Ye Yifei Becomes First Chinese Driver to Win 24 Hours of Le Mans
Ye Yifei and his team clinch victory in a historic 93rd edition of the iconic endurance race.
Ye Yifei made history on Sunday night in France by becoming the first Chinese driver to secure the overall title at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Ye and his teammates Robert Kubica and Phil Hanson competed in the No.83 Ferrari fielded by AF Corse, completing 387 laps and finishing 14.084 seconds ahead of the No.6 Porsche Penske.
The 93rd edition of this endurance classic commenced at 10 PM on Saturday and concluded 24 hours later, testing the limits of both drivers and racing machines.
Starting from 13th position on the grid, the No.83 team advanced through the ranks, overcoming various challenges including time penalties and early difficulties.
As the race transitioned into night, Ye took control of the vehicle twice, contributing significantly to the team's advancement.
Ye expressed his astonishment at the victory, stating, "I lost my words.
It's going to take me some time to realize everything that's happened today.
Right now I feel like I'm dreaming."
This victory is especially poignant for Ye, who nearly triumphed in 2021 while leading the LMP2 class before a mechanical failure halted their progress on the final lap.
Ye remarked, "We finally completed the last lap! To finish the journey that Robert and I started in 2021 is unbelievable.
Winning with Ferrari is a dream come true."
Ferrari's victory further solidified the brand's recent dominance in endurance racing, marking the third consecutive overall win since reentering top-level endurance racing in 2023.
For Ye, this achievement goes beyond personal success; it highlights the emergence of Chinese talent in global motorsport.
Previously, the best result for a Chinese driver was recorded by Ho-Pin Tung in 2015, when his team, Jackie Chan DC Racing, secured second place overall.
Ye’s win represents a significant milestone for Chinese motorsport enthusiasts, embodying a long-cherished aspiration to excel at one of the most respected racing events.
Ye Yifei, 24, began his motorsport career on the European single-seater circuit under the mentorship of notable figures such as Cheng Congfu and Neel Jani.
Although he faced challenges in Formula 3, Ye transitioned to sports car racing, making his World Endurance Championship Hypercar debut with JOTA in 2023. His exceptional performances earned him a contract with Ferrari for the 2024 season.
In this current season, Ye partnered with Kubica and welcomed Hanson as a fellow teammate.
The trio achieved a podium finish in Qatar and demonstrated strong performance throughout the WEC season, culminating in their historic Le Mans victory.
Notably, Ye Yifei and fellow Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu both joined the Renault Sport Academy in 2019, although Zhou has garnered wider recognition due to his connection to Formula 1. Wang Dazhao, a sports commentator based in Beijing, emphasized the significance of the Le Mans race in challenging racers’ endurance and teamwork.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an annual endurance race for prototype and grand touring cars, held in the town of Le Mans, approximately 200 kilometers southwest of Paris.
Established in 1923, it remains the oldest active endurance race globally.
Ye and his teammates Robert Kubica and Phil Hanson competed in the No.83 Ferrari fielded by AF Corse, completing 387 laps and finishing 14.084 seconds ahead of the No.6 Porsche Penske.
The 93rd edition of this endurance classic commenced at 10 PM on Saturday and concluded 24 hours later, testing the limits of both drivers and racing machines.
Starting from 13th position on the grid, the No.83 team advanced through the ranks, overcoming various challenges including time penalties and early difficulties.
As the race transitioned into night, Ye took control of the vehicle twice, contributing significantly to the team's advancement.
Ye expressed his astonishment at the victory, stating, "I lost my words.
It's going to take me some time to realize everything that's happened today.
Right now I feel like I'm dreaming."
This victory is especially poignant for Ye, who nearly triumphed in 2021 while leading the LMP2 class before a mechanical failure halted their progress on the final lap.
Ye remarked, "We finally completed the last lap! To finish the journey that Robert and I started in 2021 is unbelievable.
Winning with Ferrari is a dream come true."
Ferrari's victory further solidified the brand's recent dominance in endurance racing, marking the third consecutive overall win since reentering top-level endurance racing in 2023.
For Ye, this achievement goes beyond personal success; it highlights the emergence of Chinese talent in global motorsport.
Previously, the best result for a Chinese driver was recorded by Ho-Pin Tung in 2015, when his team, Jackie Chan DC Racing, secured second place overall.
Ye’s win represents a significant milestone for Chinese motorsport enthusiasts, embodying a long-cherished aspiration to excel at one of the most respected racing events.
Ye Yifei, 24, began his motorsport career on the European single-seater circuit under the mentorship of notable figures such as Cheng Congfu and Neel Jani.
Although he faced challenges in Formula 3, Ye transitioned to sports car racing, making his World Endurance Championship Hypercar debut with JOTA in 2023. His exceptional performances earned him a contract with Ferrari for the 2024 season.
In this current season, Ye partnered with Kubica and welcomed Hanson as a fellow teammate.
The trio achieved a podium finish in Qatar and demonstrated strong performance throughout the WEC season, culminating in their historic Le Mans victory.
Notably, Ye Yifei and fellow Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu both joined the Renault Sport Academy in 2019, although Zhou has garnered wider recognition due to his connection to Formula 1. Wang Dazhao, a sports commentator based in Beijing, emphasized the significance of the Le Mans race in challenging racers’ endurance and teamwork.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an annual endurance race for prototype and grand touring cars, held in the town of Le Mans, approximately 200 kilometers southwest of Paris.
Established in 1923, it remains the oldest active endurance race globally.
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