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Roger Federer waved the French flag to start the 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which features 62 cars and 186 drivers from 34 countries.
Roger Federer at 2025 Le Mans (X)
Class is timeless, and there is none who personifies the same rather than Roger Federer himself, who brought it all to Le Mans today.
The Swiss tennis legend waved the French flag to kick off the 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Saturday, where Porsche quickly took the lead from Cadillac.
Organisers have estimated the total weekend attendance at over 300,000 spectators.
Ferrari, which won the last two editions, can keep the trophy at their Maranello factory if they achieve a hat-trick.
Following a French air force flypast, retired 20-time Grand Slam winner Federer waved the flag to start the race, which runs through the night and into Sunday afternoon.
Cadillac, which had swept the front row in Thursday’s qualifying, saw its advantage disappear as Porsche Penske’s Julien Andlauer surged into the lead from third on the grid before the first chicane on the opening lap.
Held at the Sarthe circuit in north-west France, the race features 62 cars driven by 186 drivers from 34 countries. It is the fourth round of the World Endurance Championship, with 21 hypercars vying for overall victory.
This iconic endurance race has been the site of memorable victories for current grid drivers. Nico Hulkenberg won with Porsche in 2015, while Fernando Alonso secured back-to-back wins with Toyota in 2018 and 2019.
The most notable Formula 1 name in this year’s Le Mans is Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion with Brawn GP. At 45, Button is racing in the 24-hour classic for the fourth time, still seeking his first win on the 13.6-kilometre circuit.
Other F1 drivers competing this year include Nico Hulkenberg and Mick Schumacher.
In an interesting twist, Moto GP legend Valentino Rossi is making his second appearance in this endurance race. Rossi, known for his illustrious career on two wheels, swapped rides with Lewis Hamilton in 2019 and tested for Ferrari in 2006.
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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