Toyota Gazoo Racing less confident

Reigning champions Toyota Gazoo Racing lack their usual serenity. Technical Director Pascal Vasselon described the team’s shaky start to the season: "We’ve been working on this race for the past year. We did tests ten days ago at Spa-Francorchamps. We have no choice but to be ready next week. But the hard reality is that we are not leading the WEC. At the 1000 Miles of Sebring we weren’t focused. We had to deal with the disappointment of second place as well as the #7’s spectacular accident. We made up for it at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. We won the race but we lost a car due to a faulty hybrid system, the first time in ten years. So we set about solving that issue. Given all that, we come to Le Mans less bouyant than usual."

Glickenhaus in with a chance

The two Glickenhaus 007 LMHs were eagerly awaited on day 2 of scrutineering and their drivers assailed with questions on their expectations for the race. Romain Dumas, driver of the #708 with Olivier Pla and Pipo Derani said: “In our heads, we are winners. Last year we sprang a few surprises and this year we are just as well-prepared. It is quite a David and Goliath situation though, because Toyota do simulations throughout the season. But still, I think we’re in with a chance. First, we have to avoid the pitfalls and only then can we start worrying about where we are in the standings. When I won Le Mans with Audi in 2010 against Peugeot, we were six seconds slower and we still hold the distance record.”

Kevin Estre’s advice on how to win LMGTE Pro

This year LMGTE Pro sees a three-way battle between Ferrari, Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche. We are expecting a tight race again this year. How do you come out on top? Kevin Estre, driver of the #92 Porsche 911 RSR-19 reveals his idea of the key to success: “We are within a few tenths of each other and it’s up to us to be faster than the others, to be faultless, to have the right tyres at the right time, to balance the car on the corners and have good pace on the straights, to have a pit stop routine that runs like clockwork and put in a mistake-free run. Unfortunately, we are not alone and everyone else is trying to do the same. So, it will be tough out there.”

Pipo Derani’s helmet auctioned

Glickenhaus Racing driver Pipo Derani sports a helmet designed especially for him by Jean-Baptiste Launay, known the world over as Jisbar. After the race, the exclusive helmet will auctioned and the proceeds donated to the GRAACC paediatric cancer institute in São Paulo.

See here for details of the sale.

Nielsen Racing celebrates Mexico

The Nielsen Racing #24 Oreca 07-Gibson has a new livery for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The British team, winner of the 2022 Asian Le Mans Series has opted for a Mexican-inspired design as a nod to driver Rodrigo Sales. “It depicts a Mexican holiday, the Day of the Dead, that also happens to be my birthday”, he explains.  "So it’s important to me! It’s a festive day when we welcome back the souls of our deceased relatives. I was very close to my grandparents and it’s a way of paying tribute to them, because I know they would have been so happy to see me race at Le Mans. So this livery is all about family, about Mexico, my roots."

Reshad de Gerus, THE THIRD local driver

Sébastien Bourdais and Julien Canal are not the only local drivers to take part in this year’s race. The third is 18-year-old Reshad de Gerus, from La Réunion, a former pupil at the FFSA Academy and driver of the Duqueine Team #30 Oreca 07-Gibson. “I raced on the Bugatti Circuit several times and I took part in the French Formula 4 Championship in 2018 and 19. I’ve been living in Le Mans for five years now and I feel very much at home here.” He adds: “I feel very lucky to race on the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans. Not everyone gets the chance and I am very grateful to my team. My future is in endurance racing."

So, now we have weighed up the situation, it’s time for Test Day. All 62 cars entered for the race will be on track tomorrow during the 8-hour test. There is plenty to be done in that time: adjust settings, test various aerodynamic set-ups and tyres. Drivers new to the race – Rookies – will spend their time at the wheel getting to grips with the idiosyncrasies of the long circuit. According to the latest weather forecast, track conditions should be ideal.

There will be two sessions: 09:00-13:00 and 14:00-18:00. 

While you await the track action, feast your eyes on the gallery below.