For many racing fans, the third Sunday of June belonged solely to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The race began at 4 p.m. local time on Saturday and concluded at 4 p.m. the following day. As usual, it was tense all the way through, especially for Polish fans whose eyes were glued to the AF Corse #83 and one of its three drivers: Robert Kubica.
AF Corse #83 qualified 13th out of all the hypercars, placing it below the two other Ferrari cars (Ferrari #50 and Ferrari #51). The vehicle, driven by Kubica, Ye Yifey, and Phil Hanson, quickly made up the places that separated it from the lead of the race. By hour seven of the race, it had found a way past both the factory Ferraris and took the lead of the overall race.
The AF Corse #83 stayed at the front throughout the night, trading the lead with the other Ferraris and the Porsche Penske 6. As morning came, the Ferrari #51 found itself at the very front, and the AF Corse #83 followed not far behind.
It was no secret that the two factory Ferraris were favoured over the AF Corse #83 by the Maranello-based team. The privately entered car was instructed to let Ferrari #51 through. Later down the line, Antonio Giovanazzi, behind the wheel of the Ferrari #51, was told to give way to the AF Corse #83. He refused to comply and stay in the lead. While the situation didn’t change much for Ferrari, who still saw their cars occupy all three podium positions, it was a harsh blow for the AF Corse #83.
However, it wasn’t the end. As some people say, karma always comes back. Not long after the controversial squabble, the leading Ferrari spun as it was trying to enter the pit lane. This provided the perfect opportunity for the AF Corse #83 to jump back into the lead.
AF Corse #83 stayed in the lead for most of the last few hours. It only temporarily lost the position after pit stops. Kubica was the driver who sat behind the wheel in the previous stint of the race. He showcased his incredible skills as he navigated the car around the track, making only the slightest mistakes. He took care of his tires, masterfully overtook the cars from slower categories, and never took unnecessary risks.
His hard work paid off. After the Ferrari #51 dove in for its last pit stop, AF Corse #83 moved into P1. This was the last change of lead in the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kubica was the driver to cross the finish line in a truly historic moment. It was the third Ferrari Le Mans victory in a row. It was also the first time in history that a Pole won the prestigious competition.
The immense success of AF Corse #83 is not the only notable achievement of Polish motorsports. For a big part of the race, the leader of the LMP2 category was Inter Europol #43, a car manufactured by the Polish team Inter Europol Competition. The second car entered by the team, Inter Europol #34, was only a few places behind.
Despite late penalties and moments when it seemed the team would lose the lead, the #43 car won its category. This was the team’s third consecutive victory.
June 15, 2025, will forever be etched into the history of Polish motorsports. It was a day that no fan will ever forget. Despite the struggles they encountered, AF Corse #83 and Inter Europol #43 won their respective categories, bringing joy to the hearts of Poles worldwide. Dziękujemy!
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