Continuity in LM P1

In LM P1, with the exception of the third TS050 HYBRID entered by Toyota, the same competitors as the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be present, paving the way  for the highly anticipated duel between Porsche and Toyota, both entering two cars, and ByKOLLES Racing Team's CLM P1/01, the only non-hybrid LM P1 in the grid. If the 84th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans was any indication, Toyota (with the #7 and #8) and Porsche (with the #1 and #2) will go all out to win (or keep) the World Endurance Champion title.

China in force in LM P2

What a surprise! The most represened nationality among the LM P2 class teams is…Chinese! It wasn't until 2015 that a Chinese team, KCMG, won for the first time in the LM P2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but in 2017 China will be well-represented thanks to Jackie Chan DC Racing and CEFC Manor TRS Racing (two cars each), though behind the latter is the British outfit Manor.

Another surprise: of the four constructors approved to provide LM P2 chassis, only ORECA will be repesented within the 10-car grid since the two Alpine A470s of the FIA Endurance LM P2 Teams Trophy winner, Signatech Alpine, were designed by the French constructor.

Third surprise: Michel Vaillant will take part! Rebellion Racing, for its return to the LM P2 class, has decided to change its name to Vaillante Rebellion as a tribute to the famous comic book character.

One last surprise: just two teams, G-Drive Racing and TDS Racing, will enter only one car. Well not exactly since the French outfit TDS Racing will be in charge of running Russian team G-Drive Racing's Oreca 07 (see article).

Porsche's strong return to LM GTE Pro

After a one-year absence in order to develop the new 911, the official Porsche team is returning to the LM GTE Pro class with a clear goal: to win the newly created World Endurance GTE Manufacturers title.

The German marque, winner in the class in 2015, will compete against Ferrari, who held onto the title until 2015 under the banner of AF Corse; Aston Martin, whose drivers dominated the class in 2016; and Ford, seeking confirmation after a first year of learning which nonetheless led it to the top step on the class podium at the 24 Hours, 50 years to the day after its first victory at Le Mans.

Diversity in LM GTE Am

As in LM P1, the LM GTE Am class will be composed of five cars from three different marques, but with one newcomer, Clearwater Racing, the team based in Singapore who made its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year. The Ferrari 488, a new arrival in the LM GTE Am class, will battle another Ferrari creation also entered by a newcomer, Spirit of Race, behind which is in fact AF Corse.

The Italian cars will go up against an official Aston Martin Vantage and two Porsche 911s entered by Dempsey-Proton Racing, back in LM GTE Am after a year in LM GTE Pro, and Gulf Racing.

The kickoff of the 2017 season will take place at Silverstone on April 16th.

Entry List