Seventeen years after his lone Formula 1 win and over a decade since the crash that nearly ended his racing career, Robert Kubica crossed the finish line at the 24 Hours of Le Mans to secure a sensational victory for Ferrari, their third straight win in the iconic endurance race.

From Devastation to Triumph

Kubica, 40, etched his name into Le Mans history books by becoming the first Polish driver to win Le Mans outright. The win is more than a trophy, it’s a symbol of defiance against career-ending odds.

A 2011 rally crash had left him with partially severed limbs and multiple fractures. Though many wrote off his chances of returning to elite motorsport, Kubica rebuilt first in rally, then a brief F1 comeback with Williams in 2019.

Now, in 2025, he’s a Le Mans champion. Kubica said in Italian over team radio as he took the checkered flag for Ferrari AF Corse:

It has been a long 24 hours. Enjoy,

New Chapter for Asia Too

Kubica shared the No. 83 Ferrari 499P with Ye Yifei (China) and Philip Hanson (UK). The car, bright yellow and entered by AF Corse as a privateer, beat off challenges from Porsche Penske and Ferrari’s own factory entries to claim Ferrari’s 12th overall Le Mans win.

Ye also made history, becoming the first Chinese driver ever to win Le Mans.

It looks easier from the outside than it is in the car,” Ye said. “It’s just unbelievable.

Late Drama

The No. 6 Porsche 963 of Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and Matt Campbell made a late charge, cutting into Ferrari’s lead and eventually finishing just 14 seconds behind the winning car. That late push denied Ferrari what would have been the first top-class Le Mans podium sweep since Audi in 2012.

Ferrari’s Alessandro Pier Guidi spun entering the pit lane in the final hours, a costly mistake that handed Kubica and his co-drivers the race lead for good.

Federer Flags Off a Calm Yet Strategic Battle

The 93rd running of Le Mans was flagged off by tennis legend Roger Federer, and the race was remarkably composed, few major incidents, only one safety car, and a strategic game of tire wear, fuel management, and endurance that defined the final outcome.

Ferrari’s race pace, not their qualifying position (13th for the winners), was what ultimately counted.

Other Class Winners

• LMP2: Polish team Inter Europol Competition took the class victory.
• GT3: Manthey Racing claimed the win for Porsche in their 911 GT3 entry.

Legacy and Next Steps

This victory not only reaffirms Ferrari’s dominance in this new Hypercar era but also marks a fairy-tale moment for motorsport, the ultimate validation for Robert Kubica’s persistence and passion.

In the words of Le Mans itself, it’s not just about surviving 24 hours, it’s about defying time, circumstance, and expectation.