Porsche Penske wins Lone Star Le Mans 2025

Two hours late and with safety car confusion, the six hours of the Lone Star Le Mans finally started on Sunday under heavy rain in Austin. When the initial safety car needed to refuel, organizers deployed a second vehicle. Several cars followed the wrong second safety car into the pit lane, forcing officials to stop everything with a red flag to reestablish order.

Photo By Carlos Castillo

Ferrari Controls the First Four Hours in the Rain

Ferrari controlled the race once the real action began. Philip Hanson led in the #83 while James Calado stayed close in the #51. Over the next four hours, the two Ferraris alternated the lead under changing conditions, managing the pace while the rest struggled to find speed on the slippery track.

Hanson Loses 35 Seconds Due to Pit Stop Issues

The key moment came in the third hour. Hanson failed to position the car correctly during his scheduled stop and the team had to push the #83 backwards in the pit lane. The maneuver cost 35 seconds. When Yifei Ye went out to relieve Hanson, Ferrari had lost the lead and Calado took command with the #51.

Estre Uses Sixth Caution Period to Attack Pier Guidi

Kévin Estre had kept his Porsche Penske #6 in the fight from the start, never too far from the Ferraris but without forcing risky maneuvers. When the sixth caution period arrived with one hour and 45 minutes to go, Estre found his opportunity. During the restart, he put his Porsche 963 alongside Alessandro Pier Guidi's Ferrari in turn 1. The contact was light but punctured the Italian's left front tire and took him out of the fight.

Officials reviewed the incident but deemed it normal, issuing only a warning for Estre. By then, the Frenchman had built a lead over Miguel Molina, who was driving the Ferrari #50.

Photo By Carlos Castillo

Peugeot Scores Best Result Since 2022 With Both Cars in Points

The final battle between Porsche and Ferrari also revealed Peugeot's best weekend since 2022. Stoffel Vandoorne took the #94 up to third and briefly took second when Molina came in for his final stop. The Spaniard regained the position with six laps to go, relegating Vandoorne to third place. Jean-Eric Vergne finished fourth in the #93, the first time in months that Peugeot put both cars in the points.

Photo By Carlos Castillo

Toyota Never Found Speed With Either GR010 Hybrid

Toyota never found the pace shown in previous races. The two GR010 Hybrids struggled from the start. Sébastien Buemi finished ninth after several spins, including one caused by contact with an LMGT3. José María López, who replaces the injured Mike Conway, beached the #7 in the gravel during his third stint. Kamui Kobayashi finished 14th, four laps down.

Bamber Fights Back From the Rear After Cadillac's Failed Qualifying Gamble

Cadillac proved that qualifying mistakes don't determine the final result. After incorrectly gambling on wet tires in a session that ran dry, both cars started from the back. Earl Bamber steadily fought back in the #38, navigating through a spin by Sébastien Bourdais and a windshield wiper change to finish sixth. Alex Lynn took the #12 up to third in the final two hours before Norman Nato brought it home in eighth.

Rigon Executes Perfect Strategy But Penalty Costs Him LMGT3 Victory

In LMGT3, tire strategy defined a dramatic finish. Davide Rigon switched to slick tires when most stayed on wets, gaining five seconds per lap in the final stages. He passed Ben Barker's Ford Mustang with four minutes to go to take the lead. However, contact during the pass cost him a five-second penalty applied after the checkered flag.

Photo By Carlos Castillo

Photo By Carlos Castillo

Marino Sato, who had kept the McLaren 720S in second position, inherited McLaren's first victory in the WEC. United Autosports had played the same strategy as Rigon, also switching to slicks at the right time, but without the contact. Valentino Rossi finished second in the BMW from WRT after the team recovered from two penalties.

Pier Guidi, Calado, and Giovinazzi extended their championship lead despite finishing fifth, while Estre ended a victory drought that lasted the entire first half of the season. For Ferrari, the defeat was frustrating: they had controlled four hours under the most difficult conditions, only to see operational problems and Estre's move take away a victory that seemed assured.