Le Mans, June 15, 2025 – It was a breathtaking Sunday afternoon at the Circuit de la Sarthe as Robert Kubica, the man who defied fate, crossed the finish line to claim overall victory in the 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As he guided the bright yellow No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P to the chequered flag alongside teammates Yifei Ye (China) and Phil Hanson (Great Britain), it wasn’t just a victory in the record books—it was a cinematic comeback writ large across the racing world.
🔧 From Formula One Prodigy to Near‑Fatal Crash
Back in 2008, Kubica stunned the motorsport world with his only F1 victory at the Canadian Grand Prix. Four years later, a catastrophic rally crash nearly ended everything—42 broken bones and extensive calm courage followed in recovery. Doctors doubted he’d ever drive again; yet, in 2019 he returned to F1, and by 2025 he was once again racing at the highest levels.
🏁 Le Mans 2025: A Race of Strategy and Fortitude
Kubica’s yellow AF Corse Ferrari shared pitlane honors with works entries, but the satellite No. 83 team had to fight for every second. The car logged a blistering 387 laps, finishing just 14.084 seconds ahead of the No. 6 Porsche Penske—a narrow margin over a grueling 24-hour battle.
The race wasn’t smooth sailing: Porsche led early, Ferrari staged a comeback, and No. 83 temporarily ceded position to a teammate before reclaiming it in response to pit-floor negotiations. Kubica’s measured radio request, “we cannot win?”, revealed the tension of those final hours—and his resolve kept the yellow Ferrari in the hunt.
📊 Stats That Define a Legend
- 387 laps completed in 24 hrs (official result)
- Lead margin: 14.084 seconds
- Co-Driver Talent: Yifei Ye—China’s first Le Mans winner, and Phil Hanson, the youngest-ever WEC champion
❤️ An Emotional Victory for Ferrari and Poland
This marked Ferrari’s third consecutive Le Mans win, and the first overall victory by a Polish driver since the race’s inception in 1923. Kubica—who had nearly joined Ferrari in F1 before his accident—finally claimed that podium with the Scuderia after a 14-year wait. His victory sent emotional ripples through fans across Europe.
He later reflected:
“Winning Le Mans is special… we kept our heads down. When we had to, we pushed, and when we didn’t, we protected the car.”
Reddit fans chimed in:
“The guy who beat George with one hand in equal machinery, Go Rob!”
“KUBICA MY GOAT”
🏆 Joining an Elite Club
Kubica joined only Fernando Alonso as the only drivers in this century to win both an F1 Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans—an elite and tiny club.
🔄 A Career Defined by Comebacks
- Excelled in karting across Europe
- F1 success with BMW Sauber and Renault
- Near-fatal 2011 rally crash
- Comeback through WRC, F1 return in 2019, and endurance racing.
- WEC LMP2 champion in 2023, now conquering Le Mans in Hypercar class
🎯 Legacy and What Comes Next
This isn’t just a race win—it’s the crowning achievement of a storied career. Kubica cemented his standing as a resilience icon and inspiration. With Ferrari looking unstoppable, and the WEC landscape energized, endurance racing—and his role in it—is poised for even greater heights.
