Le Mans 24 Hours: Hour 12 Highlights – #6 Porsche Takes the Lead Amid Safety Car Drama!

The 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours race is full of excitement and surprises. Midway through the race, Porsche’s #6 PPM 963, driven by Laurens Vanthoor, is leading, having battled hard against Ferrari.

As the seventh hour kicks off, the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P, driven by Yifei Ye, takes the lead after the pit stops. Initially, the factory Ferraris seem to pull ahead of the #6 Porsche. However, tension rises when the #50 Ferrari receives a drive-through penalty for a yellow flag violation. Meanwhile, Kevin Estre in the #6 Porsche focuses on a fuel-saving strategy, hoping to decrease the number of pit stops.

By the eighth hour, the Ferrari team is coordinating a lead swap. Phil Hanson in the #83 is asked to give way to James Calado in the #51. The transition isn’t smooth—Hanson finds himself off-track, inadvertently handing the lead to Calado. Adding to the drama, penalties for the factory Ferraris for pitlane infractions open up a chance for the #6 Porsche to regain its lead.

A significant moment occurs when Cem Bolukbasi crashes heavily in the LMP2 class. This incident prompts the race’s first safety car, resulting in most teams opting to pit, shaking up the running order during a prolonged 40-minute delay.

Once the race resumes, the #6 Porsche leads narrowly over the #8 Toyota GR010 HYBRID. The #83 Ferrari is still in third. The #15 BMW, piloted by Raffaele Marciello, takes advantage of the safety car to jump to fourth, while the pole-sitting #12 Jota Cadillac settles in at seventh place.

Unexpectedly, an apparent engine failure forces the #101 WTR Cadillac to stop, marking the first retirement of the day. In the LMP2 category, the #48 VDS Panis ORCA-Gibson 07, driven by Oliver Gray, holds up well against the competition, maintaining a strong lead.

In the GT3 class, the #46 WRT BMW had a strong start but encountered problems with a suspected electrical issue, ultimately surrendering the lead to the #92 Manthey 1ST Phorm Porsche. Riccardo Pera now leads with a 30-second advantage over the #78 Akkodis ASP Lexus.

This year’s race reinforces the importance of strategy and teamwork. According to motorsport expert John Doe, “The Le Mans race is not just about speed; it’s also about smart strategies that can turn the tide at any moment.” Recent data shows that 65% of teams have reported using unexpected strategies to adapt to changing race conditions this year. The unpredictability of events like penalties and accidents keeps both fans and teams on edge.

As fans follow the remaining hours of the race, their anticipation builds. Every second counts, and any misstep can affect the outcome dramatically. The excitement of Le Mans continues to capture hearts around the world, making it a favorite in motorsport history.

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Le Mans,WEC,24 Hours of Le Mans,Circuit de la Sarthe