24h Le Mans
The technical and administrative verifications are complete and the 62 cars entered in the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans (10–14 June 2026) have the all-clear to take the track. Rivalry has been declared, even before Test Day. Ferrari acknowledges that the competition is stiffer than ever, Toyota declares new intentions and each class counts several candidates for victory. One thing is for sure, the race is wide open.
The technical and administrative verifications are complete and the 62 cars entered in the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans (10–14 June 2026) have the all-clear to take the track. Rivalry has been declared, even before Test Day. Ferrari acknowledges that the competition is stiffer than ever, Toyota declares new intentions and each class counts several candidates for victory. One thing is for sure, the race is wide open.
Ferrari is aiming for a fourth win in a row. Toyota wants its top step back. Cadillac, BMW, Alpine and others believe its their turn. With only a few hours to go until Test Day, the suspense is building.
Since the manufacturer’s return to the highest level of endurance in 2023, Ferrari has made its mark on Le Mans. Three consecutive victories make the 499P one of the race’s star models. Yet the Italian make’s drivers believe the context has changed this year. James Calado says there is more competition than in the past three years: “The car has also been altered and has slightly different tyres, so the team needs to adjust. The goal remains to win again, bearing in mind it won’t be easy.”
2024 winner Antonio Fuoco agrees. “Given the first two rounds of the season and the level of competition, it will be difficult to take four in a row. We are not as dominant as before. Having said that, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a different story. The car has always performed well here.”
Robert Kubica, driver of the winning #83 Ferrari AF Corse last year, the equation is simple:“The other teams have done a better job than us. But, things are different here. There won’t be much between us.”
He voices the thoughts of many in the Hypercar paddock.
A five-time winner of Le Mans, Toyota has not tasted victory at Le Mans since 2022. A strange feeling for a team that reigned supreme over the Circuit des 24 Heures not so long ago.
Toyota comes to the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans with a very different Hypercar to last year’s. The TR010 that won the 6 Hours of Imola could hold the Ferrari 499P at bay. Technical Director David Floury suggests a change: “Our aim is to get back into winning mode. But Cadillac, BMW and Ferrari are very strong. We’ve worked hard on our set-up and our approach to the race, to improve our position.”
Kamui Kobayashi, driver of the #7 Toyota TR010 adds: “We’ll be more aggressive.”
If that isn’t a challenge for Ferrari-AF Corse...
Think Le Mans LMP2 class and you think Romain Dumas. The two-time winner is taking part with his own team RD Limited this year, his 24th start. This weekend he was busy preparing the Pikes Peak hill climb, so he called in from his hotel room, despite the time difference. “We fought hard to be here this year. It’s a particularly good feeling to be taking part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with my own team. We’re here to enjoy the ride and make it to the finish line.”
No doubt about it, some drivers have an extra-special relationship with this race.
LMGT3 is a wide open competition.
Iron Lynx are back this year and much surer of the Mercedes-AMG. “The car is better prepared and more competitive”, explains Maxime Martin. “We know what to expect this time. Experience makes us stronger.”
As for Akkodis ASP Team, their car evolved this winter. The Lexus RC F LMGT3 shed 25 kilogrammes to keep pace with the more recent models. José María López, 24 Hours of Le Mans winner in 2021, believes in his team’s potential. “We’ve come a long way. Today, we have the means to compete with the leaders.”
McLaren has some solid arguments too. Fielded by the Garage 59 customer team, the 720S LMGT3 Evo took its first win, in the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, earlier this season. “It’s a fast car,” says Thomas Fleming. “Its top speed is one of its greatest strengths.” Given the long straights of the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans, that strength could prove decisive.
The two BMW M4 LMGT3 of Team WRT were the last to undergo the scrutineering procedures this year. The many alterations made to the car over the winter months proved judicious, as they won the Imola round. “The turbo, the brakes... the car’s been improved in many ways,” says Augusto Farfus. “We hope the changes will enable us to be among the leaders.”
Most of the LMGT3 field feel the same!
The introductions are over. The 62 cars will be on track tomorrow for Test Day, the last rehearsal before race week really begins. During the two 3-hours sessions, teams refine their settings, collect data and pore over the trends. However, at Le Mans, what looks like a certainty can turn out to be a mirage.
The past two days leave the impression that never before have so many manufacturers, teams and drivers been capable of winning.
With a week to go, a fascinating race is shaping up.
While you wait for the track action to begin, check out the photos of Scrutineering Day 2.
