Ferrari made historical past at this yr’s 24 Hours of Le Mans with a 3rd straight victory, as former F1 star Robert Kubica crossed the road simply 13 seconds forward of Porsche in a dramatic photo-finish. With 300,000 spectators, a full Hypercar grid and one of many tightest leads to years, the legendary race delivered spectacle on and off the monitor, writes our motoring editor, Mark Whitchurch
One of many world’s most well-known motor races delivered one in all its closest finishes in years on Sunday 15th June, as Ferrari took victory on the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans by simply 13 seconds after a full day and night time of racing.
The profitable automotive, a Ferrari 499P run by the impartial AF Corse crew, accomplished 386 laps of the Circuit de la Sarthe in northwest France. Behind the wheel on the end line was Polish driver Robert Kubica, a former System 1 star, who secured Ferrari’s third straight win at Le Mans and have become the primary Polish driver ever to win the legendary occasion.
Kubica’s drive included almost ten hours within the automotive, with a closing three-and-a-half-hour stint underneath fixed strain from the chasing Porsche. When the chequered flag dropped at 4pm on Sunday, simply 13 seconds separated the highest two vehicles, an astonishingly tight margin after 24 hours of continuous racing.
Held yearly since 1923 (with pauses for battle), the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the oldest and most prestigious endurance race on the earth. Reasonably than racing for pace over a set distance, drivers goal to cowl the best distance doable in 24 hours. Groups race by way of the night time, change drivers in pit stops, and battle fatigue, technique and engineering limits.
The race takes place close to the city of Le Mans in north-western France and attracts a whole bunch of 1000’s of spectators. Round 300,000 individuals attended this yr’s occasion, together with followers, producers, and motorsport professionals. In recent times, the occasion has loved a revival as international automotive manufacturers return to compete in a brand new period of hybrid-powered hypercars.
This yr’s race featured one of many strongest entry lists in latest reminiscence, with Ferrari, Porsche, Cadillac, Toyota, Peugeot, Alpine and Aston Martin all fielding vehicles within the top-tier Hypercar class. These are the quickest, most superior vehicles in endurance racing, a few of them primarily based loosely on road-going fashions, however all pushing the boundaries of design and expertise.
Ferrari returned because the crew to beat, having gained in 2023 and 2024. Porsche, essentially the most profitable producer in Le Mans historical past, introduced an upgraded model of its 963 prototype, run by American outfit Crew Penske. Aston Martin entered two closely modified Valkyrie hypercars, impressed by its road-going vary and aiming to echo McLaren’s well-known win in 1995.
Qualifying befell on the Thursday earlier than the race, with Jota Hertz Crew Cadillac securing a front-row lockout. Porsche No. 2 was disqualified from the Hyperpole session as a result of a weight infringement and was required to begin from the again of the Hypercar area, although it remained eligible to race.
To very large cheers, the race started at 4pm on Saturday 14th June, with tennis legend Roger Federer serving as official starter.
Cadillac held the early lead, however was quickly overtaken by Ferrari and Porsche. Because the solar set, Ferrari occupied all three high spots led by the impartial AF Corse entry pushed by Kubica. Over the course of the night time and into Sunday, the No. 6 Porsche closed the hole, regularly rising as Ferrari’s largest menace.
The 2025 version noticed remarkably few accidents or breakdowns. All 9 of the main Hypercars remained on the lead lap properly into Sunday morning, underlining the extent of reliability and tempo throughout the sphere.
Within the closing hours, the Porsche overtook each manufacturing facility Ferraris and commenced to shut in on the chief. However Kubica, enduring seen fatigue and excessive strain, held agency within the closing phases. He crossed the road simply after 4pm on Sunday, incomes a massively well-liked win and private redemption after lacking out on victory final yr as a result of a penalty.
Porsche, whereas narrowly lacking out on the general win, took first place within the new GT3 class, a class that includes race-tuned variations of high-end street vehicles, due to its Manthey-run 911 GT3.
Toyota and Cadillac each stayed inside attain of the leaders however lacked the ultimate tempo to problem for victory. Aston Martin would have been happy to convey each of its Valkyrie hypercars to the end line and confirmed that additional improvement is deliberate forward of subsequent yr’s race.
In the meantime, McLaren used the occasion to unveil a brand new hypercar that can race from 2027. The British model additionally celebrated its distinctive achievement of getting gained Le Mans, the Indianapolis 500, and the Monaco Grand Prix, racing’s so-called Triple Crown.
Ferrari’s hat-trick of wins confirms its dominance in a sport it solely returned to not too long ago, having re-entered top-tier endurance racing in 2023 after a 50-year break.
Le Mans 2026 Reality File
In case you’re considering of constructing the journey to Le Mans subsequent yr, now could be the time to begin planning. With ticket gross sales opening early, lodging filling quick, and demand greater than ever after an exhilarating 2025 race, this information units out every part it’s good to know to organise your go to, from journey choices and the place to remain, to what to anticipate when you’re trackside.
Getting There
In my expertise, essentially the most environment friendly and gratifying technique to attain Le Mans from the UK is by taking the Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais. The trains are frequent, the method is swift, and in 2025, the return fare labored out at round half the price of taking the ferry.
For a automotive fanatic, the journey begins lengthy earlier than reaching France. In case you personal one thing particular (and even simply one thing you like to drive) that is the journey to convey it. Half the enjoyable is seeing what everybody else turns up in and being a part of the rolling celebration that begins the second you hit the terminal.
I made the journey in my very own Porsche 911 and at UK passport management discovered myself behind a superbly preserved 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, surrounded by a queue of Ferraris, Jaguars, Aston Martins and dozens of different 911s all ready to board the practice.
As soon as on the French aspect, I took the autoroute south to Le Mans, a drive of about 5 hours. With a teenage daughter as my co-pilot, we stopped for lunch in Orbec, a small city in Normandy that supplied a welcome break from the motorway and an opportunity to stretch our legs over good meals and simple parking.
For anybody with extra time, I’d extremely advocate taking the scenic route through France’s again roads. You sacrifice a little bit of pace however acquire a much more rewarding drive and much fewer tolls.
Tickets and Accreditation
Tickets for Le Mans are available in all types: basic admission, grandstand seats, tenting, glamping, or hotel-based packages. In 2025, I opted for grandstand seats, which supplied clear views of the rostrum, pit lane and begin/end straight at a fraction of what you’d pay for comparable views at a System 1 weekend.
Lodging
Reasonably than threat a moist tent and damaged sleep, I booked a lodge simply south of the circuit, and I’m very glad I did. Three nights value lower than some glamping choices and got here with all of the necessities: a correct mattress, a sizzling bathe, and that priceless amenity…peace.
Being off-site additionally meant I might pop into the native patisserie every morning. Stocking up on recent baguettes, fruit, cheese and charcuterie turned a every day pre-track ritual and made for the proper circuit-side picnic.
Fan Zones and Amenities
Sure, Le Mans is about racing however the principle fan zones are a pageant in their very own proper, filled with dwell music, beer tents, circus performers and producers’ stands. In 2025, Toyota celebrated 40 years of Le Mans historical past, and McLaren used the weekend to unveil its new road-derived hypercar, set to affix the race in 2027.
All over the place we walked, stands have been handing out flags, wristbands, stickers and postcards. By Saturday afternoon, we’d stuffed two tote luggage and my daughter’s bed room wall is now a patchwork of Le Mans freebies.
Considered one of my private highlights was the central garden space, the place you may sink into an enormous beanbag and watch the race on an enormous display, surrounded by followers from throughout Europe. It felt like a Bavarian beer corridor crossed with a motorsport village: rowdy, pleasant and brilliantly worldwide.
Watching the Race
I made it some extent to discover as many vantage factors as doable. Between our grandstand seats, the Porsche Curves, and a well-timed experience on the Ferris wheel at midnight, I bought to expertise Le Mans from each doable angle. From nightfall into darkness, the circuit remodeled into one thing magical, with spotlit pit crews and fireworks lighting up the sky.
Radio Le Mans, broadcasting in English, was vital all through the weekend. I used headphones to tune in for dwell race commentary and updates, which was particularly useful when the on-site screens and audio system defaulted to French.
Trackside Extras
As a Porsche proprietor, I had entry to the Open Home hospitality centre beside the Porsche Expertise Centre. It supplied a quieter area to regroup, full with interactive shows, video games and a photograph sales space to seize the weekend.
It was additionally an ideal likelihood to speak store with different homeowners, one other reminder that Le Mans is as a lot concerning the individuals as it’s concerning the vehicles.
The Museum and Off-Observe Highlights
On Sunday morning, with the race nonetheless unfolding, we took a break to go to the Le Mans 24H Museum, situated by the principle entrance. I used to be particularly drawn to the unique 1923 Chenard & Walcker, the Porsche 917s, and the 1995 McLaren F1 GTR, the automotive that gained the race the yr I first began following it intently.
The museum is a superb reminder of simply how deep the historical past runs right here, a quiet distinction to the roar of the monitor outdoors.
Put up-Race and Departure
After the race ended and the Champagne was sprayed on the rostrum, 1000’s of us joined the standard monitor invasion, strolling alongside the pit straight to take it multi functional final time.
Whereas many of the 300,000 followers packed up right away, I stayed for a relaxed post-race debrief at a buddy’s campsite. It gave me a fast glimpse of the tenting expertise (good however sufficient to verify I used to be nonetheless glad of my lodge mattress).
On the Monday morning, we hit the street for a leisurely return to Calais, stopping in just a few sleepy villages alongside the way in which.
Journey Organiser
I booked the entire journey by way of 1st Tickets, which dealt with tickets, lodge, parking and logistics with actual professionalism. They took care of all of the fiddly bits so I might concentrate on what mattered: making recollections.
Mark G. Whitchurch is a seasoned motoring journalist whose work—masking street checks, launch studies, scenic drives, main races, and occasion critiques—has appeared in The Observer, Day by day Telegraph, Bristol Night Put up, Basic & Sports activities Automotive Journal, Mini Journal, Basic Automotive Weekly, AutoCar Journal, and the Western Day by day Press, amongst others. He gained the Tourism Malaysia Regional Journey Author of the Yr in 2003 and is a member of The Guild of Motoring Writers.
All photos: Mark G. Whitchurch
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