Le Mans 24 Hours Practice 2: Toyota seizes top spot after Kubica Ferrari penalty

The second practice session for the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours delivered high drama as Toyota Gazoo Racing claimed the fastest time after Robert Kubica’s benchmark lap in the #83 AF Corse Ferrari was deleted due to a pit lane speeding infraction. This unexpected turn of events reshaped the competitive landscape heading into Hyperpole qualification, showcasing both the razor-thin margins and unforgiving regulatory framework that defines endurance racing’s greatest spectacle.

With temperatures dropping and grip levels improving during the night session, teams seized the opportunity to gather crucial data for both qualifying and the race itself, resulting in a flurry of competitive times that hint at an incredibly tight battle ahead across all classes.

Hypercar practice performance

Toyota inherits pole after Kubica’s deleted lap

Toyota Gazoo Racing’s #8 GR010 Hybrid, with Sébastien Buemi at the wheel, ultimately topped the timesheets with a lap of 3:26.156. This performance only came after stewards deleted Robert Kubica’s blistering 3:25.101 in the #83 AF Corse Ferrari due to exceeding the pit lane speed limit—a costly error that significantly altered the session’s outcome.

“The deletion of Kubica’s times was unfortunate for Ferrari, but it’s a reminder of how crucial discipline is at Le Mans,” noted Brendon Hartley, who shares the #8 Toyota with Buemi and Ryō Hirakawa. “Every detail matters here, whether it’s managing traffic or respecting pit lane regulations.”

Norman Nato secured second position in the #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA entry with a 3:26.607—just 0.451 seconds off Buemi’s pace—while Yifei Ye placed the #83 Ferrari third with a 3:26.680 after his teammate’s penalty. The gap of merely 0.524 seconds between first and third positions underscores the competitive nature of the current Hypercar field.

Balance of performance across manufacturers

The top five was remarkably diverse, featuring four different manufacturers within less than seven-tenths of a second. Following Toyota, Cadillac, and Ferrari, the #4 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 claimed fourth with a 3:26.748 from Pascal Wehrlein, while Miguel Molina placed the #50 Ferrari AF Corse fifth with a 3:26.809.

This competitive spread continued down the order with BMW M Team WRT’s #15 entry in sixth (3:27.193), the #5 Porsche 963 in seventh (3:27.204), and the second BMW in eighth (3:27.254). Such narrow margins across manufacturers suggest the Toyota tops second practice after Kubica Ferrari regulations are achieving their intended purpose of creating a level playing field.

Notably, the #7 Toyota struggled relative to its sister car, finishing 14th with a time of 3:27.790—a significant 1.634 seconds behind the pace-setting #8 machine. This performance disparity within the defending champions’ garage will undoubtedly prompt intense analysis overnight.

Le Mans 24 Hours Practice 2 analysis Toyota’s performance and Kubica Ferrari penalty

Technical breakdown of Toyota’s pace advantage

The #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid exhibited exceptional balance throughout the circuit, with team telemetry revealing particularly strong performance through the technical Porsche Curves section. Toyota’s hybrid deployment strategy appeared optimized for Le Mans’ unique combination of long straights and varying corner types, allowing Buemi to maintain momentum through crucial sections of the track.

Toyota’s technical director explained: “We’ve focused on finding a setup that works across the full 24 hours, prioritizing consistent performance over a single quick lap. The cooler night conditions suited our package better than expected, but we’re still analyzing where we can find additional time for Hyperpole.”

This approach stands in contrast to the raw speed displayed by Kubica before his penalty. Sector analysis shows the Ferrari had a slight edge in the first and second sectors, leveraging superior straight-line performance, while Toyota appeared stronger in the more technical final sector.

Toyota leads Free Practice 2 after Kubica time deleted, but the underlying performance data suggests Ferrari still holds a potential pace advantage if they can execute a clean lap under regulatory constraints.

Regulatory implications of Kubica’s penalty

Kubica’s pit lane speeding violation falls under Article 34.7 of the FIA World Endurance Championship Sporting Regulations, which mandates strict adherence to the 60 km/h speed limit. The stewards’ decision to delete all of Kubica’s lap times, rather than impose a less severe penalty, emphasizes the zero-tolerance approach to safety infractions at Le Mans.

This penalty dramatically impacted the AF Corse team’s session plan. Instead of fine-tuning their qualifying setup based on Kubica’s benchmark time, the team was forced to regroup with Yifei Ye taking over driving duties to establish a representative time in the closing stages.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of how easily a minor procedural error can derail an otherwise promising performance at Le Mans—a lesson that will undoubtedly sharpen every team’s focus on the minutiae of operational execution throughout the race weekend.

Fastest time and last lap drama for Toyota #8 in FP2 further complicated Toyota’s session, as Ryo Hirakawa made contact with the #57 Kessel Racing Ferrari at the Karting corner after the checkered flag. While this incident remains under investigation, it added an unexpected wrinkle to what had become a productive session for the Japanese manufacturer.

Le Mans 24 Hours Practice 2 top 5

Detailed performance analysis by manufacturer

The Practice 2 results revealed intriguing performance characteristics across the Hypercar field:

• Toyota (#8): Demonstrated exceptional balance and consistency, with Buemi’s 3:26.156 coming relatively early in the session. The Japanese manufacturer appeared to prioritize race preparation over pure qualifying pace, yet still claimed top spot after Kubica’s penalty.
• Cadillac (#12): Norman Nato’s 3:26.607 showcased the American manufacturer’s progress, with the V-Series.R exhibiting impressive straight-line stability and strong corner exit acceleration. The Cadillac’s performance in cooler conditions suggests it could be particularly competitive during the crucial night hours of the race.
• Ferrari (#83): Despite the penalty drama, the 499P’s raw speed remains undeniable. Yifei Ye’s 3:26.680 salvaged third position, but Kubica’s deleted 3:25.101 indicates Ferrari potentially holds the ultimate pace advantage heading into qualifying.
• Porsche (#4): The 963 demonstrated well-rounded performance with Pascal Wehrlein’s 3:26.748, showcasing particular strength in traction zones. However, the post-session disqualification of the sister #6 car for being underweight highlights the razor-thin margins teams are operating within.
• Ferrari (#50): The reigning Le Mans winners rounded out the top five with Miguel Molina’s 3:26.809, confirming Ferrari’s overall competitiveness while suggesting a minor performance gap between their customer and works entries.

Class leaders beyond Hypercar

The night practice session also established hierarchies in the supporting classes:

In LMP2, Dane Cameron set the pace aboard the #199 AO by TF Oreca 07 Gibson with a best lap of 3:37.515, demonstrating impressive speed in the pro-am category that has historically provided some of Le Mans’ most competitive racing.

LMGT3 saw a Lexus lockout at the front, with AKKODIS ASP Team claiming the top two positions. Jose Maria Lopez posted a 3:55.422 in the #87 Lexus RC F GT3, narrowly edging teammate Jack Hawksworth in the #78 car by just 0.027 seconds. The Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R completed the top three, setting up what promises to be a fascinating battle in the production-based category.

As teams now turn their attention to qualifying and the critical Hyperpole session, Practice 2 has established clear battlelines across all classes. Toyota may have claimed the headline time, but Ferrari’s underlying pace—penalty notwithstanding—suggests the fight for pole position and ultimate race victory remains wide open as the Le Mans week intensifies.