2025 Le Mans Cup Season Finale: David and Schwarze Crowned Champions in Portimão
In a dramatic conclusion to the 2025 Le Mans Cup at Portimão, Hadrien David and Hugo Schwarze of R-ace GP clinched their fourth victory of the season, solidifying their championship in the LMP3 category. The race, marked by intense competition and multiple red flags, saw key title battles resolved amid a series of incidents.
David secured the overall win with a decisive maneuver against the Inter Europol Competition Ligier, which had been leading the Pro/Am class, overtaking with just 30 minutes remaining. He maintained his lead to finish 21 seconds ahead of his nearest rival. “Amazing second half of the year, I’m thrilled… Thank you to Thibaut for believing in me when nobody else did,” David remarked post-race.
The lead changed dramatically when the #34 Inter Europol JS P325 took early advantage due to strategic pit stops prior to a safety car. The integer mix of teams resulted in a chaotic race, with Rashid Shawn’s car ultimately securing the Pro/Am win but falling to fourth overall. Romain Favre and David Droux completed the overall podium in second and third, respectively.
In the LMP3 Pro/Am championship, Steve Parrow of Rinaldi Racing secured the title with a crucial third-place finish, edging out Gillian Henrion and Eric De Doncker by a mere point after surviving a post-race 10-second penalty. The chaotic race began with a multi-car pile-up on lap seven, involving the championship-leading #71 Rinaldi Racing Ligier, which retired from the race.
“Today was a battle, but our performance secured our championship,” Parrow stated, summing up the tense finish. The race was significantly impacted by a series of early incidents, including a safety car caused by Julien Lemoine, which allowed other contenders to capitalize on the chaos.
In GT3, Kessel Racing’s #33 Ferrari 296 claimed the race victory, buoyed by the misfortune of rivals in the closing laps. Despite their win, David Fumanelli and Murat Çuhadaroğlu fell short of the championship, finishing nine points behind AF Corse’s Eliseo Donno and Alessandro Cozzi, who earned the title with a solid second-place finish.
Cozzi attributed their success to consistency despite not securing wins throughout the season, while Fumanelli expressed disappointment at finishing strong yet ultimately losing out due to prior DNFs. The final GT3 podium was rounded out by Code Racing Development’s Aston Martin and Kessel’s #17 Ferrari.
Key Results:
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LMP3:
- 1st: Hadrien David/Hugo Schwarze (R-ace GP)
- 2nd: Romain Favre (Forestier Racing)
- 3rd: David Droux (CLX Motorsport)
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LMP3 Pro/Am Champion: Steve Parrow (Rinaldi Racing)
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GT3:
- 1st: David Fumanelli/Murat Çuhadaroğlu (Kessel Racing)
- 2nd: Eliseo Donno/Alessandro Cozzi (AF Corse)
- 3rd: Code Racing Development Aston Martin
The 2025 season showcased an intense competition across classes, culminating in gripping spectacles of strategy and skill, setting the stage for what lies ahead in the motorsports arena.
