Second triumph for Inter Europol Competition at Le Mans 24 Hours
After 2023 with the #34, Inter Europol Competition has reached the top step on the podium once again, this time with the #43 ORECA 07. Jakub Smiechowski, Tom Dillmann and Nick Yelloly have won the 2025 running of Le Mans with a flawless race from start to finish.
The 93rd 24 Hours was all about strategy. As the action on the track remained relatively calm, driver consistency and engineer decisions emerged as the crucial factors to success.
After 24 hours of racing, Inter Europol Competition’s ORECA 07 claimed the victory followed by VDS Panis Racing’s #48 in the wake of a marathon fight for P1. The Pro-Am winner, AO by TF (Louis Delétraz, PJ Hyett, Dane Cameron), rounded out the top 3.
Inter Europol Competition
The team has come full circle! In 2023, Inter Europol Competition’s #34 ORECA 07 won the 24 Hours Centenary, and the sister car has stepped up two years later. The #43 remained in the lead pack throughout the race. Embroiled in an extended duel with VDS Panis Racing’s #48, the Polish outfit finally bested its rival in the final half hour.
Jakub Smiechowski, Nick Yelloly and Tom Dillmann have entered the hall of fame at the most prestigious endurance race in the world. With this success, Dillmann has become the first French driver to win the LMP2 category at Le Mans since 2021.
The #34 sister car driven by Nick Boulle, Luca Ghiotto, Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer finished 10th overall.
VDS Panis Racing
VDS Panis Racing has long believed it could make it to the top step on the podium. Marc van der Straten’s team led a large portion of the race thanks to solid performances by Franck Perera, Estéban Masson and Oliver Gray at the wheel of the #48 ORECA 07, culminating in an encouraging second place finish.
AO by TF
Third overall, AO by TF’s #199 ORECA 07 triumphed in Pro-Am. Last year’s pole-sitter, Louis Delétraz, and teammates PJ Hyett and Dane Cameron delivered an impressive last stretch of the race, earning a double podium.
Iron Lynx-Proton
Reshad de Gerus, Maceo Capietto and Jonas Ried did everything in their power to earn a podium finish but will have to settle for fourth place. The strong and consistent trio placed the #9 ORECA 07 just outside the top 3 in the first hours and never let up on the pressure through the chequered flag.
Pro-Am
Runner-up to Pro-Am winners AO by TF, TDS Racing was a force to be reckoned with in this running of Le Mans. Race week kicked off with the decisive pole clinched by Mathias Beche at the wheel of the #29 ORECA 07. During the race, Clément Novalak and Rodrigo Sales worked hard to finish fifth overall and secure the second step on the Pro-Am podium.
Iron Lynx-Proton’s #11 ORECA 07 reached the third step on the category podium thanks to Giorgio Roda, René Binder and Bent Viscaalp. The top 5 was rounded out by AF Corse’s #183 ORECA 07 (François Perrodo, Matthieu Vaxiviére, António Félix da Costa) and Inter Europol Competition’s #34.
Top 10
Last year’s winner, United Autosports’ #33 ORECA 07 (Renger van der Zande, Pietro Fittipaldi, David Heinemeier Hansson), ended the race in P7 overall. French driver and Le Mans rookie Théo Pourchaire finished eighth along with Lorenzo Fluxa and Matthias Kaiser in Algarve Pro Racing’s #26 ORECA 07.
Retirement
Three ORECA 07s failed to arrive at the chequered flag: Nielsen Racing’s #24 and IDEC SPORT Racing’s #18 and #28.
HYPERCAR
In the top category, for its second appearance at the world’s greatest endurance race, Alpine saw both of its prototypes reach the finish line. The French manufacturer placed both cars in the top 10. The #35, driven by Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg, and Paul-Loup Chatin, secured a well-deserved ninth place after a hard-fought race. The #36, shared by Jules Gounon, Mick Schumacher, and Frédéric Makowiecki, crossed the line just behind in tenth, confirming Alpine’s progress in the Hypercar category.
LMGT3
Hot on the future winner’s heels the entire race, Vista AF Corse’s #21 Ferrari 296 LMGT3 delivered a respectable and consistent performance, staying on the front lines without ever releasing the pressure. François Hériau, Simon Mann and Alessio Rovera should be proud of their stunning second place finish and Kessel Racing’s #57 claimed a spot in the top 10 in P8. Richard Mille AF Corse’s #150 finished 11th, three positions ahead of Ziggo Sport Tempesta’s #193. Vista AF Corse’s #54 was forced to retire unfortunately.