After 24 hours of racing and three races for each of the six grids, the winners ofthis 2025 edition of Le Mans Classic are now known.
More than 800 cars took on the track this year,delighting the 238,000 spectators (235,000 in 2023).
This 12th edition of Le Mans Classic was exciting from start to finish, on and off track.
The 238,000 spectators enjoyed exceptional concerts (Kavinsky, Cerrone), as well as the presence of 220international clubs, bringing together a total collection of 9,200 vehicles.
After this fantastic celebration of motoring history,the date is set for Le Mans Classic Legend 2 to 5 July 2026!
OVERALL RANKING BY TEAM
With a total of 103 laps covered, Team #9 won the overall standings, having achieved the greatest distance by combining the performance of the cars from the six grids.
Grid 1: Stephen SKIPWORTH/Nigel ARMSTRONG–Aston Martin Speed Model 1939 #9–13 laps
Grid 2: Thomas WARD/Jaguar XK120 Roadster 1951 #9–21 laps
Grid 3: Didier VEST/Antoine BLANC–Lotus Elite 1961 #9–19 laps
Grid 4: Jeans-François COGET/Jean-Pierre GAGICK–Ford Shelby 350 GT R 1965 #9–16 rounds
Grid 5: Alexander BRUNDLE/Gary PEARSON–Ford GT40 1965 #9–16 roundsGrid 6: Russell BUSST–Chevron B31 1975 #9–18 rounds
TEAM RANKINGS–PERFORMANCE INDEX
The performance index rewards the car that has covered the greatest distance based on the type of car(Prototype, GT, GTS, etc.), its engine capacity, and the car's age.
Team #43 won this ranking, with a timeof 11:58:54.036.
Grid 1: Mark MANTON–Bentley Speed Six Vanden Plas 1930 #43–43:23.325
Grid 2: Jeans-Michel SAVARY/Dominique LEROUX–Peugeot 203 Constantin 1951 #43–1:22:12.171
Grid 3: Anthony BINNINGTON/Mark DANIELL/Neil BURNSIDE–MG A 1600 Twin Cam Coupe 1961#43–1:45:18.835
Grid 4: Mark DRAIN–Lotus Elan 26R 1965 #43–2:19:49.326
Grid 5: Mathieu CHATEAUX/Jean-Baptiste CHATEAUX–Chevron B16 1971 #43–3:19:52.096
Grid 6: Andreas ROLNER/Lars KERN–Porsche 935 K3 1980 #43–2:28:18.281
Grid 1 Stage 1 paid tribute to the birth of the Le Mans 24 Hours, with cars entered in Sarthe between 1923and 1939. This series featured some of the true myths that laid the foundations of the world's greatestendurance race. Two competitors distinguished themeselves here.
First of all, it was the Alfa Romeo 8C2300 LM #2 of 1931 driven by Fritz BURKARD that finished first in the first heat. The quality of the 8Cmodel had proved its worth in Le Mans, as proven by four consecutive victories in the Le Mans 24Hours from 1931 to 1934.
In the last two races, the Martin HALUSA/Alexander AMES duo won in a different version of this model, the 1932 Afla Romeo 8C 2300 MM Spider Zagato #1.
The spectators were fascinated by this spectacle from another era.
Grid 1 Overall standings:
1.Martin HALUSA/Alexander AMES–Afla Romeo 8C 2300 MM Spider Zagato #1
2. Fritz BURKARD–Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 LM 1931 #2
3. Alex VAN DER LOF/Shirley VAN DER LOF–Delahaye 135 S 1935 #65
Grid 2Grid 2, which embodied the post-war period (1949-1956), The 1962 Jaguar C-Type #15 driven by Nigel WEBB and Chris WARD captivated the spectators and honored the Le Mans 24 Hours circuit. Two victories in the first two races ensured a clear advantage, even if the 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL #40, driven by Johannes KLEINL and Jeuger SOCKOLOWI, proved quite threatening in the dead of night at Le Mans.
Finally, the third round, run in pouring rain, once again crowned Nigel WEBB and Chris WARD. The Jaguar #15 thus won all three races, a pretty rare feat at Le Mans Classic.
Grid 2 Overall standings:
1. Nigel WEBB/Chris WARD–Jaguar C-Type 1952 #15
2. Felix GODARD/Christian GODARD–Cooper T39 1955 #11
3. Hans KLEISSL/Yevgen SOKOLOVSKIY–Wednesdays-Benz 300 SL 1956 #40
Grid 3 The years 1957 to 1961 were proudly represented by the third grid, and iconic cars such as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta TZ Coda Tronca or the Ferrari 250 GT SWB. The first of the three rounds was won by none other than Emanuele PIRRO and Hans HUGENHOLZ in the #64 1959 Lister Jaguar Costin. It is worth noting that the first of the two named won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times from 2000 to2007 for Audi.
In the rematch, the #5 Ferrari 250 GT SWB of Diego MEIER and Remo LIPS took victory
in Race 2. The top threee were separated by eight seconds, which is remarkable given the rainy nightthe drivers had to deal with. The day of racing ended with the third and final session reserved forcompetitors in grid 3. Still held in the rain, the session saw Thomas and JamesALEXANDER triumph inthe 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT #50.
Grid 3 Overall standings:
1. Diego MEIER/Remo LIPS–Ferrari 250 GT SWB 1961 #5
2. Guillermo FIERRO ELETA–Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage 1960 #61
3. Thomas ALEXANDER/James ALEXANDER–Aston Martin DB4 GT 1961 #50
Grid 4 is the one that recalls the beginnings of the legendary Ford/Ferrari rivalry at Le Mans, spanning the years 1962 to 1965. And it didn't disappoint: the first race offered a finale that will go down in the history of this event. Two 1965 Ford GT40s were expected for victory right up until the final moments, and were separated by only four tenths of a second at the finish. Emile BREITTMAYER, in the #28 GT40, triumphed just ahead of Maxwell LYNN, in the #83 Ford. During the night, it was Richard MEINS, in the #70 1965 Ford GT40, who made most of the weather, winning by a wide margin. As if history had something to do with it, the #35 Ferrari 250 LM of Alex VAN DER LOF and Yelmer BUURMAN took victory 60 years after the model'ssuccess at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Grid 4 Overall standings:
1. Emile BREITTMAYER–Ford GT40 1965 #28
2. Benjamin MONNAY–Shelby Cobra 289 1964 #31
3. Alex VAN DER LOF/Yelmer BUURMAN–Ferrari 250 LM 1965 #35
Grid 5 The late 1960s was undoubtedly one of the golden ages of endurance racing. Grid 5 allows youto relive the unique emotions shared by spectators of that era, thanks to cars dating from 1966to 1971. While Nicklas HALUSA's #16 1971 Ferrari 512M was the first winner, it was another prototype bearing the Prancing Horse that won by a thin margin in Race 2: the #6 1969 Ferrari312 P, driven by the duo Remo LIPS/Frank STIPPLER. The #80 Lola T70 Mk.3B Spyder of Gérard LOPEZ and Marcel FÄSSLER was second by less than than half a second, but this was due to the short duration of the race, which was stopped after only one lap due to an accident competitors.
The final session was mastered by Henrique GEMPERLE and Marc deSIEBENTHAL, in the 1971 Porsche 908/03 #37. The three different winners in three races perfectly represent the diversity of this era.
Grid 5 Overall standings:
1. Nicklas HALUSA/Martin HALUSA/Alexander AMES–Ferrari 512M 1971 #16
2. Jan MAGNUSSEN/Chris WARD–Lola T70 Mk.3B GT 1969 #58
3. Charlie HYETT–Chevron B19 1971 #29Grid 6
Grid 6 brings together cars with a rich history, seen on the world's most prestigious circuits between 1972 and 1981. Maxime GUENAT, in the 1979 Lola T286 #51, dominated this series. He won all three races held over the weekend, a rare feat at Le Mans Classic. It was also an opportunity to see the famous BMW M1 Procar, as well as some superb Porsche 935 K3s (themodel that won the 1979 24 Hours) and Ferrari 512 BBLMs.
Once again, the final grid delighted the fans.
Grid 6 Overall standings:
1. Maxime GUENAT–Lola T286 1979 #51
2. Ross HYETT/Charlie HYETT–Chevron B31 1975 #31
3. Tony SINCLAIR/Nick PADMORE–Lola T292 1973 #82
Once again this year, ARAMCO has enabled the majority of competitors in the six grids to
benefit from the latest generation of synthetic fuel. This approach, desired by Peter Auto andARAMCO, considerably reduces the environmental impact of-track activitiesties and helps toadvance the world of historic competition. Like the Le Mans 24 Hours, Le Mans Classic is an
opportunity to use the circuit to test new automotive technologies.
Endurance Racing Legends
Endurance Racing Legends was the first race to take place on saturday morning.
This popular series gives wonderful cars from the 2000s and early 2010s a chance to race on the Le Mans 24 Hours circuit. The event was fiercely contested, with many twists and turns.
Initially, Emmanuel COLLARD, in the #134 2005 Pescarolo C60, struggled to get rid of the #15 2001 Dome 101 driven by the Ivan VERCOUTERE/Alex MÜLLER duo.
In the pitstops, the #99 2001 Zytek 04S passed into the lead in the hands of Jamie CONSTABLE, while Maxwell LYNN, in the #7 2003 Bentley Speed 8, came back very strongly on the leaders.Although the #99 Zytek crossed the finish line in the lead, race direction handed it a 100-second penalty for failing to respect the pit-stop window. CONSTABLE fell back to sixth place, handing victory to Maxwell LYNN and his Bentley. Emmanuel COLLARD finished second, while third place went to Nicklas HALUSA in the #9 Audi R8 LMP from 2000.The second 30-minute race concluded this 12th edition of Le Mans Classic.
Once again, Emmanuel COLLARD took the lead in the early stages in his #134 Pescarolo C60, chased by Nicklas HALUSA in his #9 Audi R8 LMP. The track was still drying, which tested thenerves of the entrants. Max SHILTON, in the #51 2004 Zytek 04S, also attacked very strongly: having moved up to second place, he wanted to catch COLLARD in front of him. A sumptuous battle pitted the two protagonists against each other, with SHILTON in favor. Having taken the lead with five minutes to go, he won by a few seconds ahead of Emmanuel COLLARD and Ivan VERCOUTERE's #15 Dome S101.
Race 1 standings:
1. Maxwell LYNN –Bentley Speed 8 2003 #7
2. Emmanuel COLLARD –Pescarolo C60 2005 #134
3. Nicklas HALUSA –Audi R8 LMP 2000 #9
Race 2 standings (sprint race):
1. Max SHILTON –Zytek 04S 2004 #51
2. Emmanuel COLLARD –Pescarolo C60 2005 #134
3. Ivan VERCOUTERE –Dome S101 2001 #15
Porsche Classic Race Le Mans
The 100% Porsche support grid provided an exciting race for the many fans of the marque, and more generally for all the spectators in attendance. Right from the start, Emmanuel BRIGAND (Porsche 935 #46 from 1981) took the lead, but was pursued by Mr JOHN OF B in the legendary Porsche 917K #69 from 1969.
As a reminder, it was thanks to this prototype that the German firm claimed its first two Le Mans victories in 1970 and 1971, which gives it a special significance. The two drivers stared at each other, not letting go of each other's grip.With just a few minutes to go, BRIGAND, who had started from pole, tangled with a latecomer at the second Mulsanne straight chicane. He was able to restart in slow motion, but without any hope of winning. The race was interrupted by a red flag, and Mr JOHNOF B went on to win. In second place was the #8 1977 Porsche 935 driven by Henrique GEMPERLE and Marc de SIEBENTHAL, while Dominique GUENAT, in the #51 1977 Porsche 935, finished third.
Standings:
1. Mr JOHN OF B/Soheil AYARI –Porsche 917K 1969 #69
2. Henrique GEMPERLE/Marc de SIEBENTHAL –Porsche 935 1977 #8
3. Dominique GUENAT –Porsche 935 1977 #51
Group C Racing
The Group C Racing line-up is a crowd favorite. Once again, the majestic sounds of these cars left no one unmoved, especially when the engines were expressing themselves in racing conditions.
These models, which took part in the Le Mans 24 Hours from 1983 to 1991, are difficult to master and require a very high level of driving skill. Maxime GUENAT won the first heat in his 1993 Peugeot 905 Evo 1 bis #4, ahead of the 1992 Lola T92/10 #44 driven by David and Olivier HART, which was penalized in the closing stages but was the first to cross the finish line. Third place went to the 1990 Porsche 962C #121 driven by Ivan VERCOUTERE and Ralf KELLENERS.The second race, lasting 30 minutes, was run in the rain shortly before 6 a.m. on Sunday.
Numerous competitors failed to start, including the #44 Lola T92/10 and the #4 Peugeot 905 Evo 1 bis, the leaders of the first race.
In difficult conditions, Ivan VERCOUTERE and Ralf KELLENERS made the difference in their 1990 Porsche 962 C #121, winning by just over two seconds from Philip KADOORIE in the 1990 Porsche 962 C #69, while Lukas HALUSA (1992 Porsche 962 C #30) finished third.
Race 1 standings:
1. Maxime GUENAT–Peugeot 905 Evo 1 bis 1993 #4
2. DavidHART/Olivier HART–Lola T92/10 1992 #44
3. Ivan VERCOUTERE/Ralf KELLENERS–Porsche 962C 1990 #121
Race 2 standings (sprint race):
1. Ivan VERCOUTERE/Ralf KELLENERS–Porsche 962C 1990 #121
2. Philip KADOORIE–Porsche 962C 1990 #69
3. Lukas HALUSA–Porsche 962C 1992 #30s reserved.
