24 Hours of Le Mans - How to recognise the Hypercars
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24 Hours of Le Mans - How to recognise the Hypercars

A Hypercar will win the Centenary race. But will it be a Toyota, Ferrari, Cadillac, Porsche, Peugeot, Glickenhaus or Vanwall? Its race number will be shown in white on a red background. But how do you pick out a particular hypercar from the rest of the field? Check our guide!

A hypercar is a recognisable kind of race car,” affirms Thierry Bouvet, the ACO’s head of racing. A Hypercar is really a prototype: it’s faster than an LMP2 (which sports a white number on a blue background) and more identifiable. “The regulations were drawn up to let manufacturers express their design and visual identity with these cars.” So what have the manufacturers done to set their cars apart from their rivals? Let’s run through the whole field.

 

The agile Toyota (photo below). When you look at the Toyota GR010 Hybrid, you can see the soft, slightly rounded, flowing lines common to the brand’s models. In addition, the Japanese car proudly sports its traditional colours. Those of you with a keen eye for detail will also have noticed the magnificent forged aluminium rims from Rays.

An asymmetrical livery design in the colours of the Land of the Rising Sun, adorned with a cherry blossom motif – it can only be the Toyota GR010 Hybrid
An asymmetrical livery design in the colours of the Land of the Rising Sun, adorned with a cherry blossom motif – it can only be the Toyota GR010 Hybrid

The stunning Ferrari. The Ferrari 499P is at once rugged and refined, a thoroughbred distinguished by the Italian marque’s cherished red and by the front and rear lights that take their styling cue from the street-going models found in the manufacturer’s catalogue, appealing to tifosi the world over. On the front bonnet, the race number placed in a white circle references the brand’s racing past and its history at Le Mans.

A piercing gaze and yellow stripes – the Ferrari 499P.
A piercing gaze and yellow stripes – the Ferrari 499P.

Pure Cadillac. The American brand’s distinctive personality is emphasised by its vertical lighting features. Cadillac is fielding three cars in the Centenary race: a blue one (#2), a yellow one (#3) and a red one (#311). The Cadillac V-Series R also has its own distinctive sound, but that’s something we’ll come back to very soon.

Plunging side pods and a big vent on the roof – the Cadillac V-Series.R.
Plunging side pods and a big vent on the roof – the Cadillac V-Series.R.

Porsche styling.
A Porsche – and especially the iconic 911 – is instantly recognisable. The same goes for the 963 prototype, of which four will feature on the 24 Hours grid. Fans of the latest 911 will have noticed the hypercar’s horizontal light signature – a thin red line that runs the full width of the rear.

Colours that recall the brand's sporting heritage and a distinctive light strip – the Porsche 963.
Colours that recall the brand's sporting heritage and a distinctive light strip – the Porsche 963.

Peugeot, all claws out. The Peugeot 9X8 is unmistakeable, with its front and rear lighting recalling a lion’s claws. The marque’s logo was updated in 2021 and stands out clearly at the front. Furthermore, Peugeot has shattered the prototype mould with its striking 9X8, which has no rear wing! Add to that the spectacular livery and you’ve got the most distinctive hypercar on the grid!

A distinctive flat bonnet and even a lion's mane – the Peugeot 9x8.
A distinctive flat bonnet and even a lion's mane – the Peugeot 9x8.

Glickenhaus, back to the future. James Glickenhaus loves beautiful cars. And he’s passionate about the design of the old prototypes. His 007 is thus a sleek-looking car that whisks us back to ’60s and ’70s.

The flowing curves of the Glickenhaus 007 are particularly harmonious.
The flowing curves of the Glickenhaus 007 are particularly harmonious.

The Vanwall exception. Vanwall does things differently, and its future road-going car – an outstanding model – is derived from the race car! It won’t be easy to park on the street, but it will certainly turn heads.

The Vanwall Vandervell 680 is quite simply unique, sharing its colours with the forest.
The Vanwall Vandervell 680 is quite simply unique, sharing its colours with the forest.

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