On December 1, 1918 was born modern Romania, a grouping of former medieval principalities. On June 17, 1928, two Romanians named Jean Ghica Cantacuzino and Georghe Ghica Cantacuzino took the start for the first time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

24H Le Mans

Le Mans Legendes

24 Heures du Mans

Historique

The wait is over - the 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is less than a week away, but to fuel the excitement for the on track proceedings, the opening Sunday is the Test Day with two Free Practice sessions, both three hours in duration - with teams able to eye the competition and throw down plenty of kilometres on the Circuit de la Sarthe for the first time this year.

<p>For most teams, today&#39;s running is to gain crucial kilometres ahead of the official Free Practice and Qualifying sessions later in the week. Unlike other circuits - Circuit de la Sarthe can only be driven once a year so it is important for drivers to reacquaint themselves with the speed, track surface conditions and unique nature of the circuit. For teams, they will be getting their heads around tyre choices, aerodynamic balance and the ultimate set-up for qualifying as well as the blueprint for the race itself.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the clock struck 10:00 local time, the Le Mans air was filled with the sound of endurance racing machines once again. The #15 BMW M-Hybrid V8 of Philipp Eng had the honour of leading the 62 car field out of the pitlane and onto the track for the very first time in 2026.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>The Headlines</h2>

<p>Cadillac stole the opening march in the first Free Practice session in 2026, with first, the #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA machine driven by Will Stevens drawing first blood before the sister #101 Wayne Taylor Racing car driven by Filipe Albuquerque stealing the bragging rights at the death.<br />
Home hopes were also ignited as Alpine who had been lingering in the top 10, flashed into second with Charles Milesi behind the wheel of the A424.</p>

<p>It was to be a fairly incident-free opening session at Le Mans with the first Free Practice session a prime opportunity for all 62-teams to get vital time out on track.<br />
<br />
However, with a little under 30 minutes remaining the #8 Toyota TR010 Hybrid Hypercar and the&nbsp;#25 Algarve Pro Racing LMP2 machine had a coming together on the run up to the Goodyear Bridge. Both drivers walked away unharmed but that created a 15-minute window of opportunity.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
During the course of the three-hour test, it wasn&rsquo;t only the drivers and teams in action. The legion of circuit marshals were also in action today and several Full Course Yellow and Safety Car simulations were organised, to prepare everyone for the race week ahead.</p>

<h2>Hypercars</h2>

<p>With a couple of support race sessions before the Le Mans entrants took to the track, the circuit rubbered in nicely - allowing quick lap times from beginning. The #007 Aston Martin Valkyrie in the hands of Harry Tincknell was the first to dip under the 3:30 barrier with a flurry of cars from Alpine, Cadillac and Toyota following in hot pursuit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The #009 Aston Martin of Marco S&oslash;rensen leapfrogged the sister car with a sub 3:29 before Cadillac roared to the front with a sub 3:28 - lowering the bar to 3:27:843 in the hands of Will Stevens. The gold, American Cadillac V-Series R run by British firm JOTA Sport held the top spot for the majority of the session before a flury of aciticty once the session resumed after the red flag.&nbsp;Filipe Albuquerque stole the show with a 3:27.011 in the last few moments of the session, with the&nbsp; #35 Alpine of Charles Milesi also sneaking infront of the #12 Cadillac.</p>

<p>Elsewhere, at one point, there were five&nbsp;manufacturers in the top six&nbsp;spots with Cadillac leading Alpine, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Toyota&nbsp;on the time sheets.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the 2025 race winners - the #83 Ferrari 499P ended the session 14th but were one of the high-profile teams to receive a stop-go penalty in the session for going over track limits - while searching for those vital tenths on the stopwatch.</p>

<h2>LMP2</h2>

<p>Crowdstrike Racing by APR stole the initial march in LMP2 before AF Corse took on the mantle as LMP2 session topper. The Italian team were the first to dive under the 3.36 mark with their ORECA chalking up a 3:35.526 at the fall of the flag ahead of the aforementioned Crowdstrike Racing car in third with Inter Europol getting in on the action in second.</p>

<p>The #3 DKR Engineering car had a difficult session, with the Luxembourg time taking a trip into the gravel early in the session and towards the end of the three hours, receiving a stop-go repercussion for track limits.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>LMGT3</h2>

<p>In the LMGT3 class, Garage 59 held the early pace with a 1-2 in their McLaren 720s LMGT3 Evos - but it was to be Vista AF Corse who captured the early bragging rights at the top of the table with its Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo with a 3:57.366. Racing Spirit of Leman showed Aston Martin are competitive on all fronts at Le Mans this year with the #59 car second ahead of the Akkodis ASP Team in third. The category is always incredibly close throughout - with the first ten cars in class separated by less than a second.</p>

<h2>Talking Points&hellip;</h2>

<p>There was a new shape and sound around the 13.626km venue for the first time today. Making its Le Mans debut - the Genesis GMR-001-Hypercar. Cameras were at the ready, as they rolled out with the other 16 Hypercars on Sunday morning. Andr&eacute; Lotterer in the #17 machine and Daniel Juncadella in the #19 had the honour of giving the South Korean marque their Le Mans on track debut. Between the two fiery orange coloured machines, they amassed 67 laps between them - and a best time of 3:28.738. We look forward to seeing how they progress over the week.</p>

<p><u><strong>Top 5 Classification</strong></u></p>

<p>1. Cadillac V-Series.R #101 Cadillac WTR &ndash; Ricky Taylor / Jordan Taylor / Filipe Albuquerque - 3:27.011<br />
2.Alpine A424 #35 Alpine Endurance Team &ndash; Ant&oacute;nio F&eacute;lix Da Costa / Charles Milesi / Ferdinand Habsburg - 3:27.339<br />
3. Cadillac V-Series.R #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA &ndash; Louis Del&eacute;traz / Will Stevens / Norman Nato - 3:27.843<br />
4. Aston Martin Valkyrie #009 Aston Martin THOR Team &ndash; Alex Riberas / Marco S&oslash;rensen / Roman De Angelis - 3:28.086<br />
5. Ferrari 499P #50 Ferrari-AF Corse &ndash; Antonio Fuoco / Nicklas Nielsen / Miguel Molina - 3:28.291</p>

<p><u><strong>Fastest times in the LMP2 and LMGT3 categories:</strong></u></p>

<ul>
	<li>LMP2: Oreca 07-Gibson #183 AF Corse &ndash; Fran&ccedil;ois Perrodo / Matthieu Vaxiviere / Ben Barnicoat (LMP2 Pro/Am) - 3:35.526</li>
	<li>LMGT3: Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo #21 Vista AF Corse &ndash; Fran&ccedil;ois Heriau / Simon Mann / Alessio Rovera - 3:57.366</li>
</ul>

<p style="text-align: center;">&gt;&gt; <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/results/2026">Find the complete results</a> &lt;&lt;</p>

<p><br />
<strong>The Test Day continues with the second of two Free Practice sessions starting at 15:30 local time later today.</strong></p>

Cadillac carves its way to the front in opening Free Practice

At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, everything is on the line everywhere, all the time: on the track, in the garages and sometimes in the details that only the clock reveals. With Live Timing Pro, step into the shoes of a team engineer and experience the race more fully than ever!

<p>How do you keep track of cars speeding at more than&nbsp;300 kph, strategies that pivot&nbsp;in a matter of minutes&nbsp;and a race that always has so much going on at once?&nbsp;From&nbsp;your smartphone, tablet or&nbsp;laptop, Live Timing Pro offers a&nbsp;precise, dynamic&nbsp;and immersive reading of the race, including&nbsp;car positions on the track, live gaps, sector times, overtakings, Race Control messages and much more. It is a tool designed for enthusiasts, but&nbsp;accessible to everyone. Whether you are discovering this legendary race&nbsp;for the first time or returning to Le Mans after years away, it will transform the way you experience the main event&nbsp;of the FIA WEC season.</p>

<h2>a new way to follow the race</h2>

<p>It could be a&nbsp;pit stop shorter or longer than expected, an overtaking&nbsp;at the Dunlop Chicane for the overall or class lead, a&nbsp;battle erupting&nbsp;at the Indianapolis Corner or a a&nbsp;few tenths of a second gained in a certain section of the circuit: Live Timing Pro for the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA ​​WEC makes it possible to decript these decisive moments.</p>

<p>You will also be able to follow the 62 competitors around the circuit live. Where is the #51&nbsp;Ferrari 499 P right now? How many&nbsp;seconds separate the current race&nbsp;leader from his opponents?&nbsp;At what point does a specific&nbsp;LMGT3 get back up to speed? This feature of Live Timing Pro is like having a bird&#39;s eye view of the circuit from the comfort of your home.</p>

<p>It&#39;s all in the details. With Live Timing Pro, you have access to:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Live lap times</li>
	<li>Sector split times</li>
	<li>Gaps between competitors</li>
	<li>Performance comparisons between drivers</li>
	<li>A driver line-up&#39;s progress in the standings over the hours</li>
</ul>

<h2>understand strategies&nbsp;in real time</h2>

<p>The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a game of chess played at full speed. Sometimes, the decisive move is made far from the cameras, so to&nbsp;identify the various team&nbsp;strategies&nbsp;as the race unfolds, Live Timing Pro provides access to:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Flag activity and neutralisations</li>
	<li>Race Control communications</li>
	<li>Overtakings</li>
	<li>The timeline of key in-race events</li>
</ul>

<p>Info like Full Course Yellows, Safety Car deployments, incidents on the track and penalties incurred are reported in real time. This makes it possible to understand what is reshaping the race at any given moment.</p>

<h2>Customise your&nbsp;Live Timing</h2>

<p>Undoubtedly one of Live Timing Pro&rsquo;s greatest strengths is that&nbsp;everyone can use it in their own way. Do you like following the battle at the front? Then show&nbsp;only the Hypercars. Are you watching&nbsp;the race with an eye on the GTs? Create your own selection. Are you a strategy enthusiast? Prioritise&nbsp;the gaps, lap times&nbsp;and race events.</p>

<p>Live Timing Pro allows you to personalise what you see to your preferences, turning it into a your very own 24 Hours of Le Mans&nbsp;dashboard. After all, there are many ways to experience the race.</p>

<p>No matter where you are, you won&#39;t miss a critical&nbsp;moment with&nbsp;Live Timing Pro at hand.</p>

<p>Live Timing Pro for the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans&nbsp;is available thanks to&nbsp;FIAWEC+. This platform is available <strong><a href="https://plus.fiawec.com/en" target="_blank">online</a></strong>&nbsp;and as an app at the&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://apps.apple.com/fr/app/fiawec/id6758774317" target="_blank">App Store</a></strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.staylive.fia&amp;utm_source=emea_Med" target="_blank">Google Play</a></strong>.</p>

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans – Enjoy the race even more thanks to Live Timing Pro!

With less than a week to go before the start of the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans, round three of the 2026 FIA WEC, the circuit is humming its favourite tune.

<p>The full <strong>13.626-km circuit</strong> is alive with the drone of engines. At 10:00 precisely, the light at the end of the pit lane turned green, indicating the beginning of 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans Test Day. The <strong>Team WRT #15 BMW M Hybrid V8</strong> was first out. The <strong>Hypercar</strong> set off with <strong>Philipp Eng</strong> at the wheel.</p>

<p>After months of eager anticipation, fans delight in seeing the cars on the circuit at last. Teams are grateful for the opportunity of a dress rehearsal on the actual stage before the big day. Drivers get acquainted or reacquainted with the foibles of a circuit like no other, where <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/explore-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-circuit-turn-by-turn-60679">every turn tells a different story</a>. And of course, today&rsquo;s the day we all play &ldquo;spot the livery&rdquo;.</p>

<p>Teams begin by completing <strong>the customary reconnaissance lap</strong>, to make sure the car is working properly before the testing begins in earnest. In the pits, engineers, mechanics and drivers fall rapidly in step, atuning to their surroundings. Everyone knows that time invested on track today can make a difference next weekend.</p>

<p>Weather-wise, this year&rsquo;s Test Day conditions are ideal: <strong>blue sky and a comfortable 22&deg;C</strong>.</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>striking a balance</h2>

<p>Test Day is a vital part of 24 Hours of Le Mans preparation. Teams collect precious data which the use to adapt their cars to the circuit&rsquo;s specific demands.</p>

<p>Aerodynamic set-up, chassis balance, tyre behaviour, fuel and energy consumption: every detail is meticulously analysed. In a race where short-term performance is balanced with long-term reliability, finding the ideal compromise between the two is a complex yet stimulating challenge.</p>

<p>There are several free practice sessions in the run-up to the race. However, the track time is split between three drivers. Test Day is therefore an opportunity for drivers to get to grips with the circuit ahead of the qualifying sessions.</p>

<p>For first-time Le Mans drivers and those absent in recent years, Test Day driving is mandatory. They are required to complete at least ten laps, five of them timed, to be authorised to take the wheel in the race.</p>

<p><strong>&ldquo;The first few minutes of Test Day are always delicate because the track is still green,&rdquo;</strong> says Antonio Fuoco, driver of the #50 Ferrari 499P of Ferrari-AF Corse. <strong>&quot;However, we still take the opportunity to drive a Ferrari on the circuit, which is always a privilege.&rdquo;</strong></p>

<h2>early indications of form</h2>

<p>There are no prizes for speed today. However, lap times will be scrutinised! They are the first indication of form ahead of the race.</p>

<p>Last year, the Toyota Gazoo Racing #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid clocked the fastest time on test day: <strong>03:26.246</strong>. In <strong>LMP2</strong>, the #22 Oreca 07-Gibson of United Autosports set the standard at <strong>03:35.770</strong>, while theAkkodis ASP Team #87 Lexus RC F LMGT3 was fastest in <strong>LMGT3</strong> with <strong>03:55.276</strong>.</p>

<p>However, at Le Mans, appearances can be deceiving. Test Day is for<strong> laying the foundations of the week ahead</strong>. The times on Test Day tables say little of the work behind the scenes. Teams are busy analysing set-up data, preparing their drivers and drawing up race strategy.</p>

<p>Follow <a href="https://plus.fiawec.com/en/livestream/s-24-hours-of-le-mans-free-practice-1-test-day-596ofs">Live Timing Pro</a> for the low-down on each of the 62 cars in the field. An insight into how performance is shaping up, the app contains all the details you need to grasp the intricacies of the race: lap times, gaps, sectors, stints and evolution throughout the day. With Live Timing Pro, identify 24 Hours of Le Mans team strategy and watch it play out.</p>

The 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans Test Day has begun!

On Sunday 7 June, race week at the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans shifts into high gear! Today is all about the highly anticipated Test Day, the Ligier European Series hitting the track and the opening of the M24 – Motorsport Museum!

<h2>2026 24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans test day</h2>

<p>Every year, Test Day marks the first official&nbsp;moment&nbsp;when&nbsp;competitors finally get to take the track to&nbsp;get their bearings and (re)discover visual markers such as&nbsp;braking zones, kerbs and corners at high speeds.</p>

<p>Test Day is crucial for rookies as it serves as their first real encounter with the 24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans circuit.&nbsp;In accordance with regulations, rookie&nbsp;drivers must complete a minimum of 10&nbsp;laps &mdash; five of which must be timed &mdash; to validate their participation.&nbsp;That is only&nbsp;10 rapid-fire&nbsp;laps to begin to understand how to master this legendary circuit.</p>

<p>Today, the 186 Hypercar, LMP2 and&nbsp;LMGT3 drivers will have six hours of track time to reacquaint themselves with the circuit and analyse&nbsp;settings, car balance, tyre behavior, traffic management and so much more. That&#39;s why this opportunity is so vital.</p>

<p>Last year, Toyota Racing&#39;s&nbsp;Toyota GR010 Hybrid established the fastest Test Day lap time of 03:26.246. Will it be beaten today?</p>

<h2>Ligier European Series</h2>

<p>In 2020, Ligier Automotive and the European&nbsp;Le Mans&nbsp;Series launched the&nbsp;Ligier&nbsp;European&nbsp;Series, a one-make championship reserved for&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ligier JS P4 (a futuristic sporting prototype) and the&nbsp;Ligier JS2 R (a small&nbsp;GT designed especially for racing).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The&nbsp;Ligier&nbsp;European&nbsp;Series calendar includes six rounds during the European&nbsp;Le Mans&nbsp;Series with one race held at the&nbsp;Le Mans circuit since&nbsp;2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Today, in conjunction with the 24 Hours&nbsp;Test Day, Ligier European Series competitors will take part in a free practice&nbsp;from 8:00 to 8:45, a qualifying session&nbsp;from 9:15 to 9:35&nbsp;and a race from 14:00 to 15:00.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>M24 &ndash; motorsport museum</h2>

<p>Inaugurated on 28 May, the M24 &ndash; Motorsport Museum will be open during Test Day and throughout race week. Come check out&nbsp;authentic and iconic&nbsp;Formula 1, endurance racing, Can-Am, and rally cars.</p>

<p>The museum was conceived from the convergence of past legacy&nbsp;and&nbsp;future accomplishments. Spanning an area of ​​8,600 m&sup2;, it&nbsp;aspires to become an international benchmark in the field of automotive heritage, while preserving the unique DNA of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.</p>

<p>The M24 &ndash; Motorsport Museum is&nbsp;founded on the&nbsp;strong core value that&nbsp;history is fully conveyed only through experience. Here, the focus&nbsp;is not merely to line up cars behind glass, but to tell the story of what they embody: human destinies, technological gambles, moments of grace&nbsp;and major turning points in the history of sport and society.</p>

<p><u><strong>Sunday 7 June Programme</strong></u></p>

<p>08:00 &ndash; 20:00&nbsp; |&nbsp; M24 &ndash; Motorsport Museum open<br />
08:00 &ndash; 08:45&nbsp; |&nbsp; Ligier European Series Free Practice<br />
09:15 &ndash; 09:35&nbsp; |&nbsp; Ligier European Series Qualifying<br />
10:00 &ndash; 13:00&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans Free Practice 1<br />
14:00 &ndash; 15:00&nbsp; |&nbsp; Ligier European Series Race<br />
15:30 &ndash; 18:30&nbsp; |&nbsp; 24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans Free Practice 2</p>

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans – Sunday 07/06 Programme

24 Heures du Mans 1928

<p>The two Romanian&nbsp;aristocrats were members of the Chrysler &quot;team,&quot; meaning Chryslers entered by individuals&nbsp;(at that time, many cars were entered by individuals without a team name). The #7&nbsp;Chrysler 72 Six driven by&nbsp;Jean Ghica Cantacuzino and&nbsp;Georghe Ghica Cantacuzino crossed the finish line in fourth place, one spot behind its #8 sister car with behind the wheel Henri Stoffel and&nbsp;Andr&eacute; Rossignol, two-time winner at the 24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans in 1925 and 1926.</p>

<p><strong>Photo: Copyright - Archives/ACO</strong></p>

Today's Photo Story - The first Romanians at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1928

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