To round off our review of the different classes in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (18-19 June), today we put the spotlight on the LM GTE class, split into two groups - LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am. 

24H Le Mans

Le Mans Series

24 Heures du Mans

FIA WEC

In 2027, the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be welcoming McLaren Racing to the Hypercar class. In addition, McLaren Trophy Europe will one of the curtain raisers, making Le Mans race week a celebration of the British marque.

A spectacular field of McLaren racing cars is set to gather next year at the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans, with rounds three and four of McLaren Trophy Europe on the billing as support races for the 95th running of France&rsquo;s endurance classic. These fixtures are scheduled before the main event, which sees two <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/in-2027-mclaren-return-to-le-mans-to-pick-up-where-they-left-off-60760">McLaren MCL-HY Hypercars</a> compete in the top class, in addition to the McLaren GT3 EVOs fielded in LMGT3.

<h2>Le Mans, the ultimate playground for a McLaren get-together</h2>

McLaren Trophy Europe at Le Mans weaves a thread, making the special occasion a celebration of history and future. The 2027 support races will allow drivers from McLaren Trophy America to compete as guest entries, alongside teams running current McLaren GT3 EVO and GT4-spec customer racing cars. The multi-class format will make the event the largest gathering of McLaren GT racing cars ever assembled in competition.

Nick Collins, CEO, McLaren Automotive: &ldquo;To have McLaren Trophy Europe racing at Le Mans in 2027, the year we make <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/mclaren-mcl-hy-a-name-with-a-hint-of-promise-for-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-60533">our debut in the Hypercar class</a>, will make the event incredibly special. The fact that it will also be an invitational race for our GT3 and GT4 clients, as well as open to our McLaren Trophy America competitors, will mark this out as a true celebration of McLaren. What better place than Le Mans &ndash; part of our Triple Crown legacy &ndash; to recognise this.&rdquo;

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l&rsquo;Ouest: &ldquo;Welcoming McLaren Trophy Europe to Le Mans in 2027 will add another strong dimension to what is already shaping up to be a very special edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. McLaren is part of the history of our race, and its return to the top class with the MCL-HY is a powerful symbol of the momentum currently driving endurance racing. Bringing together Hypercar, GT3, GT4 and McLaren Trophy competitors during the same week will create a unique celebration for the brand, its customers and the fans. Le Mans has always been a place where heritage and the future meet, and this announcement perfectly reflects that spirit.&rdquo;

The 95th 24 Hours Of Le Mans will be more than a race. It is already set to be a culmination of racing joy, with McLaren treating its fans to its full spectrum of race cars, from GT to highly-developed prototype.

McLaren Trophy Europe to be a support fixture at next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans

Following the cancellation of Purple Disco Machine’s upcoming dates due to health reasons, Le Mans Classic Legend is adjusting its musical lineup for Friday, July 3.

The event is pleased to welcome Polo &amp; Pan, a leading figure in the French electronic music scene, who will perform at this year&rsquo;s event.

Polo &amp; Pan are timeless. The Parisian duo of Paul Armand-Delille (Polo) and Alexandre Grynszpan (Pan) make music that flicks like frames through Golden Era Hollywood films, delivered with a deft French touch that playfully imbues house, disco, and electro in service one of the most compelling acts in dance music right now.

While tracks like &lsquo;Canop&eacute;e&rsquo; and &lsquo;Dorothy&rsquo; are now essential playing for any rooftop or beachside party no matter your latitude, Polo &amp; Pan&rsquo;s live performances bring their music to life with a sparkling vibrancy. One look around the dancefloor&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s sold-out US tours or major festival performances&mdash;and you&rsquo;ll see smiles, pretenses dropped, and earnest joy on the faces around you. That, more than their cultured heritage, global appeal, or history of underground hits, might be the Polo &amp; Pan&rsquo;s most remarkable quality. As is the case for many iconoclasts, It may have taken some time for the world-at-large to catch Polo &amp; Pan&rsquo;s creative drift, but now we are all very much along for the voyage.

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This announcement further strengthens a lineup designed to make Le Mans Classic Legend one of the summer&rsquo;s must-attend events at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans Circuit!

Informations &amp; ticketing: <a href="https://www.lemansclassic.com/en/ticketing/" target="_blank">www.lemansclassic.com</a>

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Polo and Pan joins the Le Mans Classic Lineup

We’ve crunched the numbers for you! Here are the statistics of the 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, won by the Toyota Gazoo Racing #7 Toyota TR010 Hybrid.

<h2>1963 marshals &ndash; put safety first</h2>

They were ready and waiting before the engines even started. The 1,963 track marshals posted around the 13.626-kilometre 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit ensured the security of the 186 drivers who took part in the race.

Throughout the day, and night, in the sunshine and in the darkness, these women and men are the trackside eyes and arms of Race Control. Their presence is vital.

<h2>29,446 overtakes &ndash; keep attacking</h2>

This year&rsquo;s race included 29,446 overtakes. And 101 of those passes enabled a competitor to take the overall lead. The remainder illustrates the exceptionally dense traffic generated by the cohabitation of 62 LMGT3s and prototypes on the track.

At Le Mans, every lap involves juggling speed with track conditions and traffic.

<h2>1,849 pit stops &ndash; employ the best tactics</h2>

Replace four tyres. Fill the fuel tank. Adjust a setting. Change drivers. In total, the 62 teams made 1,849 <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/pit-stop-tactics-a-major-factor-at-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-60740">pit stops</a> in 24 hours.

Behind the number are thousands of millimetre-perfect actions. Seconds gained or lost can be the difference between winning and losing.

<h2>2 safety car interventions &ndash; proceed with caution</h2>

The safety cars were deployed twice during the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans. In all, the race was run under safety car conditions for 2 hours, 16 minutes and 24 seconds.

Race neutralisation is an integral part of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It sometimes reshuffles the cards by closing gaps between cars, sparking new battles when the course is declared green. The pecking order is never set in stone, even after several hours.

<h2>4 Slow Zones &ndash; decrease the pace</h2>

Slow zones keep everyone safe while a specific portion of the circuit is being cleared, usually of debris.

There were four this year, totalling 20 minutes and 50 seconds. A trifle. However, team engineers and strategists see these periods as windows of opportunity, or potential traps. Either way, slow zones can be game changers.

<h2>8 Full Course Yellows &ndash; remain in control</h2>

Eight full course yellow procedures were called during the race, affecting racing for 32 minutes.

During a full course yellow, competitors must keep to a speed limit on the whole circuit. This safety measure requires concentration and discipline, even when adrenaline is in full flow.

<h2>177 laps &ndash; Push boundaries</h2>

Even when tiredness sets in, drivers continue, lap after lap, with the same degree of precision. 
This year, Will Stevens, driver of the #12 Cadillac V-Series.R entered by Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA spent most time at the wheel. The British driver completed 177 laps in the Hypercar. That&rsquo;s 2,400 kilometres driving at very high speed.

His performance is the perfect illustration of the physical and mental demands of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Maxime Martin on the other hand, was only able to complete ten laps of the Iron Lynx #61 Mercedes-AMG before a suspension failure ended its race. That&rsquo;s also a familiar scenario at Le Mans. Sometimes, the 24 hours are cut short by a mechanical failure, despite months of preparation.

<h2>Every number tells a story</h2>

The classification table shows winners and points attributed. Statistics tell the real story.

The 29,446 overtakes, 1,849 pit stops and the 1,963 marshals convey the true scale of this one-of-a-kind event. Drivers, mechanics, engineers, officials, marshals and spectators all contribute to the legend of Le Mans. This race is a tale of speed, stamina, superb teamwork and strong feelings.

24 Heures du Mans 2026 - OFFICIAL AFTERMOVIE

L'aftermovie officiel des 24 Heures du Mans 2026

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans more post-race number crunching

Le Mans Classic Legend and Artcurial Motorcars are pleased to announce their partnership to organize the official auction for the 2026 edition, which will take place on Friday, July 3, at 5 p.m. at the heart of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Circuit.

A long-standing partner of the world&rsquo;s premier automotive events, Artcurial Motorcars marks its return to Le Mans with a selection of 71 lots. Bringing together more than a century of automotive history, this auction will showcase iconic models, several of which played a direct role in the legend of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Among the highlights are a 1966 factory-spec Porsche 906 Carrera 6, an Alpine A450B that competed in the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans, a Mirage M3 Spyder that won at Imola with Jacky Ickx, a Duckhams LM&mdash;Gordon Murray&rsquo;s first design&mdash;and an authentic Lotus Type 78, the first Formula 1 car in history to feature ground effect.

For more than twenty years, Le Mans Classic has established itself as one of the world&rsquo;s largest gatherings dedicated to historic automobiles. Co-organized by Peter Auto and the Automobile Club de l&rsquo;Ouest, the event celebrates the unique legacy of the 24 Hours of Le Mans by bringing together the cars that have shaped the history of endurance racing.

In addition to this official auction, Artcurial Motorcars will also hold an online auction from July 2 to 8, 2026. Displayed in the Rotonde at the Parc des Expositions throughout the event, this selection of some sixty automobiles will span more than 125 years of automotive history. Nearly 90% of the lots will be offered without a reserve price, providing an opportunity to acquire a classic car under particularly attractive conditions.

Through this partnership, Le Mans Classic Legend and Artcurial Motorcars share a common ambition: to celebrate automotive history, preserve our heritage, and offer enthusiasts from around the world a unique experience, bringing them closer to the Le Mans legend.

Informations et sales catalog : 
<a href="https://www.artcurial.com/en/sales/6604" target="_blank">Le Mans Classic Legend - Official Auction</a>

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Le Mans Classic Legend : discover the lots of the Artcurial Motorcars auction

In LM GTE Pro, we can look forward to a magnificent display as the four manufacturers entered in the class battle it out to the chequered flag. With a total of seven cars entered for the full WEC season and Ford making its comeback, LM GTE Pro will be the main attraction this year. Despite the Ford GT assault, we certainly can&rsquo;t write off Ferrari and its brand new 488 GTE (2 cars), Porsche (1) or Aston Martin (2). 
	 
	In LM GTE AM, six cars will be gunning for victory as they meet at circuits across the world. Porsche will have the numerical advantage with 3 cars, competing against Aston Martin (1), the Ferrari F458 (1) and Corvette, the fifth LM GTE manufacturer with a car fielded by French outfit Larbre Comp&eacute;tition. 
	 
	Among the drivers in the class, there are plenty of big names such as Gianmaria Bruni (Ferrari), Olivier Pla (Ford), Darren Turner (Aston Martin) and Richard Lietz (Porsche). 
	 
	Watch the video below to get a glimpse of the main competitors, and hear what Andy Priaulx (Ford) has to say. 
	 
	The World Endurance Championship will kick off at Silverstone on 17 April. 
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	<img class="imgVideo" id="4496" src="/wpphpFichiers/video/56f81d4e22d91-hqdefault.jpg" />

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	David Bristol / ACO&nbsp; |&nbsp; Translated from French by Clair Pickworth

	YouTube video&nbsp;&ndash; FIA WEC 
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WEC - The LM GTE class (video)

Related News

McLaren Trophy Europe to be a support fixture at next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans

Polo and Pan joins the Le Mans Classic Lineup

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans more post-race number crunching

Le Mans Classic Legend : discover the lots of the Artcurial Motorcars auction

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