Porsche's departure has not left the field in the LMP1 class lacking. On the contrary, Toyota will need to beat as many as eight competitors to make it to a long-awaited win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

24H Le Mans

Le Mans Series

24 Heures du Mans

FIA WEC

Here is the overview of the announcements made at the Automobile Club de l’Ouest on Friday 13 June, the eve of the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans.

<h2>1 - Hypercar and LMP2 regulations</h2>

<p>The ACO and FIA officially announced the extension of the Hypercar regulations until the end of 2032, giving manufacturers and teams unprecedented long-term visibility.&nbsp; The Asian Le Mans Series will be accepting entries from private Hypercar teams from the 2026/7 season. The Hypercar family saluted the change, which will help teams ease into the top class.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The modernised, simplified new-generation LMP2 class will be introduced in 2028. The two chassis constructors are: Oreca et Ligier Automotive. Gibson Technology will continue to be the sole supplier of engines for LMP2. The aim of the class is performance and reliability with a cap on costs. IMSA will adopt the regulations when they come into force.</p>

<h2>2 - Continuation of the ACO / IMSA strategic alliance</h2>

<p>The ACO and IMSA&rsquo;s decade-old partnership has been renewed until 2032, confirming the intention to build a coherent worldwide framework.&nbsp; Under the agreement, three IMSA teams are invited to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Motul Petit Le Mans, which keeps its name.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<h2>3 - FIA WEC</h2>

<p>The 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship calendar will comprise eight rounds, on four continents, underlining the discipline&rsquo;s world-class status.<br />
The WEC has received major recognition for it efforts:</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>ISO 20121 CERTIFICATION for responsible event management;</p>
	</li>
	<li>FIA three-star environmental accreditation, the highest level awarded for sustainability.</li>
</ul>

<h2>4 - Hydrogen</h2>

<p>MissionH24 and Toyota Gazoo Racing officialised their partnership regarding the H24EVO&rsquo;s aerodynamics and cooling.<br />
The FIA has confirmed it is working actively with the ACO on hydrogen safety regulations and on the balance of performance between technologies. The aim to introduce a hydrogen class before the end of the decade is coming into clearer focus.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<h2>5 - CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY</h2>

<p>The ACO reiterated its commitment to responsible endurance racing, translated in several concrete actions:</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>The Sustainable Endurance Award by DHL, won this year by Ferrari - AF Corse in Hypercar, United Autosports in LMP2 and Porsche Penske Motorsport was awarded the President&rsquo;s prize. Akkodis won the LMGT3 class and the spectator&rsquo;s prize.&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>The Impact Challenge for spectators comprises 170 missions to defend the interests of the planet and those who live on it. The contest is accessible via the 24H Experience app.</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2>6 - Le Mans Classic</h2>

<p>Le Mans Classic is to be an annual event as of next year. A new official support race named Legends of Le Mans will feature at certain WEC rounds, as a bridge between past and future at the world&rsquo;s most beautiful circuits.</p>

<p>Don&rsquo;t miss the start of the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans at 16:00 CET on Saturday 14 June!&nbsp;</p>

Overview of the ACO press conference announcements

The FIA World Endurance Championship will feature an unchanged calendar of events in 2026, as the series bids to build upon its burgeoning momentum and popularity.

<p>The FIA World Endurance Championship will feature an unchanged calendar of events in 2026, as the series bids to build upon its burgeoning momentum and popularity.</p>

<p>Last year saw more than 750,000 fans pour through the gates over the course of the season&rsquo;s eight rounds, and with a record on-site attendance at Spa-Francorchamps last month &ndash; and a huge crowd expected at this weekend&rsquo;s 93rd edition of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans &ndash; the current campaign looks set to raise the bar even higher.</p>

<p>For the third consecutive season, FIA WEC will visit five different regions in 2026 &ndash; Europe, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. The action will begin a month later than usual in Qatar, as Lusail International Circuit hosts the traditional &lsquo;Prologue&rsquo; group test and curtain-raising contest in late March.</p>

<p>The championship will subsequently return to Europe for rounds two, three and four at Imola in Italy, Spa in Belgium and Le Mans in France for the most famous circuit race in the world. The second half of the campaign then consists of long-haul contests, as competitors travel overseas to S&atilde;o Paulo in Brazil in July, Austin in the US and Japan&rsquo;s iconic Fuji International Speedway in September and finally, Bahrain International Circuit, where champions will be crowned in early November.</p>

<h2>FIA WEC extends winning Hypercar formula</h2>

<p>The regulations in FIA WEC&rsquo;s top-tier Hypercar class will be extended until the end of 2032, further strengthening the successful category as a stable, long-term formula.</p>

<p>Introduced in 2021, the Hypercar platform has blossomed over its five years of competition to-date, with the grid expanding from just three manufacturers in its inaugural season to eight in the current FIA WEC campaign &ndash; and at least three more are on the way in the shape of Genesis, Ford and McLaren.</p>

<p>This unprecedented manufacturer involvement has been instrumental in driving the recent growth and popularity of the world championship, and in light of that momentum, the Hypercar homologation cycle &ndash; initially set to conclude in 2029 &ndash; will now remain in place until the end of 2032.</p>

<p><a href="https://fiawec.tv/page/679a56921229db49627128a6" target="_blank"><u><strong>Watch FIA WEC live</strong></u></a>&nbsp;or on-demand via the official FIA WEC TV app &ndash; your full-access pass to the FIA World Endurance Championship including the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans. Don&rsquo;t miss a moment. For further information, check out the app.</p>

FIA WEC confirms 2026 calendar

The new-look Hyperpole, spread over two days, saw spectacular progress from teams looking to bag the top spot and the limelight that goes with it. Cadillac has locked out the front row and its two Hypercars will head the race start at 16:00 tomorrow. It’s the American make’s first pole position in La Sarthe. A surprise? Not really.

<h2>Cadillac has one goal this week: victory</h2>

<p>Since this week&rsquo;s first track action on <strong><a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-of-le-mans-test-day-key-figures-59709">Test Day</a></strong> each of the 62 crews has their own preparation drill to attain peak performance for the 24-hour marathon. Cadillac began discretely. While Toyota and Ferrari played the flamboyant leader role, the <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/the-cadillac-v-series-r-under-the-microscope-ready-to-roar-for-america-at-le-mans-59659" target="_blank"><u><strong>V-Series.R</strong></u></a> was doing its groundwork. The #311, #12, #38 and #101 Cadillacs totalled 253 laps, which amounts to over 3450 kilometres.</p>

<p>In Free Practice, the competition shifted up a gear. T<strong>he two Jota Sport Cadillacs have ranked in the Hypercar top 10 in every session this week. </strong>The #12 and #38 topped the tables in the qualifying sessions and FP1. What does that show? That the gold-painted cars have good pace over a lap, and over longer distances. <strong>In terms of pure performance, Whelen (the #311) is on a par with the others. Driver Jack Aitken set a new Hypercar track record of 3:22.742.</strong></p>

<p>Aitken is one of only three drivers to have broken the 3:23 barrier so far this week &shy;- the other two being Alex Lynn (3:22.847) and Dries Vanthoor in the #15 Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8 (3:22.87). Does that mean <strong>a Cadillac-BMW head-to-head</strong>?</p>

<p>One thing is certain, the two makes, which both have a Dallara chassis, will be ahead at first. The two <strong><a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/the-bmw-m-hybrid-v8-under-the-microscope-a-return-to-winning-ways-at-le-mans-59713">B</a></strong><a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/the-bmw-m-hybrid-v8-under-the-microscope-a-return-to-winning-ways-at-le-mans-59713"><strong>MWs</strong></a>&nbsp;start the race in P4 (#15) and P6 (#20). Porsche, in P3 (#5) and P5 (#4) is progressing much in the same way as Cadillac. They clocked 254 laps on Test Day, with competitive times. <strong>But the Americans have taken the first advantage. Will they still have the upper hand after 24 hours?</strong></p>

<h2>Friends and enemies</h2>

<p>In <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/2025-24-hours-of-le-mans-presentation-of-the-lmp2-category-59645">LMP2</a>, three cars stand out: the #29 TDS Racing, the #43 Inter Europol Competition and the #199 AO by TF.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>The drivers of the three cars were eyeing each other. Defying each other. </strong>Mathias Beche took over from Cl&eacute;ment Novalak in the #29, Tom Dillmann replaced Nick Yelloly in the #43, and Dane Cameron passed the wheel of the #199 to Louis Del&eacute;traz.<strong> The six &ndash; all among the ten fastest drivers in the class &ndash; are on another level.</strong></p>

<p>Will one of these crews make the top step of the podium? Who knows? <strong>The experienced United Autosports is only a few tenths away.</strong> Richard Dean and Zak Brown&rsquo;s British/American team is the only one to have placed two cars in Hyperpole 2. Last year the United Autosports crew Bijoy Garg/Oliver Jarvis/ Nolan Siegel won the class. They may be biding their time. Ready to pounce.</p>

<h2>LMGT3s on a speed spree</h2>

<p><strong>The race promises to be a dust-up in <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/2025-24-hours-of-le-mans-presentation-of-the-lmgt3-category-59644">LMGT3</a>, with eight makes wrangling for Hyperpole in the last session.</strong> Individual performance is important, but class rules impose a bronze driver in each crew, so speed is not the only factor. <strong>Just as in LMP2, the timesheets do not tell the whole story.</strong></p>

<p>Several numbers come up often, indicating where the strengths lie: the #46 BMW M4 LMGT3 of Team WRT &ndash; very well handled by Ahmad Al Harthy, <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/valentino-rossi-to-take-part-in-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-for-the-second-time-59256">Valentino Rossi</a> and Kelvin Van Der Linde &ndash;&nbsp;is often in front. The Akkodis ASP Team #78 Lexus RC F LMGT3 driven by Arnold Robin/Jack Hawksworth/Finn Gehrsitz was in the top three in three out of seven sessions. And of course, the Porsches are always in the picture: the Manthey 1ST Phorm #92 911 GT3 R in the hands of the three Rs &ndash; Ryan Hardwick, Riccardo Pera and Richard Lietz is capable of winning. Do we need to remind you that Porsche won the first LMGT3 class last year?</p>

<p>This is only the second year for this class at Le Mans, which explains why the times are bettered session after session. <strong>Not to be outdone by Hypercar, LMGT3 has a new track record too.</strong> Benjamin Barker&rsquo;s 3:55.263 record set last year has been bettered by no less than eight cars already this year. Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Lexus, McLaren,&nbsp;Mercedes and Porsche have all gone faster.</p>

<p><strong>There is plenty of room for improvement in LMGT3, and plenty of competition too.</strong></p>

<h2>The 93rd 24 Hours Of Le Mans starting grid</h2>

<p><a href="https://fiawec.tv/page/679a56921229db49627128a6" target="_blank"><u><strong>Watch all the action from the FIA World Endurance Championship</strong></u></a>, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, live or on demand with the FIA WEC TV official app!&nbsp;Don&rsquo;t miss a thing!&nbsp;Check out the app for further information.</p>

The 24 Hours of Le Mans starting grid

Even though the competitors in the 93rd 24 Hours will not take the track today, you will get to see them at the fan favourite Drivers' Parade in the Le Mans city centre! And, there is action at the circuit too with the Porsche Sprint Challenge and Ford Mustang Challenge capped off with fantastic concerts.

<h2>Porsche Sprint Challenge</h2>

<p>Porsche Sprint Challenge competitors line up for a breathtaking&nbsp;45-minute Race 2 today at&nbsp;09:30. Picture around&nbsp;71 Porsches snaking through the Dunloop Chicane and taking on the Mulsanne Straight!&nbsp;This is their&nbsp;last chance to shine at&nbsp;the 24 Hours circuit, so&nbsp;you know they&#39;ll give it their all.</p>

<h2>Ford Mustang Challenge</h2>

<p>On the heels of the free practice and qualifying sessions, the LMGT3&#39;s &quot;little sisters&quot; are set for an intense 45-minute Race 1. This is the first time France has hosted&nbsp;this American championship, so don&#39;t miss a minute of the unprecedented action. Ford is taking part in the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMGT3 category with two&nbsp;Mustang LMGT3s entered by&nbsp;Proton Competition, <em>and</em>&nbsp;the American carmaker will compete in&nbsp;Hypercar starting in&nbsp;2027.</p>

<h2>Fans Welcome on the Track</h2>

<p>From 15:00 to&nbsp;19:00, spectators are free to flood the track at the Le Mans circuit.&nbsp;Access to the general enclosure is included with your&nbsp;entry pass,&nbsp;while the other iconic&nbsp;areas of the circuit &ndash; from Tertre Rouge to the Porsche Curves&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;are freely accessible to all visitors traveling in soft modes: on foot, by bike, scooter or roller skates.</p>

<h2>The Drivers&#39; Parade</h2>

<p>The&nbsp;29th Drivers&#39; Parade is to be held in the Le Mans city centre&nbsp;as always. The&nbsp;186 drivers in the 2025 24 Hours will make their way in vintage and historic cars to the deafening cheers of the crowd. The event organiser, Classic Automotive (celebrating its 30th anniversary), in partnership with the Automobile Club de l&rsquo;Ouest, promises another unforgettable spectacle. Each Drivers&#39; Parade is associated with a personality from the world of auto racing. This year, it&#39;s devoted official 24 Hours commentator&nbsp;Bruno Vandestick.&nbsp;Also, don&#39;t miss the Supercar marques expected on the scene:&nbsp;Corvette, Alpine, Lamborghini and&nbsp;McLaren.</p>

<h2>Classic British Welcome</h2>

<p>The&nbsp;Classic British Welcome&nbsp;is a friendly gathering held every year the day&nbsp;before the 24 Hours. More than 1,000 classic cars from all over the world descend upon the quaint town of Saint-Saturnin just north of Le&nbsp;Mans. For the 29th edition, the&nbsp;Classic British Welcome is paying tribute to Matra. Jean-Claude Andruet (former driver with 19 participations in the&nbsp;24 Hours to his credit) is the guest of honour this year.</p>

<p><em>From 09:00 to&nbsp;17:00,&nbsp;</em><em>Val de Vray cultural center in Saint-Saturnin, free admission</em></p>

<h2>The Legends&#39; Garage at&nbsp;T&eacute;loch&eacute;</h2>

<p>Underway at 15:00, T&eacute;loch&eacute; delves into the fascinating history of the 24 Hours with the Legends Garage, an event organised in association with Teloch&rsquo;&eacute;v&egrave;nements.&nbsp;The 2025&nbsp;edition honours Patrick Legeay, the famous Alpine preparer&nbsp;nicknamed &ldquo;the wizard of T&eacute;loch&eacute;&rdquo;, and spotlights Porsche&rsquo;s legacy at Le Mans.</p>

<p>On the programme:&nbsp;the extraordinary&nbsp;presence of Porsche engineer icon Norbert Singer, a showcase of young local&nbsp;hopefuls, an exhibition of exceptional vehicles (Porsche, Alpine, etc.), photos tracing the links between T&eacute;loch&eacute; and the 24 Hours and&nbsp;musical entertainment.</p>

<p><em>Starting at&nbsp;15:00 at rue du 8 mai in&nbsp;T&eacute;loch&eacute;, free admission</em></p>

<h2>The Mulsanne Corner</h2>

<p>This is an exhibition of prestige and collection cars at the&nbsp;Mulsanne Corner. This 13th edition pays tribute to Porsche through the presence of clubs with between&nbsp;800 and&nbsp;900 vehicles expected.&nbsp;The exhibition area extends to the Mulsanne Straight and includes autograph&nbsp;sessions, driver appearances&nbsp;and a village with activities and entertainment.</p>

<p><em>From&nbsp;15:00 to&nbsp;19:00 at&nbsp;2 avenue Fran&ccedil;ois Mitterrand in Mulsanne, free admission.</em></p>

<h2>PAMELA, Sam Van Der Toure, B2B, Paco Rabanne,&nbsp;Kungs Concerts</h2>

<p>Young electronic talent Kungs&nbsp;exploded onto the global scene with hits like &quot;This Girl&quot; and &quot;Never Going Home&quot;.&nbsp;After a successful debut album, he released &quot;Club Azur&quot;, a love letter to clubbing. In 2024, Kungs&nbsp;collaborated with artists like David Guetta and DJ Seinfeld, and expanded his label by combining melodic house and electronic music.&nbsp;</p>

<h4><u>Friday 13 June Programme</u></h4>

<p>09:00 &ndash; 21:00&nbsp;: Fan&nbsp;Zones and&nbsp;Kids Zone open<br />
09:00 &ndash; 22:00&nbsp;: 24 Hours Musuem and ACO H2 Hydrogen&nbsp;Village open<br />
09:00 &ndash; 17:00&nbsp;: Classic British Welcome at Saint-Saturnin<br />
09:30 &ndash; 10:15&nbsp;: Porsche Sprint Challenge | Race 2<br />
10:00 &ndash; 22:00&nbsp;: Constructors Village open<br />
11:00 &ndash; 11:45&nbsp;: Ford Mustang Challenge | Race 1<br />
15:00 &ndash; 19:00&nbsp;: Track open to the public<br />
15:00&nbsp;: The Legends&#39; Garage at&nbsp;T&eacute;loch&eacute;<br />
15:00 &ndash; 20:00&nbsp;: Mulsanne Corner<br />
16:00 &ndash; 19:00&nbsp;: Drivers&#39; Parade in Le Mans city centre<br />
20:00 &ndash; 23:00&nbsp;: Pamela, Sam van der Toure, B2B, Paco Rabanne,&nbsp;Kungs concerts</p>

<p>Watch the&nbsp;<a href="http://fiawec.tv/page/679a56921229db49627128a6"><strong>FIA WEC live</strong></a>&nbsp;or on demand on the official&nbsp;FIA WEC TV app, your all-access pass to the FIA World Endurance&nbsp;Championship including the&nbsp;24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans. Don&#39;t miss a second of the action! For more info, go to the app.</p>

2025 24 Hours of Le Mans – Friday 13 June programme

24 Heures du Mans 2018

<p>This year, Toyota will field&nbsp;two&nbsp;TS050 HYBRIDs both in the 24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans and the 2018-2019 Super Season of the World Endurance&nbsp;Championship&nbsp;(FIA WEC). and the Japanese manufacturer has decided to tweak the way it&nbsp;prepares&nbsp;for the legendary endurance race, as explained by Toyota Motorsport Technical Director&nbsp;<strong>Pascal Vasselon </strong>in this video.</p>

24H LE MANS

Pascal Vasselon (Toyota): "The main change for Le Mans is the preparation." (video)

Related News

Overview of the ACO press conference announcements

FIA WEC confirms 2026 calendar

The 24 Hours of Le Mans starting grid

2025 24 Hours of Le Mans – Friday 13 June programme

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