Ferrari wins Le Mans with Kubica-led trio

40

For the third consecutive year, Ferrari roared to glory at Le Mans on Sunday, but this time with its satellite AF Corse team and a trio of drivers – Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson – that steered their 499P through thick and thin during the 24-hour event.

Kubica brought the car home in style, with a 14-second margin over the #6 Porsche Penske of Kevin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and Matt Campbell.

It was no smooth ride for the winners, with Ferrari recovering after mid-race mistakes, using a perfectly timed safety car and flawless strategy execution in the second half to turn the tide in their favour.

And at the heart of it all was Robert Kubica — a former F1 Grand Prix winner whose racing career nearly ended in 2011 after a rally crash that left his right hand severely damaged.

On Sunday, the former Williams driver didn’t just win Le Mans. He completed one of motorsport’s most powerful comebacks.

Well done Bobby K. !

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.