Ferrari and Toyota are Le Mans favorites – but what about Porsche?
Last year, Porsche arrived at Le Mans as one of the favourites, riding the momentum of a strong start to its WEC campaign. But when it came down to it, the real fight was between Ferrari and Toyota. In 2025, the German manufacturer comes to La Sarthe in a very different situation, after a quiet opening trio of races.
What Porsche needs to lean on, if it's to chase what would be a record-extending 20th Le Mans win, is exactly what made it strong in last year's championship run.
Advertisement
'Our strengths are consistency and reliability. We didn't have any reliability issues last year during the whole season, and not at Le Mans either, so I think that's a big asset,' explains Kevin Estre. 'We had a lot of problems in year one, but last season was great in terms of reliability. We didn't have any trouble, and the team almost won every race in IMSA, in the U.S.'
'We've shown we have the ability, the talent to win big races, to win championships. I think we ran a great race last year at Le Mans - we were just missing a bit of outright performance.'
'There's strong competition, like we've seen over the last three years, but I feel like this year it's even tighter.
'The newcomers from last year are still learning and improving. You look at the start of the season for BMW, Alpine, and even Peugeot showing up here and there, plus Cadillac arriving with four cars. I think it's going to be a real battle on track.'
Porsche remains Porsche
#6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963, #5 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963
#6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963, #5 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963
Rainier Ehrhardt
Rainier Ehrhardt
Advertisement
With its know-how, experience, and an LMDh prototype that delivered a drivers' title last year, would you count Porsche out? The former winners remain a solid bet for victory, especially when you factor in a Balance of Performance (BoP) unique to the Le Mans circuit, which could very well shake things up. That's what Kevin Estre, who shares the No. 6 car with Laurens Vanthoor and Matt Campbell, is banking on.
'You always have to count on Ferrari and Toyota, that's a given,' the French driver admits. 'Cadillac always has great top speed, they've never quite put it all together, but they're strong. Jota's a great team at Le Mans, we know that. Alpine has had a really solid start to the year, and Peugeot could be in the mix…'
'It's hard to rank the pecking order. I think Ferrari and Toyota are probably still the favourites, and maybe us. They're proven contenders at Le Mans, they've shown it time and again. It's tough to say, but I hope we've improved our package a bit and that we've got the performance needed to fight for the win.'
Kevin Estre, Porsche Motorsport
Kevin Estre, Porsche Motorsport
Rainier Ehrhardt
Rainier Ehrhardt
Advertisement
As Estre rightly points out, the start of the championship almost becomes irrelevant when it comes to Le Mans: 'It's a completely different track compared to the rest: we reach top speeds that are 30 to 40 km/h higher than on other circuits in the championship.'
'There's a new BoP, the track characteristics are different, so it reshuffles the deck. We'll see if we can be as strong as last year over a single lap, and a bit better in the long stints during the race.'
'We've got a new driver with Matt replacing Andre [Lotterer], but the same engineers, the same mechanics — there's no reason why it shouldn't work. We know how to win races, we know how to win championships — we just need to find the performance.'
To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
20 minutes ago
- New York Times
Manchester City squad audit: Pep Guardiola has ‘too many players', but who goes?
Manchester City brushed Juventus aside in a highly impressive 5-2 win to confirm their status as group winners Getty Images Getty Images Having flirted with the idea of making Manchester City's squad bigger to help combat injuries, Pep Guardiola is sticking to his guns and wants to again work with a relatively small group. The problem is that City currently have 32 senior pros. 'We have a long squad, too many players,' Guardiola said on Sunday. 'We cannot go with 26 or 27 players this season because there would be more not playing. 'Step by step, maybe a few players are going to move.' So who should stay and who should go? Sam Lee takes a look... GO FURTHER Manchester City squad audit: Pep Guardiola has 'too many players', but who goes? Getty Images Feeling brave? Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah clearly were this week when they committed the ultimate faux-pas for many in their adopted home. They criticised the food. The Juventus duo did not have their diplomatic hats on when they suggested that Italians "don't have variety" in their cuisine. Now it's got the US versus European food debate fired up with some pretty invested people on both sides of the Atlantic arguing their case. Will there be post match pasta if Juventus win tonight? GO FURTHER How Weston McKennie and Tim Weah wound up a nation: 'Are you going to say Italian food is trash?' 'It's impossible, terribly hot. My toenails were hurting; I couldn't slow down or speed up. It was unbelievable.' Players, fans and executives have been complaining to The Athletic about the heat at the Club World Cup - and it's about to get a lot hotter as a heatwave will shortly hit the U.S., taking temperatures past 100F and turning up the humidity. FIFA says it has cooling breaks in place for players but experts say it should take more proactive action. The Athletic 's staff on the ground explain the issues, how teams are trying to cope, what FIFA is doing and consider if it should do more. Dive deeper below. It would be clumsy to say that Kenan Yildiz would be making a name for himself if he has a good tournament this summer. After extending his contract until 2029 last summer, the Turkey international took over the iconic No 10 shirt worn by some of the greatest players in the club's history — but at just 20, there is still so much to be excited about. Fleet-footed, fearless, and forward-thinking, Yildiz is a box of tricks in his desire to dribble past his opponent. Yildiz's 113 take-ons are more than any other Juventus player in Serie A this season. Much like his team, Yildiz's form has fluctuated this season but there is undoubtedly enough evidence in his performances that he can be the key attacking weapon in Juventus' attack. As the club known as The Old Lady negotiates a tricky period in their recent history, Yildiz looks to be a window into their future. GO FURTHER Club World Cup Group G: A chance for Manchester City and Juventus to end the season positively? Getty Images These tournaments are all about the shared experience — and we would love to hear from you throughout this Club World Cup. Be it a comment, observation, prediction, a question you always wanted answered, or something completely different, we welcome it all. Email us at live@ and have your say. We're already looking forward to reading what you've got for us. Getty Images With just four games left of the group stage at the 2025 Club World Cup, we already know six of the eight last-16 ties — and we have a few cracking ties to look forward to already. Here is how the knockouts are shaping up ahead of today's matches. Saturday 12pm – Palmeiras vs Botafogo – Palmeiras vs Botafogo 4pm – Benfica vs Chelsea Sunday 12pm – Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami – Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami 4pm – Flamengo vs Bayern Munich Monday 3pm – Inter vs Fluminense – Inter vs Fluminense 9pm – Group G winner vs Group H runner-up Tuesday 3pm – Group H winner vs Group G runner-up – Group H winner vs Group G runner-up 3pm – Borussia Dortmund vs Monterrey All times ET Getty Images Juventus vs Manchester City, a clash of two of Europe's heavyweights, is the standout match of the group — and it is not even close. Helpfully, we can use some crumbs of tactical insight from earlier this season, when they faced off in the Champions League, with Juventus running out 2-0 winners in a league-phase fixture in Turin on December 11. Visitors City dominated the possession and territory, pinning Juventus back with wide combinations. However, it was the home side who were sharper in attack, with both goals coming from crosses which City failed to defend properly. At a time when City were still adjusting to not having injured midfielder Rodri around to break up opposition attacks, their vulnerability to the counter was rife in nearly every game. City's rest defence has tightened up in the months since, but keep an eye out to see whether Guardiola's side fall back into old habits this summer. Fans have had to wait until matchday three for the European pair to face off in Orlando, but given this will be the blockbuster tie of the group, you would imagine it will be worth the wait. Getty Images And here is a more easily digestible look at today's four fixtures and where they are all being played. Group G – 3pm ET Juventus vs Manchester City — Camping World Stadium, Orlando Wydad AC vs Al Ain — Audi Field, Washington, DC Group H – 9pm ET Al Hilal vs Pachuca — GEODIS Park, Nashville — GEODIS Park, Nashville RB Salzburg vs Real Madrid — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Both of these teams will be desperate to avoid Real Madrid in the last 16, I imagine. Group G is twinned with Group H and Xabi Alonso's men are in pole position to finish first in the latter. Madrid, currently first, and second-placed Salzburg are level on points and if, as expected, Xabi Alonso's side avoid defeat and top the group, they will face the second-placed team in Group G... which will be decided in this match. All clear? It has been a case of total domination in Group G from Juventus and Manchester City. They have won both of their matches and have already booked their places in the knockouts. The only thing left to be decided is who advances as group winners. As for Al Ain and Wydad AC, there is little else other than pride left to play for. Venue: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida Capacity: 58,500 58,500 Team(s): UCF Knights, Orlando Guardians Camping World Stadium opened before World War II, and it's a huge stadium that is well known in the U.S. as a neutral site stadium for college football games. It has undergone several remodels and expansions that make the venue ideal for big concerts. In that sense, it's clear why FIFA picked Camping World Stadium as one of the stadiums that will host one of the tournament's marquee games. Juventus versus Manchester City will have a U.S. summer tour feel to it. This time it'll be, in theory, a meaningful match in which two European powers battle for first place in Group G. It'll be scorching hot in Orlando, so bring your sunscreen and drink plenty of water. The Athletic Sign up to The Athletic If you're a soccer fan — and you love a plethora of other sports too — there is no better place to follow all your favourite teams, leagues, and players than with The Athletic . From the UK, we've got you covered throughout this expanded Club World Cup and on into the build-up to next summer's World Cup, with Wimbledon tennis next week, F1's iconic European races, and The Open golf all on the way soon too. We have the lot covered and much more besides, so make sure you're fully informed with access to our full experience. And you're in luck — you can subscribe to The Athletic on an exclusive offer here. All matches at this Club World Cup are available to watch on DAZN, so you can watch this afternoon's game in the United States and anywhere else that has access to DAZN. You can also tune into this match via TNT and truTV in the U.S. This match has been chosen for broadcast on free-to-air TV in the UK, via Channel 5. Getty Images The match kicks off at 3pm ET, 12pm midday PT in the United States. That works out as 8pm BST in the UK and 9pm CET in Italy. Getty Images Hello everyone! Our 2025 Club World Cup coverage continues today with a clash of two titans of European football: Juventus and Manchester City. Both have already qualified for the knockout stages, but will be keen to secure top spot in their group to avoid potentially facing Real Madrid in the next round. Who will prevail? The Athletic is the best place to find out.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Euro 2025: Netherlands team guide – a stellar squad with injury issues and a daunting task
As former European champions, having won this competition on home soil when managed by Sarina Wiegman in 2017, the Netherlands know what it takes to win. But this summer looks to be one of their toughest challenges yet on the big stage. They have struggled of late, affected by injuries to key players, including top scorer Vivianne Miedema, and being drawn into the tournament's most difficult group alongside title holders England and Euro 2022 semi-finalists France makes for plenty of jeopardy. Who is the manager? Euro 2025 is a finale of sorts for Andries Jonker. The 62-year-old former Barcelona assistant manager's contract expires following this tournament and it was announced in January he would be leaving the role after three years, with Arjan Veurink — Wiegman's current assistant with England — succeeding him. Advertisement Jonker's legacy is complicated. After the Euro 2022 debacle that ended in a quarter-finals exit under Mark Parsons, he became a salvation figure, reinvigorating a team and a nation that once threatened to dominate the global game. That Jonker did so is unsurprising. His CV includes being on Louis van Gaal's coaching staff at Barca and Bayern Munich, roles at FC Volendam, MVV Maastricht, Willem II and Wolfsburg, as well as being director of the academy at Arsenal for three years. However, some uninspired performances and constant rotations over the past year have led some fans to question whether his magic touch might be deserting him. How do they play? Jonker has been known to use various formations, switching from a 5-3-2 to a more familiar 4-3-3 depending on the opposition. Dominance in possession is still the ideal and, in both tactical setups, the defenders are asked to push high up the pitch in order to pressure the opposition quickly, particularly in the centre, to force turnovers. Who are their three most influential players? The Netherlands are not short of candidates here, but a player growing in stature for Jonker's side is Wieke Kaptein. The 19-year-old Chelsea midfielder has had a breakthrough year with the serial Women's Super League champions and has consistently shown a work ethic, composure and intelligence beyond her years in the centre of the pitch. Advertisement Equally important is Wolfsburg forward Lineth Beerensteyn. The 28-year-old was the Netherlands' top scorer during the qualification campaign for Euro 2025 and her 17 league goals in 20 appearances this season will inspire confidence. And of course, no list would be accurate without including Miedema. The Manchester City striker is one of the global game's most ferocious and intelligent goalscorers. All of this is to say: fitness is the biggest influential player for the Dutch. In their final round of Nations League matches a month ago, they were without first-choice goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, as well as attacking totems Beerensteyn and Miedema. What is their biggest strength? The Netherlands' quality on the ball is inarguable and young talents such as Kaptein and Barcelona's Esmee Brugts are complementing more established players such as Danielle van de Donk, Beerensteyn and Miedema well. Even these young players already have major tournament experience — a huge strength given their tough group. Getting to the knockout phase will take guile as much as craft, something the Dutch boast in abundance. What weakness might other teams be able to exploit? The Netherlands head into the European Championship without an established starting XI. That is not inherently bad and tactical flexibility, particularly during a major tournament, is usually a boon. But with recurring injuries to key players such as Jill Roord, Miedema and Victoria Pelova — and regular rotations in defence — chemistry has been hard to hone. Often, players look unsure of team-mates' positions and can consequently concede possession in dangerous situations. Any notable absentees? They have not had good luck when it comes to fitness. Beerensteyn, Miedema and Van Domselaar were the most recent names on the injury list and the impact was clear as the Dutch were thumped 4-0 away to Germany in the Nations League at the end of May. Beerensteyn is said to be ready to return to competitive play ahead of the summer and Miedema left their training camp altogether before that international break finished due to fitness issues but returned to action and scored twice in a 2-1 friendly win over Finland on Thursday. What is their strongest starting XI? How have they performed over the past 12 months? The Netherlands have quietly gone about their business since the start of 2024, losing five of their 18 matches. Yet performances have not always been convincing and results have begun to suffer. Draws with Finland and Italy were disappointing, but not as damaging as that heavy defeat in Germany, who finished top of their Nations League group. There was also a dull 1-1 draw with Scotland in their final Nations League game a few days later. What are they expected to achieve at these Euros? Ask a Netherlands supporter what the likelihood is of their team going far in Switzerland this summer and the answer is textbook: let's make it out of the group first. Advertisement True enough, Group D is not for the weak of heart: France and England, plus a Wales side making their major tournament debut. Conclusion? At least one big hitter is going home early. The Dutch boast an elite squad and have nous in stepping up on the big stage (you don't win a European Championship and then reach the final of a World Cup two years later by fluke). Yet, recent performances have been shaky and without an established starting XI, they remain a bit of a mystery. Get through the group, however, and this lot could go far. Did you know? The Netherlands announced in April that England women's assistant head coach Veurink will replace Jonker after Euro 2025. Veurink served as an assistant under Wiegman when she was in charge of the Dutch women's side from 2017 to 2021, winning Euro 2017 and reaching the 2019 World Cup final. Advertisement The 38-year-old then followed Wiegman to England in 2021 and helped them win the Euros on home soil the following year. He is considered a 'tactical genius' by some in the English squad. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Netherlands, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Euro 2025: France team guide – will drastic changes transform their fortunes?
France — always in the mix in the major tournaments of the women's game, yet still without a trophy. As the 2019 World Cup's hosts, they lost to eventual champions the United States in the quarter-finals and failed to build a legacy from that tournament. Advertisement Corinne Diacre managed them to a Euro 2022 semi-final but was sacked the following March after the French Football Federation (FFF) said the 'fracture' between players and hierarchy seemed 'irreversible'. Herve Renard brought fresh hope, but left his post last summer after back-to-back quarter-final exits from the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics, which were also staged in France. Who is the manager? Laurent Bonadei, who has previously Renard's assistant, is a man prepared to shake things up, having chosen not to select French legends Wendie Renard (168 caps) and Eugenie Le Sommer (200) for Euro 2025. More on that below. The 55-year-old stepped up to the top job following the Olympics in August, signing a contract until 2027, with France's FA saying it wanted a coach familiar with the French national team and women's football. This is his first senior managerial position, having worked under Renard with the Saudi Arabia men's national team and then France's women. He previously coached youth and reserve sides in the men's game at Paris Saint-Germain and Nice respectively. Advertisement Now, his aim is delivering major-tournament success for his country. How do they play? France set up most often in a 4-3-3 but can also play with a back three. Bonadei wants them to be comfortable in both systems. At times, Sandie Toletti drops deeper as the single 'pivot' (holding midfielder), with creative players Grace Geyoro and Sakina Karchaoui pushing forward as the two 'No 8s' (central midfielders). With the speed of Kadidiatou Diani, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore and the support of full-backs, France can press aggressively to win the ball high up the pitch and launch quick and direct counter-attacks. There is also more pace in the new centre-back partnership of Griedge Mbock and Maelle Lakrar. Advertisement France use their width well, especially on the left with Selma Bacha, a front-footed full-back, and Karchaoui, who puts in teasing crosses. They have occasionally lacked efficiency in front of goal, though. Who are their three most influential players? Add Baltimore, who is coming off a standout debut season at Chelsea, to the dynamic duo of Bacha and Karchaoui, and you have a terrifying trio on the left side. Away from the flair, Paris Saint-Germain captain Geyoro is key to maintaining control in midfield and linking play. Keep an eye on striker Katoto, who was the top scorer at last summer's Olympics, scoring five goals even as her team only won two of their four games. What weakness might other teams exploit? Consecutive quarter-final exits at the World Cup and the Olympics (making it eight defeats at that stage of tournaments for France's women since 2009) raise the question: can they handle the pressure? Despite an abundance of talent, the French have consistently failed to get the job done. New captain Mbock must create a collective greater than the sum of its parts. Any notable absentees? Oh, yes! Bonadei surprisingly omitted former captain Renard, France women's all-time top goalscorer Le Sommer and San Diego Wave's Kenza Dali even before their Nations League games a month ago against Switzerland and Iceland. These 'historic' players, in the coach's words, have 444 caps between them. Advertisement 'As Einstein said, 'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result',' Bonadei told a news conference in May. 'I want different results for this team, so I have gone with a different selection.' What is their strongest starting XI? How have they performed over the past 12 months? After a disappointing performance at their home Olympics under Renard, Bonadei kicked off his tenure with some patchy results: two wins and two defeats, with eight goals scored but seven conceded, including a 4-2 loss to world champions Spain. Since the turn of the year, they have performed very well, winning all six of their Nations League matches. France conceded just two goals and topped their group, qualifying for a semi-final against Germany in October with two games to spare. Advertisement The absences of Renard, Le Sommer and Dali did not seem to rock the boat, and there have been convincing wins in the run-up to the tournament, albeit against a mixed standard of opposition — Switzerland (4-0), Iceland (2-0), Belgium (5-0) and Brazil (3-2). What are they expected to achieve at these Euros? When Renard was appointed, he and the FFF agreed on two key objectives: to reach at least the semi-finals at the 2023 World Cup and last year's Paris-hosted Olympics. Neither happened. This time around the FFF has avoided setting such ambitions and Bonadei has even called his team outsiders, all with an eye on the 2027 World Cup. Of course, both parties would love to win but realistically reaching the semi-finals would meet expectations. Advertisement They face stern opposition in their group: reigning champions England await in the opening game, while their third and final match against the Netherlands could prove crucial to their hopes of progressing to the knockouts. Wales will hardly roll over in the middle game, either. Did you know? Katoto has had rotten luck with major tournaments. The Paris Saint-Germain No 9 was not selected for the 2019 World Cup despite finishing as the French top flight's leading goalscorer the previous season, then suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury in the second group game at Euro 2022 and did not recover from it in time to play in the World Cup a year later. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. France, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
