The last round of the 2018 European Le Mans Series season, the 4 Hours of Portimão, is this weekend and qualifying is scheduled for today. With the free practice sessions wrapped up, it's time to find out what the starting grid will look like, and let's not forget all championship titles except LMP2 Teams and Drivers are up for grabs.

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Cadillac WTR and Mobil 1 have signed a sponsorship deal supporting the #101 Cadillac V-Series.R for the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans (11-15 June 2025).

The #101 Cadillac V-Series.R will bear the emblematic Mobil 1 logo on the sides and front of the blue-and-white Hypercar entry.&nbsp;&ldquo;Mobil 1 and Cadillac Racing are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of performance and innovation in motorsport,&rdquo; says John Roth, Vice President, Global Cadillac.&nbsp;&ldquo;We&rsquo;re excited to welcome the Mobil 1 brand as the primary sponsor of the No. 101 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.&rdquo;&nbsp;Tony Esposito, Strategic Global Alliance Manager, on behalf of the Mobil 1 team adds:&nbsp;&ldquo;This new livery reflects what our work with Cadillac is all about &ndash; performance, passion and pushing boundaries. We&rsquo;re thrilled to see it come to life on track at Le Mans, where our legacy in motorsport continues.&rdquo;

Cadillac Racing intends to be in the mix for outright victory not only with the #101, but also with the #12 and #38 V-Series entered by Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, and the #311 of Cadillac Whelen.

<h2>A family affair</h2>

The back story behind Wayne Taylor Racing&rsquo;s entry with the #101 Cadillac is a heartwarming one.&nbsp;Wayne Taylor&nbsp;has thirteen 24 Hours of Le Mans starts to his name, including three with Cadillac between 2000 and 2002. That year, his sons Ricky and Jordan crossed the Atlantic to cheer on Dad. Twenty-three years later, it will be their turn to compete in the French endurance classic at the wheel of a Cadillac V-Series.R entered by their father.&nbsp;&ldquo;At that time, my kids were there having fun,&rdquo; Taylor Senior recalls. &ldquo;I didn&#39;t even know that they were interested in being racing drivers. When we applied for this entry, everybody was so excited and I kept thinking, &lsquo;Is this going to work?&rsquo; It was very scary. When we got the entry, it was really impressive. It&rsquo;s set up full circle!&rdquo;

The Taylor family won the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2017 with a Cadillac DPi-V.R. Eight years later, Wayne Taylor Racing is set to line up at the 24 Hours of Le Mans &ndash; the fourth round of the 2025 FIA WEC season &ndash; with a real chance of finishing high up the rankings, even if the challenge is huge for a rookie team.&nbsp;&ldquo;We&#39;ve got competent people,&rdquo; Taylor points out, &ldquo;and we&#39;ll have support from Cadillac and JOTA and everybody. So, we&rsquo;re relatively confident. I&#39;d like to say that we could run in the top six, top five.&rdquo;

For the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ricky and Jordan Taylor&nbsp;will team up with experienced Filipe Albuquerque. The Portuguese driver has competed in the race 11 times, winning the LMP2 class in 2020 with United Autosports.

Cadillac WTR unveils livery for 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans

Five years after setting out on its Le Mans adventure, Brembo reached a major milestone in 1989 with its first outright win. Jochen Mass, Manuel Reuter and Stanley Dickens ushered the Sauber-Mercedes home ahead of the field, bringing worldwide recognition to Brembo. This victory marked the beginning of a lasting partnership between the Italian brake supplier and the French endurance classic.

<h2>From steel discs to brake-by-wire &ndash; non-stop evolution</h2>

Since the inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1923, braking technology&nbsp;has evolved continuously. A&nbsp; major turning point emerged with the introduction of carbon discs, now used in the Hypercar and LMP2 classes. These materials, already used in Formula One, were specially adapted to the constraints of endurance, notably to withstand race distances in excess of 4,000&nbsp;km.

Brake-by-wire&nbsp;systems were introduced for the Centenary race in 2023. With this revolutionary technology, braking pressure is controlled electronically through a solution integrated into the hybrid systems of modern prototypes. Brembo has thus progressed from its role purely as a brake supplier to become a key player in the field of mechatronics.

The Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans is a challenging track for braking systems. Temperature control and wear and tear of the carbon discs and pads are the main issues faced. Overheating calipers or discs can compromise performance &ndash; or even driver safety.

The task is further complicated by the rise in hybrid technology. Regenerative braking, used to recharge the batteries on decelerating, reduces stress on the mechanical brakes which must nonetheless remain fully efficient in the event of a hybrid system failure. The components must therefore be capable of absorbing extreme pressure levels&nbsp;in all situations.

<h2>Transfer of technology &ndash; from the 24 Hours of Le Mans to the production line</h2>

The know-how honed by Brembo at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is making its way into everyday motorcars. Endurance encourages the development of low-wear materials and more durable, environmentally friendly components. For instance, Brembo has designed cleaner, more resistant &ldquo;green&rdquo; disc brakes based on research conducted on the racetrack.

The future-facing company is also working on a new generation of calipers capable of reducing residual braking torque. This innovation would avoid unnecessary friction when the brakes are not applied, thereby cutting fuel consumption. This promising breakthrough could also reduce the number of pit stops and enhance the overall performance of endurance racing cars.

Over the last four decades, Brembo has undoubtedly established itself as a prime innovator in braking technology at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, making vital contributions to prototype safety, performance and sustainability.

Brembo and the 24 Hours of Le Mans – a history of endurance and innovation

On Friday 6 and Saturday 7 June, Place de la République in Le Mans city centre will be the venue for the technical and administrative checks for the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans. Check the timetable to see when each of the 62 cars will be examined by the scrutineers.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans race week gets underway with Scrutineering, an event that&rsquo;s always eagerly anticipated by the fans who gather around Place de la R&eacute;publique in the heart of the city to enjoy a close encounter with the Hypercars, LMP2s and LMGT3s, and the chance of a chat or a selfie with the drivers.

The administrative and technical verifications will begin at 10:00 on Friday 6 June with the #99 Porsche 963 entered by Proton Competition in the Hypercar class. The checks will then continue for two days according to a precise schedule&nbsp;until the final car &ndash; RLR M Sport​&#39;s&nbsp;#16 Oreca 07-Gibson&nbsp;racing in the LMP2 class &ndash; is examined at 12:40 on Saturday.

Once Scrutineering is over, don&rsquo;t miss the city centre procession!&nbsp; For only the third time ever, around thirty cars &ndash; including 19 due to compete in the race &ndash; will drive along a 2.1-km route through the city centre. To prolong the crowd&rsquo;s enjoyment, this year the cars will each do two laps, beginning at the Place du Jet d&#39;Eau. 
Over 70 marshals will be on duty to ensure public safety along the route.&nbsp;

Check the times of the administrative and technical checks for each car competing in the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans below.

2025 24 Hours of Le Mans scrutineering schedule

Toyota is all set to race in the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans (11-15 June 2025) with two GR010 Hybrid Hypercars, one of which will sport a red livery reminiscent of a legendary model: the spectacular, edgy Toyota GT-One (TS020), entered in 1998 and 1999. The car became an icon that symbolises still today the Japanese firm’s obsession with winning Le Mans. We look back at a shooting star that etched an indelible mark in the memory of fans everywhere.

In late 1996, Toyota launched a programme focused solely on winning the 24 Hours of Mans. The GT-One was designed by Toyota Team Europe in Cologne under the guidance of Andr&eacute; de Cortanze, the French engineer behind the Peugeot 905. With just one road-legal version produced to meet homologation requirements, she was in fact a prototype disguised as a GT. 
Her sculpted body concealed a 3.6-litre twin-turbo V8 engine developing 600-650 horsepower. Matched with a six-speed sequential gearbox, the GT-One could reach over 340 kph on the Mulsanne Straight. Her radical, aggressive appearance immediately elevated the car to cult status.

<h2>1998: promise and frustration</h2>

Three GT-Ones were entered in the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans. They stood up to the Mercedes CLK-LM and Porsche 911 GT1 in qualifying but the race itself was a different matter. The #28 was soon forced to retire, followed by the #29 sister car. Only the #27 driven by Ukyo Katayama, Toshio Suzuki and Keiichi Tsuchiya saw the chequered flag, finishing in ninth place, 25 laps behind the winning Porsche 911 GT1. 
Despite the disappointment, the speed and potential of the GT-One made a strong impression. Its futuristic outline and red livery turned heads. History was in motion.

<h2>1999: high hopes ultimately deflated</h2>

A rule change saw the GT1 class give way to LMGTP closed-cockpit prototypes. Toyota adapted the GT-One which officially became a prototype. Three cars were again entered. 
After the #1 and #2 cars retired, it was left once again to the trio of Katayama, Suzuki and Tsuchiya to fight for victory against a BMW V12 LMR fielded by BMW Motorsport. Sadly, as the race entered its final stages, a high-speed blowout and a long crawl back to the pits deflated all hopes. Toyota finished in second place, one lap in arrears of the BMW. The GT-One gave her all, but the 24 Hours is an unforgiving beast.

Despite the defeat, the GT-One&rsquo;s spectacular looks, powerful performances and tragic history ensured the car became a legend. Thanks to the lasting impression made, the GT-One became a star of video games such as Gran Turismo. 
At the 2023 Le Mans Classic, Emmanuel Collard took the GT-One once again around the Circuit de la Sarthe. The onboard footage of this rare moment brings memories of this outstanding machine flooding back:

<h2>Toyota&rsquo;s living legacy at the 24 Hours of Le Mans</h2>

In 2025, Toyota Gazoo Racing has opted to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/toyota-celebrates-40-years-at-the-24-hours-with-standout-liveries-59575" target="_blank">revive the legacy of the GT-One by cloaking one of the two GR010 Hybrids in the&nbsp;emblematic livery</a>&nbsp;and pay tribute to this poignant chapter in the Japanese manufacturer&rsquo;s history at Le Mans, while reasserting its continued quest for victory.

The GT-One never won Le Mans, but she won the heart of many fans. And&nbsp;sometimes, cherished&nbsp;longstanding memories are worth just as much as any trophy.

Toyota GT-One: the legacy of a would-be Le Mans winner

4 Heures de Portimão 2018

Who among&nbsp;G-Drive Racing (three wins this year so far), Racing Engineering (winner at the Paul Ricard circuit), DragonSpeed, IDEC Sport and&nbsp;Duqueine Engineering will clinch pole position at the&nbsp;4 Hours of&nbsp;Portim&atilde;o? Or maybe a&nbsp;Ligier JS P217 (Panis-Barthez Comp&eacute;tition or&nbsp;United Autosports) will become pole-sitter!&nbsp;

To be determined...

24H LE MANS

ELMS - Live stream the 4 Hours of Portimão qualifying

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Cadillac WTR unveils livery for 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans

Brembo and the 24 Hours of Le Mans – a history of endurance and innovation

2025 24 Hours of Le Mans scrutineering schedule

Toyota GT-One: the legacy of a would-be Le Mans winner

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