Le Mans 24 Hours 2025: Ferrari target hat-trick as endurance epic gets underway

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While Ferrari may be enduring a challenging season in Formula One, the legendary Italian marque heads into this weekend's 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the firm favourite, aiming for a third consecutive victory in motorsport's most prestigious endurance race.

Tennis legend Roger Federer will have the honour of acting as the celebrity starter, waving the French tricolour at 16:00 CEST on Saturday, 14 June, to send the grid roaring into action. Over the following 24 hours, the world's top endurance racers will contest more than 300 laps (over 4,000km) of the iconic Circuit de la Sarthe, through dusk, darkness, and dawn, cheered on by a sell-out crowd of 320,000 passionate fans fuelled by coffee, adrenaline -- and a fair share of beer.

History and risk

The 2025 race also marks the 70th anniversary of the 1955 Le Mans disaster, the darkest day in motorsport history, when a crash involving Pierre Levegh's Mercedes caused debris to fly into the crowd, killing 81 spectators. The exact death toll remains uncertain, but the tragedy reshaped the future of racing safety.

Over the weekend186 drivers will take to the legendary circuit, which includes the Mulsanne Straight, where speeds can exceed 400 km/h - a reminder of both the glory and peril of Le Mans.

Fortunately, weather conditions are expected to be favourable this year, with Metéo France forecasting dry and mild conditions throughout the weekend. The action kicks off with qualifying for pole position on Thursday night.

"Finishing second was a great result," he said. "But after such a long race, it felt bitter-sweet. We want to put that right this year."