Jakub Smiechowski, Nick Yelloly and Tom Dillmann secured the second 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 victory for Inter Europol Competition Oreca-Gibson, with the no43 Oreca-Gibson finishing nearly two minutes ahead of the no48 VDS Panis Racing Oreca at the chequered flag.
However, a late penalty saw Nick Yelloly serve a drive through for a pitstop infringement, which dropped the no43 Oreca behind Esteban Masson in the VDS Panis Racing Oreca. But fate struck the leading car and Masson slowed with a suspension issue, with Yelloly sweeping past to take the lead. The no48 Oreca was well ahead of the no199 AO by TF Oreca to get to the chequered flag in second place at the end of 24 Hours of Racing.
The no199 AO by TF Oreca-Gibson took the chequered flag in third overall but first in LMP2 Pro/Am, with Louis Deletraz, PJ Hyett and Dane Cameron lifting the winner’s trophies on the podium.
It was a good day for Louis Deletraz after losing the LMP2 win on the last lap in 2021 and then finishing second three years in row, the Swiss driver finally got his 24 Hours of Le Mans winners’ trophy.
Third place in LMP2 went to the no9 Iron Lynx-Proton Oreca, which finished 4th overall in LMP2. Second place in LMP2 Pro/Am went to the no29 TDS Racing Oreca and the final podium place was secured by the no11 Proton Competition Oreca-Gibson.
Louis Deletraz also celebrated with his 2021 teammates Robert Kubica and Yifei Ye, who won the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans overall in the no83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P.
Robert Kubica and Yifei Ye had both won the ELMS LMP2 title, Kubica in 2021 and 2024 and Ye in 2021, and their 2025 teammate Phil Hanson was also a past ELMS champion, winning the title in 2020.
There were also other ELMS champions celebrating today.2019 ELMS LMGTE Champion Alessandro Pier Guidi finished third overall in the no51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P and 2023 ELMS LMGTE Champion Ryan Hardwick finished on the top step of the LMGT3 podium alongside his Manthey teammates, and ELMS race winners, Riccardo Pera and Richard Lietz, with Lietz celebrating his sixth class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
CLICK HERE for the provisional result of the 93rd Edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Tom Dillmann – no43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca 07-Gibson: “It was a really intense race with Panis.We were within 10 seconds for the last six hours, pushing every lap. In LMP2 with all the same cars. It's, it's really tight and it was a great battle.
“I mean winning Le Mans, I think I don't realise yet. We won Sebring this year already. I was really happy to win a legendary race like that, but Le Mans is another level. So just amazing.”
Nick Yelloly – no43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca 07-Gibson: “I knew I'd made the mistake, I locked the rears going into the pit lane, just trying to make a little bit more time, so we were safer with our fuel numbers. Obviously, I was pretty annoyed at myself. I won't repeat what I said in the helmet, but it was quite angry.
“Then, unfortunately for them, they had some suspension issue or something of the sort or floor issue. I could see them almost selecting reverse and coming back to me. So, this time, Le Mans chose us, and I'm obviously very happy and fortunate for that to be the case this time. I'm looking forward very much to coming back again.”
Jakub Smiechowski – no43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca 07-Gibson: “Obviously, it's a great feeling. Tom and Nick did a great job today and yesterday; without them, we couldn't win, and without the whole team support, we wouldn't be able to win as well.
“I know, a little bit the VDS views, because last year we also had a technical issue that potentially prevented us from winning last year as well, and we finished second. So, it's always a difficult feeling. It's not nice, but like it's the case in many of the 24-hour races, you don't always win when you deserve it. Sometimes the race just chooses you and chooses who to win. I think we both deserved to win today as we were fighting really hard until the end of the race.
“I mean, at the end, somebody had to win.Obviously, I'm happy it's us, but I feel really bad for them, because it's not the way to lose a race like this.”
PJ Hyett – no199 AO by TF Oreca 07-Gibson: “Well, it hasn't been for a lack of trying to win races, but to have my first win at Le Mans is sort of unbelievable and Yes, kind of amazing.
“Well, so about an hour before the race ended, my daughter called me to wish me a happy Father's Day. And it's, you know, in large part, that we run these characters on the cars, whether it's the Rexy, the green Tyrannosaurus Rex, Porsche 911 back in the States, or Spike the LMP2 Dragon. They are a homage to my children. So, it's sort of unbelievable to have it also be Father's Day, a Le Mans win, and to do it with such a fun livery that seems to resonate with families around the world. So it's a really, really special day for me.”
Louis Deletraz – no199 AO by TF Oreca 07-Gibson: “First of all, I'm still one Le Mans win behind my father, so I will have to come back. But it's amazing. We've been trying so hard to win Le Mans over last few years. I came so close.
“2021 still hurts, obviously. On that side, I'm very happy for Robert and Yifei, because it feels a bit special that we all won on the same day. But three times second and finally the win. So, I'm really proud of the race my both teammates did, no mistakes. We're super-fast and the whole team did great. It's just such a pleasure to stand on the top step here. We'll be back for sure.”
Dane Cameron – no199 AO by TF Oreca 07-Gibson: “Yeah, super excited with today. Very happy for Louis and PJ as well. To get PJ's first win here is quite incredible. That was a goal for me to join the programme and deliver this for him. So, it’s great to be a part of this.
“Certainly for Louis, it's been quite challenging, I know, over a couple of years here. So I’m really happy to be a part of his first success here.
“So it is really just a tremendous, tremendous day and something I had circled on the calendar when I knew we were all going to be together here as something I thought was quite possible to achieve. It came faster than success at Daytona for me, which took a bit longer, but it’s just outstanding to win a race here today.”
