(BBC) – BY any normal yardstick, the Le Mans 24 Hours is one of the most difficult and demanding races in motorsport.
The concentration levels alone are virtually impossible to uphold, on public roads at more than 200mph, much of it in the dead of night – a blend of headlights and engine drones creating an almost tortuous assault on the senses.

But Robert Kubica won the race at the age of 40, with a severely damaged right arm – the legacy of a horrific rally crash 14 years ago which nearly took his life and put paid to a glittering career as a Formula 1 driver who could have won world championships.

Victory at Le Mans is vindication for a man whose unsuccessful return to F1 a few years ago was called into question. His talent, though, never was.
“I don’t think my limitations are limiting behind the wheel. I think if someone had doubts in the past I showed those doubts should not be in place,” says Kubica defiantly.
“I’m driving and I’m happy. I remember when I was rejoining F1, there was a lot of rumours and I understand: You see my hand. It’s normal to ask questions… if I’m capable, if it’s safe.
“And there was some very extreme quotes of some people which hurt me because I’m the first one who would never like to be back just for marketing or a being a PR muppet.”
Unfancied, but part of Le Mans 24 history now

Victory at the Circuit de la Sarthe on Sunday was exhausting for Kubica, still “dampened” through fatigue after “only getting two hours’ sleep” across a race in which he spent more than three and a half hours in the car across five stints, consuming 12-13,000 calories just to stay focused.

As a result, Ferrari’s 499P is a Le Mans icon, having won the race three times in a row – the previous two years by the works cars.
Kubica’s win was in the privately entered AF Corse – yellow livered as a nod to the early days of Ferrari’s time in Modena before Enzo Ferrari moved operations to the now-famous Maranello near Bologna.
Both Ferrari and the AF Corse team are closely linked, but victory ahead of the red cars is nevertheless significant.
Even more so given the unconventional crew of Kubica, Chinese youngster Ye Yifei and Britain’s Phil Hanson. All unfancied at the start, all part of history now.
“Robert is great to have as a team-mate – he is a great driver, but we also call him the ‘technical director’ as well because he has so much knowledge,” says Ye, who became the first Chinese winner of Le Mans on Sunday.