AF Corse #83 leads, but victory could complicate Ferrari’s bid for the coveted “Trophée de la Sarthe”
With only a handful of laps remaining in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Italian fans are basking in a sweet moment: the yellow AF Corse Ferrari #83, currently driven by Robert Kubica, heads the field. Close behind are the two factory 499P cars—#50 with Nicklas Nielsen and #51 with James Calado—poised to complete a dream Ferrari 1-2-3.
Yet a technical and symbolic wrinkle threatens to sour the celebration.
Le Mans’ legendary “Trophée de la Sarthe,” or Grand Trophy, is awarded permanently to any manufacturer that wins the race three years in a row with the same model. Ferrari triumphed with the 499P in 2023 and again in 2024; a 2025 victory would seal the historic treble.
But here’s the catch: if today’s winner is the privately entered AF Corse #83, the result does not count toward Ferrari’s official tally for the trophy, because the car is registered under AF Corse, not the factory team. Despite being a full-spec 499P, the entry is considered separate from Ferrari’s own #50 and #51.
Result: Ferrari could win the race yet lose the continuity required to claim the trophy outright—an outcome that would echo Porsche’s and Audi’s eras of dominance, but without the ultimate keepsake.
Sources inside the paddock hint that Ferrari has asked the governing body to reconsider.
A last-minute exemption might allow Maranello to keep the Grand Trophy even if #83 wins, but for now this remains unconfirmed.
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UPDATE (14:04 local) – After a second inquiry from Ferrari, the FIA is reportedly reviewing the rule interpretation. Rumors suggest that if #83 wins, the trophy could still reside in Maranello, but no official decision has been published.
Photo: Ferrari Hypercar
