At 4 p.m. on 15 June, the grandstands will be packed for the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, round 4 of the FIA World Endurance Championship. We have already announced the live music line-up. Today we reveal the field!
The full-house signs apply not only to the grandstands, but to the pit lane too as there are 62 cars on the grid again this year. The field comprises 23 Hypercars, 16 LMP2 prototypes, and 23 LMGT3s. Seven teams make up the reserve list. Although the list of 186 drivers is yet to be completed, 12 of them have already won the race outright, and three are women.
Hypercar
The top class is composed of nine different makes: Ferrari, Toyota, Cadillac, Peugeot, Porsche, Lamborghini, Alpine, BMW and Isotta Fraschini. Having triumphed for the tenth time at Le Mans last June, Ferrari stand ready to fend off more competition this year. Firstly, from Toyota, who will be looking to regain their winner status, while Cadillac, Porsche and Peugeot seek to cash in on their recent experience. Alpine and Lamborghini are aiming high with the A424 and the SC63 while newcomers Isotta Fraschini will be out to set the cat among the pigeons.
LMP2
In LMP2, 16 prototypes line up this year, including six with crews combining professional and amateur drivers. The high-class field is wide open. European Le Mans Series or Asian Le Mans Series experience may swing the balance as none of the competitors are racing in the FIA WEC this year.
LMGT3
This season sees the switch to LMGT3 from LMGTE with a bumper field of 23 to kick off the new class. Aston Martin, BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren and Porsche make up the grid. All-female team Iron Dames are among the favourites following their excellent performance last season, which included a victory at the 8 Hours of Bahrain. Watch out for racing icon Valentino Rossi in the Team WRT BMW M4 GT3.
Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: The 24 Hours of Le Mans has rarely seen a grid like this in over a hundred years. The world’s greatest carmakers will be in La Sarthe this June. I am grateful to our partners and teams for coming together to bring us another superb episode of motorsport history.