--- title: "Kubica’s Le Mans Win 14 Years After Near-Death Crash Is Racing’s Best Comeback Story" date: "2025-06-16" modified: "2025-06-16" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/kubicas-le-mans-win-14-years-after-near-death-crash-is-racings-best-comeback-story" categories: - "News" - "Racing" - "WEC" --- # Kubica’s Le Mans Win 14 Years After Near-Death Crash Is Racing’s Best Comeback Story ![AF Corse's Polish driver #83 Robert Kubica crosses the finish line to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2025, at the Le Mans circuit, north-western France on June 15, 2025. (Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP)]() *\FRED TANNEAU\* [Robert Kubica]() grew up racing against some of the best drivers in modern times. He rubbed elbows and banged wheels with the likes of [Lewis Hamilton]() and Nico Rosberg as he raced his way up the brutal European ladder kids must climb to be noticed by [Formula 1]() talent scouts. The Polish driver ultimately found some success, with a win at the 2008 Canadian GP marking the peak of his rollercoaster-like racing career. Three years later, his life nearly came to an end after a horrific rally crash left him mangled; his racing career seemingly gone overnight. Yet, it wasn't. Kubica didn't know it yet, and of course, neither did we. After a brief stint in F1 in 2019 and 2020, he failed to measure up to his old peers, let alone keep up with the fresher, younger talent. But none of that mattered Sunday, when, 14 years after everyone wrote him off to the sidelines, Kubica crossed the finish line at the [Circuit de la Sarthe]() to claim the overall [24 Hours of Le Mans]() win with Ferrari. To say that it was a moment of redemption would be an understatement. It was a moment of *resurrection* for the 40-year-old—the resurrection of his career, his dreams, his talent, and maybe even the bit of soul he left behind at the scene of his 2011 crash. ![LE MANS, FRANCE - JUNE 15: Podium finish in LMP2 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the fourth round of the 2025 FIA WEC Championship, on the Le Mans 24 Hours circuit on 14 and 15 June 2025 in France. Winner :#43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca 07 - Gibson (LMP2). Pilots Jakub Smiechowski of Poland, Tom Dillmann of France, Nick Yelloly of the United Kingdom Second :#48 VDS Panis Racing France Oreca 07 - Gibson (LMP2). Pilots Oliver Gray of the United Kingdom, Esteban Masson, Franck Perera of France Third :#199 AO By TF United States Oreca 07 - Gibson Pro/Am (LMP2). Pilots PJ Hyett, Dane Cameron of the United States, Louis Deletraz of Switzerland. (Photo by Kristof Vermeulen/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)]() *Eurasia Sport Images* ![AF Corse #83 Yifei Ye (CHN), Robert Kubica (POL), and Phil Hanson (GBR) raise their index fingers in unison after their victory during the FIA World Endurance Championship, WEC 24 Hours of Le Mans 2025 at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, on June 15, 2025. (Photo by Wan Mikhail Roslan/NurPhoto)]() *Wan Mikhail Roslan* ![LE MANS, FRANCE - JUNE 15: #83 AF Corse Italy Ferrari 499P (HY). Pilots Robert Kubica of Poland, Yifei Ye of China, Philip Hanson of the United Kingdom, winners of the Le Mans 24 Hours race, the fourth round of the 2025 FIA WEC Championship, on the Le Mans 24 Hours circuit on 14 and 15 June 2025 in France. (Photo by Philippe Nanchino/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)]() *Eurasia Sport Images* Even more triumphantly, his Le Mans win came behind the wheel of a Ferrari, though not exactly a scarlet red one. His No. 83 Ferrari AF Corse is bright yellow—only the factory Ferraris get to wear their usual shade of red in the [World Endurance Championship](). This connection to Maranello makes Kubica's win even more ironic (and momentous), as it was Ferrari who had reportedly offered the Pole a contract for the 2012 F1 season, a contract he couldn't fulfill after his crash. Nearly a decade and a half later, Kubica won with Ferrari anyway. Kubica didn't do it alone, of course; his teammates, British racing driver Philip Hanson and China's first Le Mans overall winner Ye Yifei, drove incredibly well during the twice-around-the-clock race. The No. 83 AF Corse struggled in qualifying and started the race back in 13th, the worst qualifying Ferrari. The two factory Ferraris managed to secure the seventh and 11th spots on the grid, and as previous back-to-back winners, they were the favorites to win the race. ![LE MANS, FRANCE - JUNE 15: The #38 Cadillac Hertz Team Jota, Cadillac V-Series.R of Earl Bamber, Sebastien Bourdais, and Jenson Button in action during the Le Mans 24 Hour Race on June 15, 2025 in Le Mans, France. (Photo by James Moy Photography/Getty Images)]() *JAMEY PRICE* ![Porsche Penske Motorsport drivers Kevin Estre (FRA), Laurens Vanthoor (BEL), and Matt Campbell (AUS) participate in the 24h of Le Mans at 24h Le Mans Circuit in Le Mans, France, on June 15, 2025. (Photo by Stefano Facchin/Alessio Morgese /NurPhoto)]() *Alessio Morgese* ![LE MANS, FRANCE - JUNE 15: A fireworks display and car headlight light streaks at night during the Le Mans 24 Hour Race on June 15, 2025 in Le Mans, France. (Photo by James Moy Photography/Getty Images)]() *James Moy Photography* Yet, that's not how things went down. Through some incredible race management of their own, and the bad luck of others, the yellow Ferrari slowly inched its way to the front, where it would remain until the Rolex-branded timer showed zero hours and zero minutes left, 387 laps later. In fact, the race lasted a wee bit longer than 24 hours, as Kubica crossed the line to start his final lap with just a few seconds left on the clock. Behind the No. 83 was the No. 6 Porsche Penske brought home by Kevin Estre, while the No. 51 factory Ferrari came in third place with Antonio Giovinazzi at the wheel. The Hypercar category's top five was rounded up by the second factory Ferrari, the No. 50 of Antonio Fuoco in fourth place, and the [pole-sitter No. 12 Cadillac]() of Alex Lynn in fifth. ![Robert Kubica (POL), Yifei Ye (CHN), and Philip Hanson (GBR) participate in the 24h of Le Mans at the 24h Le Mans Circuit in Le Mans, France, on June 15, 2025. (Photo by Stefano Facchin/Alessio Morgese /NurPhoto)]() **Getty* Alessio Morgese* Sunday's victory is one of the greatest comeback stories of recent years, and it happened at the right time in Kubica's life and career. At age 40, he's not the oldest driver on the grid, but he's definitely not the youngest. It's unclear how many more years Kubica has left in the tank, but it's safe to assume that his new title of Le Mans Overall Winner will, at the very least, put a couple of contract offers on his desk. The ball is in his court now; he is in control of his destiny. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()