Ferrari just landed its third consecutive win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last week, featuring a career milestone for Ye Yifei, the very first Chinese driver to win at Le Mans. For those unfamiliar with the event, it’s a race that prioritizes endurance, durability, and fuel efficiency over the raw speed of Formula One.

Ye, the young driver from Xi’an, celebrated his 25th birthday just two days after his championship win. His passion for driving began at a young age; he won the Chinese Kart Championship in 2010 and 2012 before continuing his training in Japan and Europe. Even his name reflects his aspirations: The three characters Ye Yifei (叶一飞) translate to “leaf,” “one,” and “fly”—light as a leaf, soaring through the air.

Many fans are already familiar with Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese driver to appear in Formula One. Both Zhou and Ye trained under the Alpine Academy. While Zhou has made his mark in F1—driving for Sauber from 2022 to 2024 and now serving as a reserve driver for Ferrari in the 2025 season—Ye has carved a path in endurance racing.

Ye already made international headlines in 2015 when he became the first Chinese driver to win the French F4, finishing with a staggering 142-point lead, the largest margin in the race’s history. Ye also claimed 10 pole positions and 17 fastest laps. In 2020, the young driver took home the Euroformula Open Championship, another first for China.

In this year’s Le Mans, Ye drove the Ferrari 499P alongside teammates Phil Hanson and Robert Kubica. This isn’t Ye’s first time at Le Mans either. In 2021, while racing for Team WRT, Ye’s car broke down on the final lap while leading the race. It was a heartbreaking moment that made this year’s victory all the more meaningful.

Although the Chinese mainland has never been a major force in motorsports, Ye Yifei’s landmark victory will, no doubt, draw more attention to the sport. Racing has increasingly entered popular culture in recent years, thanks to hit films like Pegasus (2019), its well-received sequel, the currently circulating F1 by Joseph Kosinski, as well as a recent reality show that features celebrities undergoing racing training and competing in championship events.

Catch the highlights below from the 2025 Le Mans race and Ferrari cinching the win as they cross the finish line after undergoing a grueling 24 hours of flat-out racing:

Cover image via Motor Sports Magazine.