The 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans, held from June 14 to 15, 2025, at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe, delivered heart-stopping drama and edge-of-the-seat action. At the center of the frenzy: Porsche Penske Motorsport’s No. 6 Porsche 963 Hybrid, which charged from a last-place start in the Hypercar class to finish a mere 14.084 seconds shy of victory—once again highlighting Porsche’s relentless spirit.
From disqualification to charge of the champions
In a twist of fate, Porsche’s No. 6 entry, crewed by Matt Campbell (AUS), Kévin Estre (FRA), and Laurens Vanthoor (BEL), was disqualified from Hyperpole qualifying due to a weight infringement—demoting them from the front row to 21st on the grid It was not the ideal start for a team chasing a record 20th overall Le Mans title.
Yet adversity soon turned into triumph. By the first lap, Campbell had already overtaken seven cars—a remarkable display of aggressive precision. Within just half an hour, he catapulted Porsche into the top ten—a spark of hope that would become an inferno of determination as night fell.
Deep in the night: tires, strategy, and pit‑stop ballet
Under the glare of floodlights, the No. 6 car seamlessly integrated into the lead group. Strategic pit-stop intervals, flawless driver changes and sidestepping safety car interruptions elevated Porsche to sustained inner contention. They briefly led for long stretches during the night, running nose-to-tail with the Ferraris.
Their sister cars—the No. 5, driven by Julien Andlauer, Mathieu Jaminet, and Michael Christensen, and the No. 4, piloted by Nick Tandy, Felipe Nasr, and Pascal Wehrlein—also featured strongly early on. Unfortunately, tyre damage and night-time penalties slowed them down, relegating them to seventh and ninth by the finish .
Throughout the long hours, pits were a hive of activity. Engineers and crew carried out near-perfect stops for the No. 6 team, enabling them to spend minimal time off-track. Strategic resilience—a hallmark of endurance racing—was evident throughout.
Sunrise surge: Campbell’s key stint, a race reborn
As dawn broke over Sarthe, Campbell’s penultimate stint proved decisive. Brimming with confidence and speed, he narrowed the gap to the leading Ferrari AF Corse No. 83 and cemented Porsche’s place in second overall . When he passed the car to Estre with 90 minutes remaining, they were firmly in contention.
Estre maintained that second slot under immense pressure, ultimately crossing the finish line just 14 seconds behind the victorious Ferrari . Their climb from P21 to P2 was not only a tactical tour de force but also the best Porsche has achieved in the Hypercar era .
Official praise & team resilience
- Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport, lauded the team’s “pioneering spirit, courage and sportsmanship,” noting how they “never gave up” and maximised the No. 6 car’s performance. Though “only 14 seconds short,” he asserted the result was nothing short of extraordinary
- Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh, expressed pride in all three works cars finishing in the top ten—a testament to engineering excellence and homogeneity across the Penske-Weissach axis.
- Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport, described the 24-hour race as “absolutely incredible,” noting the dry, clear conditions allowed all three factory cars to run without mechanical issues. “We performed flawlessly; we just lacked a little speed in certain phases,” he reflected.
GT3 Domination Reaffirmed
While the Hypercar battle raged, Team Manthey claimed their second consecutive LMGT3 class victory behind the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 R, piloted by Richard Lietz, Ryan Hardwick, and Riccardo Pera. This triumph brought Porsche’s class wins at Le Mans to a staggering 112—more than any other manufacturer.
Mat Campbell: Young gun enters the history books
Campbell’s performance further stamped his credentials. He earned his first Hypercar-class podium at Le Mans (previously a two-time GTE Am class champion) and became one of just seven Australians to feature on the overall podium. He joins the ranks of Vern Schuppan and Mark Webber, both of whom achieved their feats with Porsche vehicles.
The Australian’s standout performance in the final hours was a key catalyst for the No. 6’s recovery, demonstrating both speed and composure under intense pressure. On the other hand,Belgian Laurens Vanthoor missed the opportunity to write history by just over 14 seconds.He could have been the first one to win the Triple Crown of Endurance racing ( Daytona 24 Hours, Sebring 12 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours) in the same year.
Numbers That Define a Thrilling Le Mans
| Statistic | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Overall laps (No. 6 Porsche) | 387 laps (over 5,100 km) (newsroom.porsche.com) |
| Gap to winner | 14.084 seconds |
| Hypercar podium finishers | No. 6 Porsche, No. 83 Ferrari, No. 51 Ferrari |
| Porsche class total wins | Now 112 in LMGT3 |
| Maximum Porsche Hypercars in top-10 | Three (No. 4, 5, 6) |
What lies ahead?
Despite missing overall victory, this Le Mans underscores Porsche’s return to top-spot contention in Hypercar. With such a stellar recovery from a last-place start, the team sends a message: when conditions test reliability, strategy, and spirit, Porsche rises.
They may be one Ferrari away from glory, but they’re also at the summit of performance, teamwork, and technical execution. With their next outing in the FIA World Endurance Championship on the horizon, anticipation is already mounting for another spectacular battle in the Hypercar ranks.
Closing lap
Porsche’s No. 6 Porsche 963, despite early adversity, rose to become the race’s hero—finishing second after a meteoric charge from the back of the grid. Their performance, along with Manthey’s class triumph, stresses a simple yet profound truth: Porsche doesn’t just race—it battles, endures, and excels.
One Ferrari won’t define this story. What remains is Porsche’s ability to defend its legend—where engineering, driver skill, strategy, and sheer willpower converge to deliver timeless performances.
Source : Porsche Newsroom
Pictures courtesy Porsche AG
