2025 24 Hours of Le Mans

FLRacingFan said:
They’ll be in contention, pole is just for pride and glory but it doesn’t really mean anything tangible. They definitely are quick enough to compete, execution and reliability is another thing.
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😆 as an owner of an x5 that made me cry / laugh
 
- First time since 1967 (Ford) an American manufacturer has been on overall pole
- First-ever overall pole for the Cadillac brand
- First time in the Hypercar era the pole time was better than any of those during the WEC LMP1 era…bested the 2012 time set by the Audi R18 e-tron Quattro, which was ~ 130kgs lighter than these cars.

 
I’m stoked. You could make a case for six of the eight manufacturers in the top class to win this thing. Lfg.
 
Kevin Estre from 21st to 5th in the #6 Penske Porsche that got DQ’d from qualifying. Incredible first stint.
 
Looks like Ferrari has good race pace and has just moved into second.

The previously posted stream crapped out to copyright issues, so thank goodness for Motor Trend.
 
The highest recorded top speed so far is a whopping 364.2 kmh (226.3 mph) by the #51 Ferrari. From the records available, that looks like the highest top speed recorded in-race since the Jaguar XJR-9 hit 389 kmh/241.7 mph in 1989 - before the chicanes were placed on the Mulsanne. WTF.
 
Estre ends his race-opening triple stint with the 6 in 3rd. Phenomenal work.

Action Express have surpassed both JOTA entries to run first among the Cadillacs in 4th.

If there is any consolation for Peugeot it’s that the 94 has managed to extend stints longer than anyone so far.
 
FLRacingFan said:
The highest recorded top speed so far is a whopping 364.2 kmh (226.3 mph) by the #51 Ferrari. From the records available, that looks like the highest top speed recorded in-race since the Jaguar XJR-9 hit 389 kmh/241.7 mph in 1989 - before the chicanes were placed on the Mulsanne. WTF.
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Is that even realistic or a transponder issue? They're showing very little telemetry on the TV feed but it doesnt look that fast.
 
donthaveanickname said:
Is that even realistic or a transponder issue? They're showing very little telemetry on the TV feed but it doesnt look that fast.
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Everyone else in Hypercar has a top speed between 337-346 kmh so far, either they got the biggest tow ever somehow or something was off with the telemetry.
 
From the Le Mans Cup support race earlier this morning - this has to be the first time I’ve seen a driver crash out mentally in a way that would rival someone at Bowman Gray.

 
FLRacingFan said:
The 7 is my pre-test pick to win next weekend. That livery has too much aura not to win.

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50-second stop-and-hold penalty for speeding in the pit lane. It might be Toyover for the 7 crew. Sorry.

The 8 is holding pretty steady around 5th-6th however.
 
Sun setting around the 6-hour mark. If Ferrari set a foot wrong it’s awfully competitive behind them, but they appear to have superior race pace once again.

 
First safety car came out just past the 11-hour mark. The battle for overall lead had already gotten pretty compelling with the three Ferraris losing their advantage as the sun and temps went down, as well as a handful of penalties across the 50 and 51. Now we’ll get the first re-rack with about a dozen cars on the lead lap as the halfway mark nears.
 
It was getting a bit out of hand with Ferrari running away with it, so hopefully the safety car will bring some life back to the race.
 
Doc Austin said:
It was getting a bit out of hand with Ferrari running away with it, so hopefully the safety car will bring some life back to the race.
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Everyone else in contention (Porsche, Toyota, BMW, Cadillac) seem to have come alive at night so hopefully they can jump the Ferraris on the restart. If it goes green for a similarly extended period of time, you have to build a gap before the sunrise and the prancing horses start to come back to the pack.
 
Tally of cars left on respective class lead lap coming to the restart, just before halfway

Hypercar - 12
LMP2 - 6
LMGT3 - 11
 
Kubica brings it across the line after driving for more than 3.5 hours at the end. I don't think anyone is unhappy about this.
How about the first overall win for a Chinese driver at Le Mans as well!


Today is probably the best day in the history of Polish motorsports as Inter Europol takes the P2 win with Jakub Smiechowski at the wheel.
 
Technically the #83 is a privateer, so I'm happy about that. Porsche gave it everything, but Ferrari just had too much for them. If I read this right, there was only one safety car period, which marks a very clean race for everyone. Quite enjoyable, and we've still got Canada and Gateway to go.
 
So close yet so far away for Penske Porsche. So immensely frustrating that so much of the field can be so competitive and then there’s one team at the head who just can’t be reeled in. Feels like much of F1 from mid-2022 through mid-2024. That level of competition for the win that there’s the potential for just never materializes. The only way anyone can even get near Ferrari for a bit is when they trip and stumble over themselves umpteen times a race.

Disappointing day for Cadillac with engine issues for Action Express and WTR, and JOTA’s one-lap pace couldn’t convert into race pace.

BMW had both cars inside the top 10 for much of the day until engine and hybrid cooling issues. Promising, but similarly disappointing.

Aston Martin brought home both Valkyries without any significant issues in their first 24-hour test. Really impressive run for them.

Very cool to see Inter Europol win once again in LMP2 with a dramatic late pass over the VDS Panis entry, and for ‘Spike’ to win the Pro-Am subcategory.
 
Seems like people are ready for something fresh and new. I know I am. Hopefully literally anyone else wins at Interlagos next month.

 
The stewards’ report indicated that the rear wing deflection measured in at 52mm, while the regulations allow a maximum rear wing deflection of 15mm. They also stated that the car achieved its best top speed on lap 380 of 387. Hard not to believe a performance advantage was gained, whether it was intentional or not.

Ultimately it doesn’t mean a whole lot since it was the only Ferrari that didn’t make the podium, but it does mean the championship is effectively over.
 
52 MILLIMETERS? Two frickin' inches? That's a LOT of play! Tell ya what, Ferrari, if that's not a performance advantage, how about we let everyone except YOU have that next race?

EDIT that may be the best idea I ever had. Next time a team protests that they didn't gain anything, let everyone else skip that requirement on the next outing.
 
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