The legendary Sarthe circuit was once again the scene of a fierce battle this weekend, during the 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And it was Ferrari that emerged victorious, claiming its third consecutive victory in the Hypercar category.
This historic achievement confirms the Italian firm’s return to the top of the endurance world championship.
The 2025 edition was one of the most hotly contested in recent years. After 24 hours of tense racing, marked by unstable weather and numerous twists and turns, the first four crews held on to the lead by less than 38 seconds. A rare performance in such a long event, underlining the exceptional level of competition this year.
Victory went to the #83 Ferrari 499P driven by Yifei Ye, Robert Kubica and Phil Hanson. The trio beat the #6 Penske Porsche by just 14 seconds. The podium was completed by the n°7 Toyota, which drove a solid race despite an aggressive strategy at the end.
Ferrari : triumphant return to the pinnacle of endurance racing
Ferrari made its return to endurance racing’s premier class in 2023, after a 50-year absence, with the 499P – a hybrid hypercar developed specifically for the challenges of the WEC. In the space of three years, the Maranello-based company has achieved a hat-trick of Le Mans titles: 2023, 2024 and now 2025.
This year’s victory is all the more remarkable in that it was achieved with the #83 privateer, supported by AF Corse, and not with the two factory prototypes #50 and #51, delayed by technical problems. This performance demonstrates not only the reliability of the 499P prototype, but also the depth of Ferrari’s endurance program.
The crew of the n°83 shone through its homogeneity: Robert Kubica, a former Formula 1 driver seriously injured in 2011, was praised for his resilience and consistency. He thus becomes the first Polish driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Yifei Ye also made history by becoming the first ever Chinese winner of the event. Phil Hanson, an experienced British endurance driver, completes a complementary trio, combining experience, speed and composure.
Ferrari aims even higher for the future
With this victory, Ferrari has definitively won the 24 Hours of Le Mans Trophy, awarded to any team that wins three times in a row : a rare feat in the history of endurance racing.
With this latest victory, the Italian brand is making no secret of its ambitions : to conquer the 2025 WEC world title. The manufacturer is betting on technical continuity and optimization rather than on redesigning the prototype. A strategy that seems to be paying off, as the 499P has shown exceptional reliability compared to 2024, when mechanical problems weakened the official team’s chances.
Ferrari thus confirms that it is not only back : it has once again become one of the absolute benchmarks in endurance racing, capable of competing with the world’s best structures, whether from Japan, Germany or the United States.
A race full of disappointments for the major manufacturers
Ferrari’s success was based on a strategy of consistency, tire and pit-stop management, and excellent communication between engineers and drivers. The #83 team made no major mistakes, despite constant pressure and fierce competition from Porsche, Toyota and Cadillac. Nevertheless, the disappointment was not lost on the latter.
Porsche showed its competitiveness in qualifying, with the #6 car (Porsche Penske Motorsport) taking 3rd place on the grid, and the #5 qualifying in 4th position. In the race, however, performance failed to live up to expectations. The n°6 Porsche finished in 22nd place, while the n°5 crossed the line in 9th position, one lap behind the winner. Technical problems and less effective race strategies hampered their performances.
For Toyota, qualifying was difficult, with the n°7 car qualifying in 17th position, partly due to a yellow flag exit that disrupted their session. In addition, car n°6 was disqualified for not respecting the minimum weight, relegating it to 21st place on the grid. Despite these setbacks, Toyota produced a solid race, with the #8 car finishing in 2nd place, just 14 seconds behind the victorious Ferrari. This performance demonstrates the team’s resilience and ability to overcome challenges.
Finally, Cadillac dominated qualifying, with the n°12 and n°38 cars occupying the first two places on the grid, a rare feat in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The n°12 car, driven by Alex Lynn, set the fastest time of 3:22.85. In the race, however, Cadillac was unable to maintain this performance. The n°12 car finished in 17th place, while the n°38 crossed the line in 18th. Reliability problems and less effective race strategies contributed to this drop in the standings.
Read also > [Luxus+ Magazine] After a 50-year absence, the iconic Ferrari makes its return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Featured photo : © Getty Images
