Inter Europol Competition grabbed a stunning LMP2 victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, overcoming late-race drama and a nail-biting penalty in the final 30 minutes to cross the line first after a dominant and determined performance to back up their 2023 win.

LMP2 VICTORY FOR #43: A COMMANDING AND PERFECTLY EXECUTED TRIUMPH

From the front row in P2, Tom Dillmann delivered a commanding opening stint. He launched the race with a clean, confident start and quickly established the #43 car as a key contender, putting immediate pressure on the leaders with fast, controlled laps

Jakub ( Kuba) Smiechowski was next in the car and maintained strong pace and the cream of the Silver rated drivers, helping to build an early gap of over 20 seconds to the rest of the field — a testament to both his performance and the car’s setup. Kuba’s stints, particularly into the night, were impressively measured… until a heart-stopping moment nearly changed everything.

During a tense night stint, Kuba narrowly avoided disaster after a major off-track moment that could have ended the team’s race. The car sustained damage to the front end after running over debris in the aftermath, forcing a nose change — a rapid repair that kept the #43 in the fight but added a layer of tension to the otherwise smooth run.

Nick Yelloly took the car into the evening and drove with pace and precision. Unfortunately, during a pit stop, Nick lost time after mistakenly pulling into the wrong box — a costly error in a tightly contested race. He responded with maturity and speed, and later, during the morning hours at 7:00 AM, set the fastest LMP2 lap of the race: 3:36.448.

As night fell, Kuba returned for another clean stint under the lights, keeping the car at the front of the pack and stabilising after the earlier scare.

Through the early morning, Tom Dillmann returned to the cockpit and delivered another masterful stint — confidently carrying the team in P1 during a crucial phase. Under pressure and with the pack closing in, his pace, traffic management, and composure were key to keeping the lead into the race’s final hours.

Nick rejoined and carried the car into sunrise, still leading and with Kuba having completed his required drive time, Nick and Tom alternated keeping the car at the front and managing the gap to the pursuing VDS Panis car.

As the hours passed, and the pace increased the LMP2 battle for the win was clearly becoming a 2 horse race with the AO by TF car now a lap down and the pace of the IEC leader and VDS Panis pursuer clearly ahead of the field.

But just as the finish line drew closer, drama struck once again — Nick was handed a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane. With less than an hour to go, the penalty dropped the #43 to P2, and with the rapid #48 VDS Panis Racing car right behind, the win looked to be slipping away as Nick rejoined some 20 seconds behind his rival.

In a remarkable twist of fate, the #48 suffered a suspension issue shortly after taking the lead, opening the door for Inter Europol Competition to reclaim P1. Nick drove the final laps under immense pressure but kept his cool to bring the car home in first place — sealing a truly dramatic and well-deserved LMP2 victory at Le Mans.

It was a flawless display of teamwork, consistency, and resilience by all three drivers — a victory earned, not given.

#34 FIGHTS TO P5 IN PRO/AM AFTER STRONG COMEBACK

After a puncture in qualifying left them starting from P16, the #34 crew faced a challenging road ahead.

Luca Ghiotto took the opening stint and put in a standout performance, working his way up the field and handing over the car in P5 — a remarkable progress through the field that set the tone for the rest of the race.

In his first race laps at Le Mans Nick Boulle took over and delivered a composed, mistake-free stint, keeping the car in contention within the top ten. As darkness fell, Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer stepped in and maintained a steady rhythm through the night, contributing to one of the team’s most consistent phases of the race.

Back-to-back clean stints from all three drivers kept the #34 in a strong position heading into the morning hours.

Luca returned to the cockpit as dawn broke running in P7 overall and P2 in LMP2 Pro/Am, the team was well-placed for a class podium heading into the final hours.

In the final stint, a pit lane speeding penalty dashed hopes of a Pro/Am podium, with the #34 ultimately finishing P5 in class and 10th overall after a strong fightback.

This result would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and partners, who continue to believe in our vision and performance at the highest level of endurance racing.

Quotes 

Sascha Fassbender – Team Manager 
“Winning at Le Mans for the second time is a dream come true. This race challenged us in every possible way — from a penalty in the final hour to tough competitors and intense moments on track. It’s a result of incredible teamwork, smart strategy, and sheer determination. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved together, and I want to thank everyone who supported us on this journey. This victory will stay in our hearts forever.”

Jakub ( Kuba) Smiechowski #43
“It was a really close battle — in the last six to eight hours, we were just 10 to 15 seconds apart from the VDS team, so we were pushing hard. It was a lot of fun, but also really intense, especially in the final 30 minutes. I’m very happy for the team and my teammates — this is a great win and one we truly earned.”

Nick Yelloly #43
“Winners of LMP2 at Le Mans — which is a pretty cool thing to say! It was a wild race, completely flat-out from start to finish, and we really managed to come out on top. I’m super happy for Tom and Kuba, and a massive thanks to the whole team and everyone involved. Everyone who helped us get across the finish line first — we had our share of good and bad fortune, but thankfully, we turned it our way in those final 10 to 15 minutes. It’s my first Le Mans and now I’ve added it to my wins at the Nürburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours.”

Tom Dillmann #43
“It’s just amazing to win the biggest race you can in LMP2. We had a really strong week — the team did a great job in every department, and that’s exactly what you need to take a win like this. It was an intense battle with the VDS team. At times, we were in another league with our car, fighting for every inch, and at other times they were stronger. But when the track got hotter towards the end, we really had to dig deep to hold the gap. In the end, it felt like Le Mans chose us — and I’m glad it did.”

Luca Ghiotto #34
“Of course, it’s a great result for the team — huge congratulations to the other car for winning. Winning Le Mans is a dream for any driver, so it’s unbelievable for them. On our side of the garage, we were running well and holding second in the Pro/Am class for much of the race. But in hour 23, we had to serve a penalty and then had a gearbox issue. I had to finish the last 40 minutes in only 5th and 6th gear, and we lost too much time trying to bring the car home. It’s a shame — a podium would have been nice — but that’s Le Mans. We finished, which is something to be proud of, and the team gave it everything. We’ll come back stronger next time.”

Nick Boulle #34

“Racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Inter Europol Competition was a dream come true in many respects. We had a great car, and the team performed really well. Luca was super fast when the race came around — after the mishap in practice, he rebounded so strongly and didn’t put a foot wrong. No mistakes! And JB got in and did a great job as well.

That said, after a long week like this, it’s hard not to look back and want more. We ran second for most of the race in Pro/Am, and a podium really looked possible — but we just didn’t have quite enough for the top step this time. Le Mans is such a special place, and I really hope I get the chance to come back and fight again one day.”

Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer #34
“I’m very happy to have finished the race — the team did an excellent job with no mistakes and no contact. It’s just frustrating to end with this result, as we were so close. The gearbox issue in the final hours was a real shame, because we were on course for a strong finish and possibly even a podium. It’s disappointing because the week could have ended on such a high, but that’s endurance racing.”

Saturday’s second Road to Le Mans race brought another hour of high-pressure action — and plenty of drama — as yellow flags and safety cars dominated much of the running.

David Pun started in the #43 and was immediately caught in the chaos at Turn 1, spinning to avoid a multi-car collision. Fortunately, he avoided any contact or damage and rejoined the race cleanly. After the driver change, Sergio Sette Camara re-entered in P17 and delivered a superb stint, charging through the field to finish P7 — a strong recovery drive in challenging conditions.

In the #34, Chris Short had a clean start but only managed one full green-flag lap during his stint due to the extended safety car period. William Karlsson took over and showed strong pace in the closing stages, making up ground to bring the car home in P5 on the final lap after the safety car pulled in.

With both cars finishing solidly in the top 10, Inter Europol Competition wrapped up its Road to Le Mans campaign on a high note — gaining valuable experience and showing strong pace throughout the week.

Looking Forward….

After the intense challenge of Le Mans, the team shifts focus to the next round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Inter Europol Competition will return to LMP2 action at Watkins Glen for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen (June 21–23), fielding the #43 entry with Tom Dillmann, Bijoy Garg, and Jeremy Clarke.

Just two weeks later, the European Le Mans Series resumes with Round 3 at Imola on 6 July — a circuit that promises more high-stakes action as the team continues its campaign in the LMP2 class.