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The Citizen
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Heroic Kubica nets first Le Mans win and third-in-a-row for Ferrari
A marathon stint by the Pole was enough to give the Prancing Horse its third victory since returning to the endurance classic's top class in 2023. AF Corse's team principal Amato Ferrari, and drivers Yifei Ye, Robert Kubica and Phil Hanson, together with the Global Head of Ferrari Endurance and Corse Clienti Antonello Coletta celebrate with the trophies on the podium after their victory in the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans. Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP Former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica stayed off possible fatigue over a final three hour stint to give Ferrari its third victory in a row at the 93rd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend. In becoming the first Pole to win the endurance classic, former Sauber F1 driver Kubica and teammates, Phil Hanson and Yifei Ye, also became the first privateer team to win since 2005 when Champion Racing took victory with the ex-works Audi R8 campaigned by Marco Werner, JJ Lehto and Tom Kristensen. Results Hypercar A race described as comparatively uneventful with only 12 of the 62 entrants falling out and only one safety car period, the winning #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P covered 387 laps to finish ahead of the #6 Penske Porsche 963 of Matt Campbell, Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor. Despite crossing the line third to make it a 1-3 for the Prancing Horse, the #50 works Ferrari AF Corse entry of Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen were disqualified after post-race inspection determined that the rear wing supports did comply with regulations. In a statement on Monday evening (16 June) by event organisers, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, the disqualification involved missing bolts from the wing support, as well as an overall deflection of 52 mm versus the recommended 15 mm. ALSO READ: Ferrari takes second straight win in dramatic 24 Hours of Le Mans This resulted in the fourth place #51 Ferrari AF Corse entry of James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi and another former F1 driver, Antonio Giovinazzi, moving up a notch to third, and the #12 Hertz Team Jota Cadillac of Alex Lynn, Norman Nato and Will Stevens to fourth. After a comparatively quiet race where neither it nor its #8 sister car had the pace to compete – not helped by a wheel nut coming off after a pitstop for the latter – the #7 works Toyota Gazoo Racing GR010 of former winners Mike Conway, Nyck de Vries and Kamui Kobayashi finished sixth, which ultimately became fifth following the #50 Ferrari's disqualification. Out of the 21 cars entered, 18 finished, with the only casualties being the second works Cadillac with engine failure during the night, and the private Whelen entry that stopped on the run to the first corner with the same trouble on Sunday morning. LMP2 In the second-tier LMP2 class, a late race mishap by the #48 VDS Panis Racing team of Oliver Gray, Esteban Masson and Franck Perera saw victory go to the #43 Inter Europol Competition entry of Tom Dillmann, Jakub Śmiechowski and Nick Yelloly, who themselves were one of the many crews slapped with penalties for speeding in the pitlane during the race. Taking third in a class making exclusive use of the Gibson-powered Oreca 07 was the #199 AO by TF team of Dane Cameron, Louis Delétraz, P. J. Hyett, and in fourth, the Iron Lynx Proton #9 of Macéo Capietto, Reshad de Gerus and Jonas Ried. Rounding the top of five of 14 classified LMP2 finishers out of the 17 that started, was the TDS Racing #22 of Mathias Beche, Clément Novalak and Rodrigo Sales. LM GT3 In the LMP GT3 class, race long leaders, WRT, were forced into an retirement during the night when an electrical problem send their BMW M4 into the gravel with South Africa's Kelvin van der Linde at wheel. Never challenged since the BMW's departure, victory went to the Porsche factory supposed Manthey 1st Phorm-run 911 GT3 R of Ryan Hardwick, Richard Lietz and Riccardo Pera. In a top five occupied five different manufactures, the #34 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 of François Hériau, Simon Mann and Alessio Rovera finished second, with the final spot on the podium going to the TF Sport Chevrolet Corvette of Rui Andrade, Charlie Eastwood and Tom van Rompuy. Filling the remainder of the top five in the 16 class car classified, with one not being classified and six others failing to finishing, was the Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage crewed by Mattia Drudi, Ian James and Zacharie Robichon, and the Akkodis ASP Lexus RC F of José María López, Clemens Schmid and Răzvan Umbrărescu. NOW READ: Ferrari returns to top spot at Le Mans after over five decades
Newsweek
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Ex-F1 Driver Fulfills Le Mans Dream After Shattering 42 Bones in Horrific Crash
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Robert Kubica achieved his championship dream after winning the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside his teammates Phil Hanson and Yifei Ye in the satellite #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P LMH last weekend. The victory marked his huge comeback from a horrific rally crash that broke 42 bones during his Formula One racing days in 2011. Kubica won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix. However, a championship was what he was aiming for while he raced alongside F1's greatest drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. While he was set to join Ferrari for the 2012 campaign, tragedy struck the year before at the Rally Ronde di Andora, where Kubica suffered serious injuries. A guardrail went right through his Skoda Fabia at high speed, affecting Kubica quite severely and leading to a partial amputation of his right forearm. Surprisingly, his co-driver was unharmed in the incident. The event had a big impact on his racing career. A few years later, in 2019 and 2020, another chance at F1 rekindled hopes of success, but Kubica was unable to beat the competition. Race winners, the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P of Robert Kubica (driving), Yifei Ye, and Philip Hanson celebrate as they enter parc ferme at the end of the Le Mans 24 Hour Race on June... Race winners, the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P of Robert Kubica (driving), Yifei Ye, and Philip Hanson celebrate as they enter parc ferme at the end of the Le Mans 24 Hour Race on June 15, 2025 in Le Mans, France. More JamesLife had other plans for the Polish driver, as he managed to win a championship with Ferrari, not in F1, but in the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans, which puts even the best drivers to the test. Kubica and his team won the 2025 race at the Circuit de la Sarthe, marking Ferrari's historic third win in a row. Despite the yellow Ferrari 499P LMH starting the race from 13th place, the team finished with flying colors. Kubica drove for 43% of the race and even managed 59 laps with a non-functioning drinks bottle. Despite the huge roadblock that shattered his F1 dream with Ferrari, he was destined to win with the Maranello outfit several years later. Ferrari released a statement after the race, revealing that the 499P has won every race at the Circuit de La Sarthe since its race debut. It read: "For the third year running, Ferrari has triumphed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, securing the 93rd edition of the French endurance race with the number 83 499P driven by Prancing Horse's official driver Yifei Ye, alongside Phil Hanson and Robert Kubica, who crossed the line in the AF Corse team's Giallo Modena-liveried car. In the fourth round of the 2025 FIA WEC, the number 51 499P of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi took third, ahead of the other official Ferrari – AF Corse car, number 50, driven by Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen. "Thanks to the Italian manufacturer's extraordinary result, Ferrari will now keep the winners' trophy forever – a right granted to those who secure victory in three consecutive editions. "After the wins in 2024 with Fuoco-Molina-Nielsen and the Centenary edition in 2023 with Pier Guidi-Calado-Giovinazzi, the Maranello manufacturer once again climbs to the top step of the podium with a car already etched in motorsport legend – the Ferrari 499P, which has won every race contested at the Circuit de La Sarthe since its competitive debut. "The Maranello manufacturer now boasts 12 overall victories in the world's oldest and most prestigious endurance race between 1949 and 2025. "Ferrari has now secured three consecutive outright victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time since the 1960s, when the Prancing Horse won six editions in a row between 1960 and 1965. The last of those, achieved with the Ferrari 250 LM, was also the final overall triumph in France before its return to the top class of endurance racing starting in 2023."
Scottish Sun
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
F1 icon wins Le Mans 24 Hours race more than a decade on from horror crash that almost killed him and broke 42 bones
Kubica and a team-mate both made history for their nations with the win Man of the hour F1 icon wins Le Mans 24 Hours race more than a decade on from horror crash that almost killed him and broke 42 bones Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMULA ONE cult hero Robert Kubica enjoyed a fairytale race win at the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours. The 40-year-old took the chequered flag driving the Ferrari number 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P, also driven by China's Yifei Ye and Britain's Phil Hanson. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶!🏆 The #83 499P seals the 𝗵𝗮𝘁-𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗿. With 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗞𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗰𝗮, 𝗬𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗶 𝗬𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻, Ferrari has shone… — 24 Hours of Le Mans (@24hoursoflemans) June 15, 2025 7 Robert Kubica crossed the line to win the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours race Credit: AFP 7 It comes more than a decade after he was involved in a nearly fatal crash Credit: Reuters 7 A huge rally car wreck in 2011 left Kubica fighting for his life Credit: AFP 7 He suffered 42 broken bones and a partially severed arm, while it also robbed him of the chance to race for Ferrari in F1 Credit: AP:Associated Press 7 But Kubica completed a fairytale comeback to win one of the most prestigious prizes in motorsport Credit: EPA 7 Kubica raced to victory alongside China's Yifei Ye and Britain's Phil Hanson. Credit: AFP Kubica was once considered to be in an elite crop of F1 talent alongside Lewis Hamilton as he took his maiden win at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix. In 2011 the Pole had agreed to sign for the Ferrari F1 team for the 2012 season before disaster struck as he was involved in a devastating rally crash that almost killed him. Kubica was left with 42 broken bones, a partially severed wrist and lost three quarters of his blood volume after being trapped in his car for more than an hour before rescue workers managed to free him. He underwent a seven-hour operation by seven doctors before having two further operations to repair fractures in his leg, shoulder and arm. READ MORE IN MOTORSPORT GEOR DROPPING Russell's X-rated message after Canada pole tees up big Verstappen battle As a result he spent months recovering from his injuries and was robbed of the chance to race for the Scuderia in F1. Kubica returned to motorsport in the World Rally Championship in 2013 and went on to win 14 Stages before he made a stunning return to F1 to drive for Williams. Initially he started out as the team's reserve driver in 2018 before he was given a full seat in 2019 to partner then F2 champion George Russell. He then left his role in 2020 after managing just a single point, but did remain as a reserve driver for Alfa Romeo. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK In 2023 he was crowned champion of the World Endurance Championship, while he also won two Le Mans series in 2021 and 2024. However, top spot in the iconic 24-hour race eluded him as he twice finished as a runner-up and was forced to retire from the 2024 edition. Fernando Alonso drives to victory at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 2018 But this year Kubica finally added the iconic motorsport event to his lucrative racing CV in front of a sell-out crowd - which sees around 300,000 fans gather for the showpiece. Kubica drove a long final stint to achieve the prestigious victory for Ferrari, which is their third year in a row winning the race. Speaking over his team radio, he said: "It's been a long 24 hours but an enjoyable one - grazie mille, grazie a tutti." He later said to TNT Sports: "Winning Le Mans is special. "It's been a demanding week - we made everything possible. We kept our heads down when we had to push, and when not we took care of the tyres. "I'm happy for myself, my team-mates, AF Corse and Ferrari winning three times in row. A better scenario, we could not have." Kubica joins two-time Le Mans and two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso as the only drivers to have won an F1 race and Le Mans this century. He is also the first Polish driver to win the iconic race. Team-mate Yifei Ye also became the first ever Chinese driver to take an overall win at Le Mans 24 Hours. Motorsport fans will also have the chance to sink their teeth into the F1 Canadian Grand Prix, where Russell took pole ahead of Max Verstappen.
The Irish Sun
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
F1 icon wins Le Mans 24 Hours race more than a decade on from horror crash that almost killed him and broke 42 bones
FORMULA ONE cult hero Robert Kubica enjoyed a fairytale race win at the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours. The 40-year-old took the chequered flag driving the Ferrari number 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P, also driven by China's Yifei Ye and Britain's Phil Hanson. 7 Robert Kubica crossed the line to win the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours race Credit: AFP 7 It comes more than a decade after he was involved in a nearly fatal crash Credit: Reuters 7 A huge rally car wreck in 2011 left Kubica fighting for his life Credit: AFP 7 He suffered 42 broken bones and a partially severed arm, while it also robbed him of the chance to race for Ferrari in F1 Credit: AP:Associated Press 7 But Kubica completed a fairytale comeback to win one of the most prestigious prizes in motorsport Credit: EPA 7 Kubica raced to victory alongside China's Yifei Ye and Britain's Phil Hanson. Credit: AFP Kubica was once considered to be in an elite crop of F1 talent alongside Lewis Hamilton as he took his maiden win at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix. In 2011 the Pole had agreed to sign for the Ferrari F1 team for the 2012 season before disaster struck as he was involved in a devastating rally crash that almost killed him. Kubica was left with 42 broken bones, a partially severed wrist and lost three quarters of his blood volume after being trapped in his car for more than an hour before rescue workers managed to free him. He underwent a seven-hour operation by seven doctors before having two further operations to repair fractures in his leg, shoulder and arm. READ MORE IN MOTORSPORT As a result he spent months recovering from his injuries and was robbed of the chance to race for the Scuderia in F1. Kubica returned to motorsport in the World Rally Championship in 2013 and went on to win 14 Stages before he made a stunning return to F1 to drive for Williams. Initially he started out as the team's reserve driver in 2018 before he was given a full seat in 2019 to partner then F2 champion George Russell. He then left his role in 2020 after managing just a single point, but did remain as a reserve driver for Alfa Romeo. Most read in Motorsport BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK In 2023 he was crowned champion of the World Endurance Championship, while he also won two Le Mans series in 2021 and 2024. However, top spot in the iconic 24-hour race eluded him as he twice finished as a runner-up and was forced to retire from the 2024 edition. Fernando Alonso drives to victory at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 2018 But this year Kubica finally added the iconic motorsport event to his lucrative racing CV in front of a sell-out crowd - which sees around 300,000 fans gather for the showpiece. Kubica drove a long final stint to achieve the prestigious victory for Ferrari, which is their third year in a row winning the race. Speaking over his team radio, he said: "It's been a long 24 hours but an enjoyable one - grazie mille, grazie a tutti." He later said to TNT Sports: "Winning Le Mans is special. "It's been a demanding week - we made everything possible. We kept our heads down when we had to push, and when not we took care of the tyres. "I'm happy for myself, my team-mates, AF Corse and Ferrari winning three times in row. A better scenario, we could not have." Kubica joins two-time Le Mans and two-time F1 champion He is also the first Polish driver to win the iconic race. Team-mate Yifei Ye also became the first ever Chinese driver to take an overall win at Le Mans 24 Hours. Motorsport fans will also have the chance to sink their teeth into the F1 Canadian Grand Prix, where 7
