was linked with a move to Ferrari before the crash sidelined him for nearly a year. He returned to motor racing in 2012, focusing mostly on endurance races, before making a return to Formula One in 2019. "There was some very extreme quotes of some people which hurt me because I am the first one who would never like to be back just for marketing or a being a PR muppet," Kubica said. "People pointing the finger, saying maybe it wasn't safe, and having doubts. They are not doing it anymore." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Motor Racing-Kubica happy to silence doubters with Le Mans win
FILE PHOTO: The 24 Hours of Le Mans - Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France - June 15, 2025 AF Corse's Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Philip Hanson celebrate with their medals and trophy on the podium after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans along with team principal Amato Ferrari REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo (Reuters) -Robert Kubica said his triumph at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Sunday, 14 years after a near-fatal rally crash that partially severed his right forearm, should erase any doubts about his capacity to compete in motor racing. The 40-year-old former Formula One driver became the first Polish overall winner of the French endurance race in a car shared with Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson. "I don't think my limitations are limiting behind the wheel. I think if someone had doubts in the past I showed those doubts should not be in place," he told the BBC. Kubica, the first Polish Formula One driver, won the Canadian Grand Prix and finished fourth overall in 2008. He was linked with a move to Ferrari before the crash sidelined him for nearly a year. He returned to motor racing in 2012, focusing mostly on endurance races, before making a return to Formula One in 2019. "There was some very extreme quotes of some people which hurt me because I am the first one who would never like to be back just for marketing or a being a PR muppet," Kubica said. "People pointing the finger, saying maybe it wasn't safe, and having doubts. They are not doing it anymore." (Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Ex-F1 Driver Fulfills Le Mans Dream After Shattering 42 Bones in Horrific Crash
Robert Kubica achieved his championship dream after winning the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside his teammates Phil Hanson and Yifei Ye in the satellite #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P LMH last weekend. The victory marked his huge comeback from a horrific rally crash that broke 42 bones during his Formula One racing days in 2011. Kubica won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix. However, a championship was what he was aiming for while he raced alongside F1's greatest drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. While he was set to join Ferrari for the 2012 campaign, tragedy struck the year before at the Rally Ronde di Andora, where Kubica suffered serious injuries. A guardrail went right through his Skoda Fabia at high speed, affecting Kubica quite severely and leading to a partial amputation of his right forearm. Surprisingly, his co-driver was unharmed in the incident. The event had a big impact on his racing career. A few years later, in 2019 and 2020, another chance at F1 rekindled hopes of success, but Kubica was unable to beat the competition. Life had other plans for the Polish driver, as he managed to win a championship with Ferrari, not in F1, but in the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans, which puts even the best drivers to the test. Kubica and his team won the 2025 race at the Circuit de la Sarthe, marking Ferrari's historic third win in a row. Despite the yellow Ferrari 499P LMH starting the race from 13th place, the team finished with flying colors. Kubica drove for 43% of the race and even managed 59 laps with a non-functioning drinks bottle. Despite the huge roadblock that shattered his F1 dream with Ferrari, he was destined to win with the Maranello outfit several years later. Ferrari released a statement after the race, revealing that the 499P has won every race at the Circuit de La Sarthe since its race debut. It read: "For the third year running, Ferrari has triumphed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, securing the 93rd edition of the French endurance race with the number 83 499P driven by Prancing Horse's official driver Yifei Ye, alongside Phil Hanson and Robert Kubica, who crossed the line in the AF Corse team's Giallo Modena-liveried car. In the fourth round of the 2025 FIA WEC, the number 51 499P of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi took third, ahead of the other official Ferrari – AF Corse car, number 50, driven by Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen. "Thanks to the Italian manufacturer's extraordinary result, Ferrari will now keep the winners' trophy forever – a right granted to those who secure victory in three consecutive editions. "After the wins in 2024 with Fuoco-Molina-Nielsen and the Centenary edition in 2023 with Pier Guidi-Calado-Giovinazzi, the Maranello manufacturer once again climbs to the top step of the podium with a car already etched in motorsport legend – the Ferrari 499P, which has won every race contested at the Circuit de La Sarthe since its competitive debut. "The Maranello manufacturer now boasts 12 overall victories in the world's oldest and most prestigious endurance race between 1949 and 2025. "Ferrari has now secured three consecutive outright victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time since the 1960s, when the Prancing Horse won six editions in a row between 1960 and 1965. The last of those, achieved with the Ferrari 250 LM, was also the final overall triumph in France before its return to the top class of endurance racing starting in 2023." Related Articles Shark Reveals F1 Movie Tech Ahead of ReleaseLewis Hamilton Hints at Chaos Inside Ferrari With Cryptic MessageShane Van Gisbergen Took Notes From Max Verstappen For Mexico Cup Race WinToto Wolff Drops Bombshell After Canadian GP: 'We Need to Learn Why It Worked' 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Ex-F1 Driver Fulfills Le Mans Dream After Shattering 42 Bones in Horrific Crash
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Robert Kubica achieved his championship dream after winning the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside his teammates Phil Hanson and Yifei Ye in the satellite #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P LMH last weekend. The victory marked his huge comeback from a horrific rally crash that broke 42 bones during his Formula One racing days in 2011. Kubica won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix. However, a championship was what he was aiming for while he raced alongside F1's greatest drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. While he was set to join Ferrari for the 2012 campaign, tragedy struck the year before at the Rally Ronde di Andora, where Kubica suffered serious injuries. A guardrail went right through his Skoda Fabia at high speed, affecting Kubica quite severely and leading to a partial amputation of his right forearm. Surprisingly, his co-driver was unharmed in the incident. The event had a big impact on his racing career. A few years later, in 2019 and 2020, another chance at F1 rekindled hopes of success, but Kubica was unable to beat the competition. Race winners, the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P of Robert Kubica (driving), Yifei Ye, and Philip Hanson celebrate as they enter parc ferme at the end of the Le Mans 24 Hour Race on June... Race winners, the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P of Robert Kubica (driving), Yifei Ye, and Philip Hanson celebrate as they enter parc ferme at the end of the Le Mans 24 Hour Race on June 15, 2025 in Le Mans, France. More JamesLife had other plans for the Polish driver, as he managed to win a championship with Ferrari, not in F1, but in the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans, which puts even the best drivers to the test. Kubica and his team won the 2025 race at the Circuit de la Sarthe, marking Ferrari's historic third win in a row. Despite the yellow Ferrari 499P LMH starting the race from 13th place, the team finished with flying colors. Kubica drove for 43% of the race and even managed 59 laps with a non-functioning drinks bottle. Despite the huge roadblock that shattered his F1 dream with Ferrari, he was destined to win with the Maranello outfit several years later. Ferrari released a statement after the race, revealing that the 499P has won every race at the Circuit de La Sarthe since its race debut. It read: "For the third year running, Ferrari has triumphed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, securing the 93rd edition of the French endurance race with the number 83 499P driven by Prancing Horse's official driver Yifei Ye, alongside Phil Hanson and Robert Kubica, who crossed the line in the AF Corse team's Giallo Modena-liveried car. In the fourth round of the 2025 FIA WEC, the number 51 499P of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi took third, ahead of the other official Ferrari – AF Corse car, number 50, driven by Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen. "Thanks to the Italian manufacturer's extraordinary result, Ferrari will now keep the winners' trophy forever – a right granted to those who secure victory in three consecutive editions. "After the wins in 2024 with Fuoco-Molina-Nielsen and the Centenary edition in 2023 with Pier Guidi-Calado-Giovinazzi, the Maranello manufacturer once again climbs to the top step of the podium with a car already etched in motorsport legend – the Ferrari 499P, which has won every race contested at the Circuit de La Sarthe since its competitive debut. "The Maranello manufacturer now boasts 12 overall victories in the world's oldest and most prestigious endurance race between 1949 and 2025. "Ferrari has now secured three consecutive outright victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time since the 1960s, when the Prancing Horse won six editions in a row between 1960 and 1965. The last of those, achieved with the Ferrari 250 LM, was also the final overall triumph in France before its return to the top class of endurance racing starting in 2023."
Observer
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Observer
Kubica wins ‘mental battle' to triumph at Le Mans
*Ferrari win Le Mans for third year in a row *Kubica takes chequered flag for customer AF Corse team *Ye becomes first Chinese driver to win *Porsche Penske second, factory Ferrari third LE MANS, France: Former Formula One driver Robert Kubica has long since tackled the demons of a near-fatal accident 14 years ago but Sunday's victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is arguably his greatest achievement yet. The 40-year-old Pole roared to victory in his bright yellow "privateer" Ferrari to give the Italian marque a third consecutive win in the most famous endurance race in the world. In a thrilling 93rd edition of the race, which saw the top four separated by just over 20 seconds going into the final 15 minutes, Kubica and his AF Corse co-drivers Philip Hanson and Ye Yifei (#83) finished just 14.084sec ahead of a Porsche (#6) driven by Kevin Estre, Matt Campbell and Laurens Vanthoor. In so doing they knocked the two factory Ferraris, who started the race as favourites, into third and fourth. "It's been a long 24 hours but an enjoyable one. Grazie mille, grazie a tutti," said Kubica over the team radio as he took the chequered flag. AF Corse's Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Philip Hanson celebrate on the podium. — Reuters Kubica was one of Formula One's brightest prospects when he won the 2008 Canada Grand Prix but a harrowing accident in a rally in Andorra in 2011 almost cost him his life. Trapped upside down in his car before being freed and whisked to hospital, Kubica suffered several serious injuries and underwent a partial amputation of his right forearm. "What happened was very unfortunate, but I was very lucky," he said after Sunday's victory. "It took me quite a few years, not only to recover physically but also mentally. "What happened happened and I have to accept it. One of the worst periods of my life was when my mind wouldn't accept the fact that my arm was failing." He returned to racing cars, however, winning the WRC2 championship and taking part in sports car races. In 2017 he moved back into Formula One, testing for Renault before racing for Williams in 2019. GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT But Sunday's win which made him the first Pole ever to win Le Mans tops any of his other achievements behind the wheel. "It was quite difficult to live with, but I'm happy to have achieved my personal goals," he said. "The best thing I've achieved in my life - it's nothing to do with racing - it's more the battle I won with my mind." Both of Kubica's co-drivers were also first-time winners with Ye the first Chinese driver to triumph. "I'm at a loss for words," said Ye who arrived in Le Mans at the age of 14 on an exchange programme to try and become a professional driver. "It's going to take me some time to realise everything that's happened today. Right now I feel like I'm dreaming. Maybe in two seconds I'll wake up and none of this will exist. "In China, the car industry has come a long way. When my father was my age, there were no cars on the roads, and we're talking about the 1990s. Becoming a professional driver was impossible." With three of the top four, it was certainly a good day for Ferrari but there will undoubtedly be some at headquarters in Maranello who might not be so happy. As the winning car was not entered directly by the manufacturer, but by the AF Corse team, Ferrari will not take the points for victory in the World Endurance Championship. Cadillac locked out the front row of the grid but #12 of Will Stephens, who had taken pole, had to settle for fifth with the second car (#38), featuring former Formula One world champion Jensen Button, coming home in eighth. — AFP
