Kubica Seals Emotional Le Mans Victory with AF Corse Ferrari

Former Formula 1 star Robert Kubica has claimed a landmark win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, leading the privately-run AF Corse Ferrari team to glory in one of motorsport’s most prestigious endurance races.

Driving the No. 83 Ferrari 499P alongside China’s Yifei Ye and Britain’s Phil Hanson, Kubica crossed the finish line just over 14 seconds ahead of the No. 6 Porsche 963 piloted by Frenchman Kevin Estre.

Once hailed as one of the most talented drivers of his generation alongside Lewis Hamilton, the Polish driver’s Formula 1 career was derailed in 2011 following a rally crash that left him with serious injuries to his right wrist. Sunday’s win marks a remarkable comeback for the 40-year-old, who famously won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix with BMW-Sauber.

Factory Ferraris also fought hard for the win. Antonio Giovinazzi brought the No. 51 car home in third, while teammate Antonio Fuoco finished fourth in the No. 50 entry. Both cars had been in contention for victory until late technical issues cost them pace in the closing stages.

The win marks the third consecutive Le Mans triumph for Ferrari’s 499P, which returned to the top step in 2023 — 50 years after its last win in the top category and during the race’s centenary edition.

“It’s been a long but satisfying 24 hours,” Kubica said over team radio after completing a demanding final stint. “We kept focused and managed the tyres well when it mattered. I’m proud of the entire team — this win is very special.”

The 2025 edition of the race, attended by around 300,000 fans in northwest France, was relatively subdued compared to previous years, with fewer on-track incidents across the 62-car field.

Cadillac’s factory-backed Hertz Team Jota entries, which locked out the front row in qualifying, finished fifth and eighth — the latter featuring 2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button as part of the driver line-up.

Valkyries and V12s: Aston Martin Brings the Noise

One of the standout features of this year’s race was Aston Martin’s long-awaited return to the top hypercar category. Their Valkyrie prototypes — the 007 and 009 — were a sensory delight, thanks to their naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engines and retro-inspired design that echoed the golden era of 1970s endurance racing.

Although not expected to challenge for victory in their debut, both cars successfully completed the race — a promising first step for the returning marque. British talents Harry Tincknell, Tom Gamble and Ross Gunn were among those behind the wheel.

Sportscar racing has seen a surge in manufacturer interest since the introduction of the hypercar class in 2021. Ferrari, Porsche, Toyota, Peugeot, BMW, Alpine, Cadillac, and Aston Martin are all now on the grid, with Hyundai’s Genesis brand set to join in 2026 and entries from McLaren and Ford arriving in 2027.

The vibrant sounds of the Valkyries and the thunderous Cadillac V-Series R contributed to growing fan enthusiasm beyond Le Mans. Ticket sales for the World Endurance Championship’s seven other rounds have increased as the series rides a wave of renewed popularity.

Support Class Highlights

In the LMP2 category, Inter Europol’s No. 43 car secured class honours, while British driver and W Series champion Jamie Chadwick was forced to retire the Idec Sport No. 18 car earlier in the race.

The LMGT3 crown went to the Manthey EMA-run 911 GT3 R, with Austria’s Richard Lietz taking the chequered flag for the Porsche squad.

The next round of the World Endurance Championship is set for 13 July, with the Six Hours of São Paulo up next on the calendar.