Le Mans update after 15 hours: Ferrari is still in the lead, but Porsche’s strong night stint keeps the race wide open.
15 hours into the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours, the race picture has shifted dramatically. Ferrari, dominant in the early stages, was thrown off course by a string of penalties and incidents during the night. Porsche seized the opportunity and briefly took the lead at halfway – but in Le Mans, nothing is ever decided this early.
Ferrari loses ground through penalties
What looked like a Ferrari showcase in the opening hours was abruptly halted overnight. It started with a drive-through penalty for the #50 Ferrari (Fuoco/Molina/Nielsen) for a yellow flag infringement just after hour six.
More setbacks followed: the #51 Ferrari (Pier Guidi/Calado/Giovinazzi) first served a five-second penalty, then a 20-second stop-and-go. Even the #50 wasn’t spared, picking up another five-second stop. The Italian squad’s triple lead vanished – suddenly, only the AF Corse Ferrari #83 (Kubica/Ye/Hanson) remained in the top three.
Porsche leads the night, Toyota returns to contention
Ferrari’s troubles opened the door for Porsche: the factory #6 963 (Estre/L. Vanthoor/Campbell) took the lead at halfway, capping a remarkable charge from the back of the grid. Sister cars #4 and #5 also fought their way back into the top ten after setbacks. Porsche’s strategy of long stints and clever pit stops paid off as rivals stumbled.
Toyota, quiet for much of the race, capitalized on the chaos and moved the #8 (Buemi/Hartley/Hirakawa) into second. Consistent lap times and trouble-free running kept the Japanese team in the mix. The second Toyota (#7) also recovered into the top ten after a penalty and repairs.
Safety car bunches up the field
A lengthy safety car period just before halfway added more suspense: following an accident and recovery, the field was neutralized for around 45 minutes. This not only closed the gaps at the front but allowed several chasers to regain lost time.
Incidents, retirements, and night-time drama
The night at Le Mans brought its share of drama. The #46 BMW (Rossi/Farfus/Al Harthy) retired after a crash, while the Iron Dames in the #85 Manthey Porsche ended up stranded in the gravel after contact with the #78 Lexus. Alpine #36 (Gounon/Makowiecki/Schumacher) spun avoiding an incident but continued.
LMGT3 was just as turbulent: the #92 Manthey Porsche battled to the front, while Ferrari and Aston Martin fought for the lead. Slow Zones and Full Course Yellows repeatedly shook up the order.
Le Mans update after 15-hours: Ferrari leads, Porsche and Toyota in pursuit
- Ferrari currently leads the field, with Porsche and Toyota close behind – all three manufacturers remain in contention for the win.
- Cadillac and BMW are running in the top ten, while Alpine and Peugeot are not in the fight for overall victory.
- In LMGT3, Porsche, Ferrari, and Aston Martin are locked in a tight battle for the class lead.
Le Mans remains unpredictable
Hours 6 to 15 have turned the race on its head. Ferrari lost ground due to penalties and incidents, while Porsche’s consistency and strategy brought them to the front. Toyota is back in the fight, with BMW and Cadillac lurking. The night proved once again: nothing is certain at Le Mans – and the morning promises even more drama.
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