Ferrari wins again — but not the one you'd expect

Text & Images: Rick Kiewiet

For the third year running, the top step at Le Mans belongs to Ferrari. But this time, it was the satellite-entered #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P that delivered the knockout punch — not the works machines. Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson brought the yellow-liveried car home after 387 laps, marking the first time since Champion Racing’s 2005 triumph that a non-factory team has won Le Mans outright. It was a historic first overall victory for all three drivers — and a milestone for both Poland and China, whose flags fly atop the Le Mans rostrum for the very first time.

The factory Ferraris led much of the race, but things began to shift late in the twentieth hour when the #51 car was caught out by a poorly timed full-course yellow. A second stop in as many laps dropped it behind the #83, and a subsequent off-track moment for Alessandro Pier Guidi handed further control to AF Corse.

What followed was a relentless pursuit by Porsche. Starting last in Hypercar after a qualifying disqualification, the #6 Penske-run 963 of Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and Matt Campbell clawed back into contention through sheer pace and strategy. Estre’s closing stint was a flat-out chase, as Porsche elected to skip tyres and go fuel-only on its final stop. But despite trimming the gap to just over ten seconds, Kubica’s fresh Michelins gave Ferrari the edge to the finish.

The winning margin: 14 seconds.

Behind the lead pair, the factory #51 Ferrari salvaged third ahead of the sister #50, while the #12 JOTA Cadillac rounded out the top five. Toyota's day ended quietly — sixth for the #7, with the #8 GR010 delayed by a wheel nut failure and lengthy repairs. Neither Peugeot nor Alpine threatened the front; BMW’s strong early pace crumbled with late-race issues, and Aston Martin brought both Valkyries to the finish on debut. The #83 Ferrari’s win also sets a new Hypercar-era distance record at Le Mans, completing 387 laps with just one safety car intervention over 24 hours.

LMP2: Redemption and heartbreak in the final hour

LMP2 looked to be settled — then wasn’t — and then was again. The #43 Inter Europol Competition crew of Jakub Smiechowski, Tom Dillmann and Nick Yelloly seemed to have thrown it away with a drive-through penalty for pit lane speeding inside the final hour. But a mechanical problem for Esteban Masson in the leading #48 VDS Panis Racing entry changed everything. Yelloly reeled him in and made the decisive pass with less than 20 minutes to go, giving Inter Europol its second Le Mans class win in three years.

The #199 AO by TF entry, better known as ‘Spike the Dragon,’ rounded out the podium — and won the Pro/Am subclass — with PJ Hyett, Dane Cameron and Louis Delétraz.

LMGT3: Manthey Porsche cruises to second straight win

There was no such drama in LMGT3. The #92 Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche dominated much of the running and delivered a clean, controlled victory for Ryan Hardwick, Riccardo Pera and veteran Richard Lietz — now a six-time Le Mans class winner.

Behind them, the #21 Vista AF Corse Ferrari kept pressure on but had no answer for the yellow-and-black Porsche, finishing 40 seconds adrift. The #81 TF Sport Corvette completed the podium after a steady run.