Latest news with #CircuitDeLaSarthe
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ferrari Unveils 1,200-Horsepower F80 Hypercar at Le Mans Ahead of Historic Race
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector Ferrari made headlines this week at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe, unveiling its new flagship hypercar—the F80—as preparations ramped up for the prestigious 2025 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With an extraordinary 1,200 horsepower, the F80 marks a groundbreaking chapter for Ferrari, drawing inspiration directly from the automaker's recent dominance in endurance racing. The F80 follows in the footsteps of Ferrari's celebrated halo supercars—such as the iconic 288 GTO, F40, F50, Enzo, and LaFerrari—each recognized as legendary collector cars in their own right. Powered by an advanced hybrid powertrain featuring a twin-turbocharged V6 engine paired with electric motors, the F80 represents the pinnacle of Ferrari's road-going performance technology. The roots of this hybrid powerhouse run deep into motorsport. The F80 inherits extensive engineering expertise and cutting-edge technology from Ferrari's triumphant 499P hypercar, which captured back-to-back overall victories at Le Mans upon Ferrari's return to the event's top category after a 50-year hiatus. Unlike its race-bound counterpart, however, the F80 is unrestrained by racing regulations, allowing engineers to unleash its full potential. The resulting 1,200 horsepower makes it the most powerful Ferrari road car ever produced, demonstrating the brand's commitment to pushing automotive performance boundaries. Ferrari's decision to unveil the F80 at Le Mans underscores the importance of the event to the automaker's heritage and future ambitions. The Circuit de la Sarthe provided a fitting backdrop for the hypercar's official photoshoot, highlighting Ferrari's continued dedication to both performance excellence and motorsport legacy. As Ferrari seeks a third consecutive win at this year's race, the unveiling of the F80 signals an exciting new era for the storied marque, bringing the thrill and pedigree of endurance racing directly to the road in spectacular fashion. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
BBC News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Le Mans win proves injury doubters wrong
By any normal yardstick, the Le Mans 24 Hours is one of the most difficult and demanding races in concentration levels alone are virtually impossible to uphold, on public roads at more than 200mph, much of it in the dead of night - a blend of headlights and engine drones creating an almost tortuous assault on the Robert Kubica won the race at the age of 40, with a severely damaged right arm - the legacy of a horrific rally crash 14 years ago which nearly took his life and put paid to a glittering career as a Formula 1 driver who could have won world at Le Mans is vindication for a man whose unsuccessful return to F1 a few years ago was called into question. His talent, though, never was."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," says Kubica defiantly."I'm driving and I'm happy. I remember when I was rejoining F1, there was a lot of rumours and I understand: You see my hand. It's normal to ask questions... if I'm capable, if it's safe."And there was some very extreme quotes of some people which hurt me because I'm the first one who would never like to be back just for marketing or a being a PR muppet." Unfancied, but part of Le Mans 24 history now Victory at the Circuit de la Sarthe on Sunday was exhausting for Kubica, still "dampened" through fatigue after "only getting two hours' sleep" across a race in which he spent more than three and a half hours in the car across five stints, consuming 12-13,000 calories just to stay a result, Ferrari's 499P is a Le Mans icon, having won the race three times in a row - the previous two years by the works cars. Kubica's win was in the privately entered AF Corse - yellow livered as a nod to the early days of Ferrari's time in Modena before Enzo Ferrari moved operations to the now-famous Maranello near Ferrari and the AF Corse team are closely linked, but victory ahead of the red cars is nevertheless more so given the unconventional crew of Kubica, Chinese youngster Ye Yifei and Britain's Phil Hanson. All unfancied at the start, all part of history now."Robert is great to have as a team-mate - he is a great driver, but we also call him the 'technical director' as well because he has so much knowledge," says Ye, who became the first Chinese winner of Le Mans on Sunday. 'Driving the best medicine' Since winning the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix for the big budget BMW-Sauber F1 team, Kubica had proven his worth as cool-headed decision maker in the cockpit, during an era when Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel came to a season of keeping up his high standards in a Renault not befitting of them, Kubica took part in the Ronde di Andora rally, and everything crashed into a barrier and was trapped for more than an hour after severely injuring the right-hand side of his body, and eventually having his right arm partially amputated."I have serious limitations in my right arm but I don't remember how I was driving before; this is how I am now - it's probably one of the biggest successes of my life: at one period of my recovery driving was my best medicine."I can see someone watching my hand, which is normal; but in the end when driving I'm fully in myself. Honestly, I have bigger limitations [elsewhere] in daily life than the race cars."But it was in driving racing cars where so much doubt was cast over Kubica when he returned to F1 full-time in 2019. Many wanted him back behind the wheel, despite the fact he would have to drive the car differently because of the lack of space in an F1's car's cockpit. In an uncompetitive Williams, Kubica was beaten regularly by his up-and-coming team-mate George Russell."People pointing the finger, saying maybe it wasn't safe, and having doubts. They are not doing it anymore," says Kubica defiantly."I asked myself three years ago… I was thinking I should stop. But I'm the most lucky person around the world. I have a holiday all year because I'm doing something I like; for me racing is everything."Everything I do in daily life is to prepare for the race track. I don't know what [else] I would do - [stopping] is a big decision, and a scary one."The passion is still there; the fire is still there. My main engine pushing me is my passion."
The Drive
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Kubica's Le Mans Win 14 Years After Near-Death Crash Is Racing's Best Comeback Story
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Robert Kubica grew up racing against some of the best drivers in modern times. He rubbed elbows and banged wheels with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg as he raced his way up the brutal European ladder kids must climb to be noticed by Formula 1 talent scouts. The Polish driver ultimately found some success, with a win at the 2008 Canadian GP marking the peak of his rollercoaster-like racing career. Three years later, his life nearly came to an end after a horrific rally crash left him mangled; his racing career seemingly gone overnight. Yet, it wasn't. Kubica didn't know it yet, and of course, neither did we. After a brief stint in F1 in 2019 and 2020, he failed to measure up to his old peers, let alone keep up with the fresher, younger talent. But none of that mattered Sunday, when, 14 years after everyone wrote him off to the sidelines, Kubica crossed the finish line at the Circuit de la Sarthe to claim the overall 24 Hours of Le Mans win with Ferrari. To say that it was a moment of redemption would be an understatement. It was a moment of resurrection for the 40-year-old—the resurrection of his career, his dreams, his talent, and maybe even the bit of soul he left behind at the scene of his 2011 crash. Getty Even more triumphantly, his Le Mans win came behind the wheel of a Ferrari, though not exactly a scarlet red one. His No. 83 Ferrari AF Corse is bright yellow—only the factory Ferraris get to wear their usual shade of red in the World Endurance Championship. This connection to Maranello makes Kubica's win even more ironic (and momentous), as it was Ferrari who had reportedly offered the Pole a contract for the 2012 F1 season, a contract he couldn't fulfill after his crash. Nearly a decade and a half later, Kubica won with Ferrari anyway. Kubica didn't do it alone, of course; his teammates, British racing driver Philip Hanson and China's first Le Mans overall winner Ye Yifei, drove incredibly well during the twice-around-the-clock race. The No. 83 AF Corse struggled in qualifying and started the race back in 13th, the worst qualifying Ferrari. The two factory Ferraris managed to secure the seventh and 11th spots on the grid, and as previous back-to-back winners, they were the favorites to win the race. Getty Yet, that's not how things went down. Through some incredible race management of their own, and the bad luck of others, the yellow Ferrari slowly inched its way to the front, where it would remain until the Rolex-branded timer showed zero hours and zero minutes left, 387 laps later. In fact, the race lasted a wee bit longer than 24 hours, as Kubica crossed the line to start his final lap with just a few seconds left on the clock. Behind the No. 83 was the No. 6 Porsche Penske brought home by Kevin Estre, while the No. 51 factory Ferrari came in third place with Antonio Giovinazzi at the wheel. The Hypercar category's top five was rounded up by the second factory Ferrari, the No. 50 of Antonio Fuoco in fourth place, and the pole-sitter No. 12 Cadillac of Alex Lynn in fifth. Getty Alessio Morgese Sunday's victory is one of the greatest comeback stories of recent years, and it happened at the right time in Kubica's life and career. At age 40, he's not the oldest driver on the grid, but he's definitely not the youngest. It's unclear how many more years Kubica has left in the tank, but it's safe to assume that his new title of Le Mans Overall Winner will, at the very least, put a couple of contract offers on his desk. The ball is in his court now; he is in control of his destiny. Got a tip? Email us at tips@
Auto Blog
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Ferrari's New 296 Speciale Isn't for Weekend Warriors
The new car celebrates Ferrari's recent dominance in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Celebrating Ferrari's Historic Win At Le Mans With Robert Kubica crossing the finishing line at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Ferrari clinched victory at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking an impressive three-peat for the Prancing Horse. Following consecutive wins in 2023 and 2024, the Italian marque won the Hypercar category with its 499P, awash in its signature red and yellow livery. Primarily made to honor the initial back-to-back win, but perfectly time after last weekend's victory, Ferrari has introduced a special version of the 296 Speciale. Dubbed the 296 Speciale with Piloti Ferrari configuration, this model is the latest showcase of Ferrari's Tailor Made personalization program, and it's not intended for your average Ferrari customer. This one's for racers – specifically, Ferrari's community of client-drivers involved in official motorsport activities, both competitive and non-competitive. A Tribute to Ferrari's Historic Return to Top-Level Endurance Racing Visually, the car is a tribute to Ferrari's racing success. Buyers can choose from four motorsport-inspired paint finishes: Rosso Scuderia, Blu Tour De France, Nero Daytona, and Argento Nürburgring. The livery – drawn directly from the 499P – features Giallo Modena accents, a hand-painted WEC logo, Italian flag detailing on the front bumper, and a customer-selected racing number. The show car, which was revealed on the eve of this year's Le Mans, bore number 51, honoring the trio of Pier Guidi, Calado, and Giovinazzi's 2023 win during Ferrari's historic return to top-level endurance racing. Inside, the cabin carries over the motorsport theme. It features racing seats trimmed in black Alcantara and fire-retardant materials used in official driver suits. The racing number appears again on interior carbon-fiber trim, while details like a metal footwell and carbon-fiber sill plates are customizable. A carbon plaque finalizes the car's identity, reinforcing its exclusivity. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Untouched Underneath The Skin Ferrari didn't touch the 296 Speciale's mechanicals for the Piloti Ferrari configuration, nor does it need to. The 296 Speciale is a sharpened, more focused evolution of the already potent 296 GTB. Its hybrid powertrain, combining a 120-degree twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor, puts out 868 horsepower. The Speciale benefits from some upgrades from the GTB, though, including a lighter combustion engine with F1-derived components, a reworked DCT gearbox with quicker shifts, revised chassis geometry, and an advanced 'extra boost' software system that delivers peak power during flat-out laps. Aero has been amped up by 20% compared to the GTB. Source: Ferrari About the Author Jacob Oliva View Profile
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ferrari Driver Punches Competitor's Car in Le Mans Support Race
The Road to Le Mans Race 2 at Circuit de la Sarthe, on Saturday morning, kicked off to a messy start with multiple incidents on lap one, including an on-track altercation between a driver and a competitor's car. The No. 23 Biogas Motorsport Ferrari 296 GT3 piloted by Josep Comadira Mayloa collected the No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari 293 of Gino-Generoso Forgione. Frustrated that his race was over, Forgione exited his vehicle, walked over to his competitor, and began kicking the door and throwing punches at the driver-side window. Forgione was put under investigation for his aggressive behavior in the incident. Ultimately, Lena Buhler and Mattéo Quintarelli in the No. 20 23 Events Racing Ligier JS would hold on to win the race, with Buhler becoming the first woman with a Road to Le Mans overall race win. The No. 2 DKR Engineering Ginetta G61-LT-P325 EVO Toyota won the LMP3 category, with the No. 63 Team Motopark Mercedes Motopark winning the GT3 category that saw the Ferraris out early. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
