The Centenary sees the return of several world-class constructors to Le Mans, in the Hypercar class.


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  FERRARI

  

  The Ferrari Hypercar’s shakedown took place in Fiorano, and the car was unveiled in October. In the meantime, drivers Alessandro Pier Guidi, Nicklas Nielsen, Andrea Bertolini and Davide Rigon completed a 3-day test at the Portimão circuit in Portugal in September as part of the development programme drawn up by the Italian marque’s engineers. There will be two factory Ferraris in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2023.

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  PORSCHE

  

  The German carmaker has clocked up 16,000 kilometres with the Porsche 963 in day and night-time tests. Development continues and the 24 Hours of Daytona in January is scheduled to be the car’s first race. Both JOTA and JDC-Miller have announced they will be fielding private Porsche entries next season while well-known US outfit Team Penske has partnered with Porsche Motorsport to form the factory team, aiming for the top step at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans.

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  PEUGEOT

  

  The two Peugeot 9X8s took to the track at the 6 Hours of Monza, the fourth round in the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship. When the Team Peugeot TotalEnergies hypercar was unveiled, the car’s striking design electrified the motorsport world. A three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the French marque is counting on the experience amassed this year to mount a serious challenge at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Centenary.

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  TOYOTA

  

  The Japanese manufacturer’s five successive wins make it the team to beat in 2023. Boosted by its recent domination and early conversion to Hypercar, Toyota will not be easily toppled.

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  CADILLAC

  

  The prestigious American marque will be fielding entries in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year. The Project GTP Hypercar will use a 5.5-litre V8 mated to an LMDh-specification hybrid system. Track testing and development is gathering pace in preparation for the forthcoming race debut.

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  GLICKENHAUS

  

  Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, the other American team in Hypercar, seems dwarfed by its giant classmates. However, Jim Glickenhaus’s team took third place at Le Mans this year, demonstrating that the 007 LMH has potential to hold its own against the big names. In endurance racing, reliability is paramount. With that in mind, Glickenhaus would be justified in entertaining high hopes.