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This modern and welcoming space is the ideal place to relax while you watch the action on the track. It has a lovely restaurant and a vast terrace that offers stunning views of the famous Corvette Corner. You can even head to the entertainment area on the ground floor, which is equipped with driving simulators, dart boards, a pool table and a host of other activities to keep everyone entertained.

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In a prime location right by the paddocks and pitlane building, the Le Mans Spirit Club - official FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP hospitality - opens out onto a stunning terrace with outstanding views of the legendary Motul Raccordement Corner. Interested in this VIP package for another FIA World Endurance Championship race? Book now by <a href="https://www.fiawec.com/en/page/welcome-to-our-world/2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">clicking here</a>

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Step behind the scenes of this thrilling event, savour the moment in our high-class reception areas and enjoy a carefully-orchestrated event that combines elegance with excitement. From sunrise to sunset, a full schedule of activities will be rolled out just for you, to fully immerse you in the thrill of the race.

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This was not a shot in the dark. The Ford Hypercar’s first kilometres come after months of work on the engine, simulator and honing Ford Racing team procedures. Their journey to the 95th 24 Hours of Le Mans on 9–13 June 2027 has begun.

A Hypercar leaving the workshop for the first time, plus six drivers aiming for the same project goal amount to over 1,000 kilometres in three days. To an outsider, the Ford Hypercar&rsquo;s first date at the Paul Ricard circuit may seem like the beginning. In fact, it&rsquo;s the culmination of months of preparation. To get the car track ready, Ford Racing spent many hours working on the engine in the <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/ford-racing-recreates-a-lap-of-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-circuit-60925" target="_blank">dyno cell in Dearborn</a>, making sure the car would be operational from the outset. The first outing may be the first chapter, but there was a prelude to the story of Ford&rsquo;s journey to the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship to take on Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Genesis, McLaren, Peugeot and Toyota.

<h2>Thousands of hours of preparation for the first outing</h2>

A race car doesn&rsquo;t come into being when it leaves the pit lane. The Ford Hypercar was a reality long before it entered the track at the Paul Ricard circuit.

A few weeks earlier, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/ford-hypercar-v8-roars-to-life-for-the-first-time-ahead-of-the-2027-24-hours-of-le-mans-60883" target="_blank">5.4-litre V8 naturally aspirated engine</a>, developed in-house, was fired up for the first time in France. The American manufacturer worked alongside <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/ford-partners-with-oreca-for-hypercar-programme-launching-in-2027-59768">chassis builder Oreca</a> to integrate the powertrain, while fleshing out its sporting programme in view of its FIA World Endurance Championship entry in 2027.

All that remained was to test the car on a real circuit.

Dan Sayers, WEC Hypercar Program Manager at Ford Racing sums up the philosophy: &lsquo;Reaching Paul Ricard and getting the car through its shakedown and three full days of running is exactly the milestone we set out to hit. Everything we did in the buildup&thinsp;&ndash;&thinsp;the dyno work in Dearborn, the fire-up in France, the countless hours in the sim&thinsp;&ndash;&thinsp;was about making sure that when we rolled out onto the track, we were ready to be plug and play.&rsquo;

It was important to know as much as possible about the car&rsquo;s behaviour before the first outing, so as to gather precious data from lap one. This next phase is all about learning.

<h2>From preparation to experience</h2>

The team at Ford Racing were able to see the results of their work in real conditions at the Paul Ricard circuit. Engineers gathered data, drivers got familiar with the Hypercar&rsquo;s behaviour and the team checked that the project elements hung together correctly.

For an entirely new programme it&rsquo;s essential to begin turning laps into learning. Logan Sargeant, one of the six drivers in the programme, knows that as well as anyone. &lsquo;Kicking off a new programme always takes time&thinsp;&ndash;&thinsp;you&rsquo;re figuring out how all the pieces fit together, and we&rsquo;re still working through that,&rsquo; explains the American. &lsquo;That said, we really hit the ground running.&rsquo;

Indeed, the team left nothing to chance. &lsquo;Starting testing from where we did is a huge credit to the team. There have already been countless hours poured into this project, including a ton of time in the simulator, so we&rsquo;ve had a massive head start. Now it&rsquo;s about making sure everything comes together flawlessly, and that&rsquo;s the next step for us.&rsquo;

That&rsquo;s where the first kilometres are precious. Data gathered on track can be reworked in simulation. Behaviour observed by a driver can give engineers new indications. Noticed early on, a little glitch can be ironed out and avoid bigger problems further down the line. Every lap becomes a piece of a huge puzzle that Ford is piecing together.

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<h2>Six drivers form one team</h2>

A less visible element of the first outing is nonetheless important: teamwork. The programme isn&rsquo;t just a car, it&rsquo;s a group of people.

All six drivers were at Paul Ricard. Sebastian Priaulx, Mike Rockenfeller and Logan Sargeant were already announced as playing a part in the Hypercar&rsquo;s development. The three others brought their experience too.

Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Racing: &lsquo;The fact that all six of our drivers were on hand, working together and pushing this programme forward, tells you everything about the spirit we&rsquo;re building at Ford Racing.&rsquo;

Building. The watchword. For Ford is not just entering two cars in 2027. The American brand is back at the highest level of endurance racing with the aim of reclaiming overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With four wins to date (1966&ndash;1969), the manufacturer is counting on the Hypercar to be reacquainted with the Le Mans trophy after a sixty-year hiatus.

Yet there&rsquo;s a world of difference between the Ford&nbsp;GT40 and today&rsquo;s car. Technology has changed, cars are not the same and endurance racing has undergone profound transformation. One thing remains: the idea that Le Mans requires preparation to match the size of the challenge.

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<h2>First step on the long road to Le Mans</h2>

The three-day test was one of the first stages on an arduous journey. At Ford Racing, everyone knows the finish line is a long way off.

&lsquo;There&rsquo;s a long list of milestones still ahead of us before Q1&nbsp;2027, but these past couple of weeks has given the team a lot of confidence and strong foundations to build on,&rsquo; says Dan Sayers.

The schedule is packed. After the first outing, the Hypercar development programme continues on other circuits and environments, to cover plenty of ground before the car&rsquo;s maiden race. The test phase spans three continents, and that&rsquo;s before the first FIA WEC race.

&lsquo;Every mile we put on this car brings us closer to Le Mans, and closer to reclaiming our place at the top of endurance racing,&rsquo; says Mark Rushbrook, summing up the aim of the pre-competition preparation.

For the moment, Ford are not playing to win. There are no chequered flags involved yet. However, in the data recorded at Paul Ricard, in the sensations felt by the drivers and in the thousands of elements analysed by the engineers, there is already a taste of the Ford Hypercar as it will be on the morning of 13 June 2027.

Ford Hypercar: behind the scenes at the carefully-prepared track test

Ford Racing has reached the first major milestone in its 2027 FIA WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans campaign. The American Hypercar covered 1,000 kilometres in three days, officially launching the development programme that will span three continents.

The countdown begins. Just weeks after its 5.4-litre Coyote-based V8 engine fired up for the first time, the Ford Hypercar was on track for tests at the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France. A symbolic step in the project to bring the US brand back to the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027.

To the Ford Racing team, the tests were the real starting point. After a shakedown, the car completed three full days on track, clocking over 1,000 kilometres. For a newborn car, that&rsquo;s quite a first outing!

<h2>The Hypercar finds its feet</h2>

All Ford programme drivers attended the test. Logan Sargeant, Matt Campbell, Tom Blomqvist and Mike Rockenfeller took turns at the wheel, while Sebastian Priaulx and Nick Yelloly helped with data collection to prepare the next stage of development.

Matt Campbell: &lsquo;I&rsquo;ve been here for the whole test and from my side, it&rsquo;s gone smoothly. I&rsquo;ve seen fans online raving about how awesome the sound is, but from inside the cockpit, it&rsquo;s on another level&thinsp;&ndash;&thinsp;it&rsquo;s absolutely deafening! I&rsquo;m genuinely excited for what&rsquo;s ahead with this car. We know there&rsquo;s a long road in front of us, but this has been a really positive start. I&rsquo;ve had the most track time out of the drivers, and aside from a few minor teething issues&thinsp;&ndash;&thinsp;which you&rsquo;d expect at the beginning of a new programme&thinsp;&ndash;&thinsp;everything has gone well. From here, things really ramp up: I&rsquo;m heading back to the USA for three days of sim work before returning to Europe for the next test.&rsquo;

<h2>Testing on three continents</h2>

The pace ramps up from here on. After three days on the simulator in North Carolina, Ford heads to Portim&atilde;o in early September. Then Silverstone, Monza, Imola and Aragon in Europe and then back to the States towards the end of the year for new more destinations: Circuit of the Americas (Austin) and Sebring.

A packed schedule! Ford is looking to get to know the car better kilometre after kilometre, fine-tuning the set-ups to turn the car fresh from the workshop into a racing machine.

The goal is to get a solid grounding by the first quarter of 2027. Paul Ricard is just the first stage. As everyone knows, all great journeys begin with a first step. Before the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a car is designed, built, and tested. The first few laps are a glimpse of things to come.

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Initial testing complete for the Ford Racing Hypercar

The no43 Inter Europol Competition returned to the top step of the ELMS podium for the first time since Le Castellet in 2024 after a dramatic 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps which saw six Safety Car periods in the first half of the race.

After taking their second 24 Hours of Le Mans victory in a row in June and finishing second on the ELMS podium no less than six times in the past two seasons, Jakub Smiechowski, Nick Yelloly and Tom Dillmann were all smiles as they held up their winners&rsquo; trophies, having taken the chequered flag just 3.3 seconds ahead of the no10 Vector Sport Oreca.&nbsp;

However, Pietro Fittipaldi had driven 1m15.791 below the minimum driving time.&nbsp;The no10 Oreca was given a post-race penalty of 1:50.791 sec (<a href="https://www.fiawec.com/umbrella_media/110-decision-no-71-car-10-min-driving-time-6a8b5d7adc732561653849.pdf" target="_blank">Stewards Decision no71</a>), which dropped the car to 17th overall and 9th in LMP2.&nbsp; This promoted the no29 Forestier Racing by Panis Oreca into second place and the no18 IDEC Sport Oreca to third.

GR Racing secured their first ELMS victory since 2015, with Mike Wainwright, Mex Jansen and Lorcan Hanafin winning the LMGT3 category. Hanafin brought the no86 Ferrari 296 LMGT3 home just 2.7 seconds ahead of the no77 Proton Competition Porsche, with the no62 Team Qatar by Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG securing a second podium in a row.

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The LMP2 Pro/Am win went to the no83 AF Corse Oreca of Fran&ccedil;ois Perrodo, Antonio Fuoco and Matthieu Vaxiviere. Vaxiviere was battling hard with Louis Del&eacute;traz in the no99 AO by TF Oreca in the final stages of the race when the pair clashed at Les Combes. Del&eacute;traz span off, with Vaxiviere taking to the escape road and was able to keep his lead. The no83 Oreca took the chequered flag 3.3 seconds ahead of Malthe Jakobsen in the no20 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca, with Del&eacute;traz finishing third 5 seconds further back.

The no5 Rinaldi Racing Ligier took the chequered flag in LMP3, with Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen finishing 54 seconds ahead of the rest of the class field. However, a post race penalty led to the car being disqualified due to non compliance with the maximum capacity of the fuel tank (<a href="https://www.fiawec.com/umbrella_media/112-decision-no-76-car-5-disqualification-6a8b5c30ebe3f492928900.pdf" target="_blank">Steward&rsquo;s Decision no76</a>). This promoted the no17 CLX Motorsport Ligier to first place, with the no85 R-ace GP Duqueine in second and the no11 Eurointernational Ligier completing the top three.

<a href="https://www.europeanlemansseries.com/en/page/results" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for the result of the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

<a href="https://www.europeanlemansseries.com/en/page/classification-2" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for the championship positions after 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

Round 5 of the 2026 European Le Mans Series will be the Goodyear 4 Hours of Silverstone, which will take place on Sunday 13 September.

Race Highlights | 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps 2026 | ELMS

ELMS : les meilleurs moments des 4 Heures de Spa-Francorchamps 2026

ELMS : back to the top step for Inter Europol Competition at Spa-Francorchamps

Aston Martin’s Hypercar programme is entering a new phase. At Silverstone, the British manufacturer ran a development version of its Valkyrie Hypercar to explore new avenues of performance. It was an important step ahead of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) return in 2027, with the 95th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (9–13 June 2027) firmly in its sights.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie continues to evolve. Aston Martin THOR Team recently conducted a test session dedicated to an upgraded version of its Hypercar at Silverstone. Driven by Ross Gunn and Harry Tincknell, the development Valkyrie allowed the British team to evaluate several technical developments and gather valuable data. After 18 months of competition, Aston Martin is now looking to build on its deeper understanding of the car to open a new chapter in its Hypercar programme.

<h2>A Valkyrie beginning to reveal its secrets</h2>

Silverstone was no random choice. Home of the British Grand Prix and a true heartland of British motorsport, the circuit is also located close to Aston Martin&rsquo;s AMR Technology Campus. In 2027, it will return to the FIA WEC calendar for the first time since 2019, hosting the 6 Hours of Silverstone from 23 to 25 April.

For Aston Martin THOR Team, the session was therefore both a test and a dress rehearsal. The team worked on different areas of performance with a Valkyrie whose characteristics are now better understood after its first two seasons of competition.

&ldquo;We are right at the beginning of this journey,&rdquo; explains Adam Carter, Aston Martin&rsquo;s Head of Endurance Motorsport. After 18 months spent observing, measuring and understanding the Valkyrie&rsquo;s behaviour in racing conditions, the manufacturer can now begin looking for where further gains can be made.

This approach comes as the Valkyrie has already shown clear progress in 2026. In the FIA WEC, both Valkyries scored points at the 6 Hours of S&atilde;o Paulo, finishing sixth and ninth. In the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the British prototype has secured six top-10 finishes from seven races, including a second place on the road for Ross Gunn and Roman De Angelis.

The Valkyrie is therefore no longer simply a newcomer to the Hypercar class. It is beginning to follow an upward trajectory.

At Silverstone, Aston Martin THOR Team was therefore looking for new answers. The data gathered will now help shape the manufacturer&rsquo;s thinking about the next evolution of the Valkyrie.

&ldquo;Some of the developments we tried today will fuel our thinking as we consider the technical direction we go next with Valkyrie,&nbsp;explains Ian James, Aston Martin THOR Team Principal. There&rsquo;s more to come.&rdquo;

The phrase perfectly sums up the situation. The Valkyrie has already taken its first steps at the highest level. It is now entering a phase where every detail can make a difference.

And in 2027, those details will take on a particular significance. The FIA WEC&rsquo;s return to Silverstone will give Aston Martin its first opportunity to put on a show for its home fans with its Hypercar. Then comes the event that every endurance racing enthusiast already has in mind: the 24 Hours of Le Mans, from 9 to 13 June 2027.

The Valkyrie will have another story to tell. That of a Hypercar born for the road, transformed for racing and now committed to a constant pursuit of performance. A story that, clearly, is only just beginning.

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At Silverstone, Aston Martin prepares the next evolution of the Valkyrie

The next European Le Mans Series round at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium will be a special one. For the race’s tenth anniversary, the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps boasts a field of 47 cars and 140 drivers. The season enters its second half for the four hotly disputed ELMS classes.

The 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is round 4 of 6 in the 2026 season of the European Le Mans Series. The 47-car entry list breaks down as follows: 11 LMP2s, 12 LMP2 Pro/Ams, 10 LMP3s and 14 LMGT3s. A total of 140 drivers and 30 teams representing 30 nations are to take part in the tenth anniversary race, introduced in 2016 when the ELMS season was extended to five rounds.

<h2>LMP2: United Autosports looking to hold on to the lead</h2>

The championship remains undecided at the halfway mark. Ben Hanley, Gr&eacute;goire Saucy and Griffin Peebles top the tables with 58 points for the #22 Oreca&nbsp;07-Gibson of United Autosports.

The crew took second place at the 4 Hours of Imola, behind the Forestier Racing by Panis #29 Oreca. Esteban Masson, Louis Rousset and Oliver Gray come to Belgium with 52 points, just six points behind the leaders. Forestier Racing by Panis has banked sturdy results this year. They won two of the first three races this season and Spa-Francorchamps could well see a shift in the rankings.

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<h2>LMP2 Pro/Am: a three-way battle</h2>

In LMP2 Pro/Am, the gap is even smaller. Algarve Pro Racing crew Michael Jensen, Enzo Trulli and Malthe Jakobsen (#20), winners of the 4 Hours of Barcelona, tie for first place with Jens Reno M&oslash;ller, Cem B&ouml;l&uuml;kbaşı and Lorenzo Flux&aacute; (#7 Vector Sport) who triumphed at Imola. The teams have 43 points apiece.

Doriane Pin, Richard Vershoor and Giorgio Roda are not far behind, having earned 38 points at the wheel of the Duqueine Team #30.

AF Corse lie fourth on 36 points. The car remains in the hands of former class winners Fran&ccedil;ois Perrodo, Matthieu Vaxiviere and Antonio Fuoco. There is still all to play for in the second half of the season.

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<h2>LMP3: Rinaldi Racing back in command</h2>

The LMP3 class is just as evenly matched. Alvise Rodella, Jose Fernandes Cautela and Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen took the lead after their second place at the 4 Hours of Imola. The Rinaldi Racing #5 Ligier drivers currently have 49 points. Eight more than their nearest rivals Alex Bukhantsov, Henry Cubides Olarte and Chun Ting Chou in the Inter Europol Competition #13 who won at Le Castellet.

Reigning class champions&nbsp;CLX Motorsport made a comeback by winning at Imola. With 40 points, Paul Lanchere, Alexander Jacoby and Louis Iglesias stand third in the championship rankings.

Only 9 points separate the top three crews as they head to Spa-Francorchamps.

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<h2>LMGT3: TF Sport takes control</h2>

In LMGT3, the first three rounds were won by three different cars. The TF Sport #33 Corvette&nbsp;Z06 LMGT3.R won the 4 Hours of Imola, placing Blake McDonald, Alec Udell and Charlie Eastwood in the lead.

With 44 points, the British crew have just one point in hand over the Proton Competition #75 Porsche Porsche&nbsp;911 GT3 R&nbsp;LMGT3&thinsp;&ndash;&thinsp;Richard Lietz, Matt Kurzejewski and Thomas Sargent having claimed victory at the 4 Hours of Barcelona. 
The Kessel Racing #57 Ferrari&nbsp;296 LMGT3 Evo stands third on 40 points. Takeshi Kimura, Daniel Serra and Mathys Jaubert were the winners at Le Castellet.

Just four points then, between the top three. In such a sharp contest, the four hours of Spa-Francorchamps could change the pecking order.

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<h2>Watch the race live on the FIAWEC+ application</h2>

As a springboard to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the European Le Mans Series is streamed live on FIAWEC+, the official ELMS platform. Head to the free app for full live coverage and videos of the season&rsquo;s highlights.

Watch ELMS races free of charge with a FIAWEC+ account&nbsp;<a href="https://plus.fiawec.com/en/european-le-mans-series" target="_blank">www.plus.fiawec.com</a>

ELMS: the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is ten years old

Algarve Pro Racing, Inter Europol Competition and Panis Racing have chosen the Ligier JS P228 for their LMP2 programmes from 2028. Three race-winning teams with deep roots in endurance racing will therefore join forces with Ligier Automotive as a new generation of prototypes takes to the track.

From 2028, the LMP2 category will open a new chapter in its history. Selected by the ACO and the FIA as one of the two chassis suppliers for the next generation of LMP2 cars, Ligier Automotive is developing its Ligier JS P228 with a clear ambition: to return to the highest level of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with teams capable of fighting for victory. Algarve Pro Racing, Inter Europol Competition and Panis Racing have already chosen to put their trust in the French manufacturer.

<h2>Three teams with one shared ambition: to win!</h2>

The decision by these three teams is no coincidence. All three have already built part of their history in LMP2, all know what it takes to compete at the highest level of endurance racing and all have won major races in the discipline.

For Ligier Automotive, their commitment represents an initial validation of the work undertaken since its selection in June 2025. Since then, the French manufacturer&#39;s teams, together with its US subsidiary Ligier Automotive North America, have been working on the development of the JS P228. The challenge is a major one: to make its new LMP2 a benchmark from the moment it enters competition.

Algarve Pro Racing already knows the way. Founded by Stewart and Samantha Cox, the team entered LMP2 with Ligier in 2015. Since then, it has won two European Le Mans Series titles, six Asian Le Mans Series titles and an IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup title. It has also claimed several LMP2 Pro-Am victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2026, the team notably won the 24 Hours of Daytona and took victory in its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The return to Ligier therefore carries particular significance. For Algarve Pro Racing, the JS P228 represents both a return to its roots and the beginning of a new adventure. The team does not simply want to be on the grid in 2028. It is targeting titles and victories in the world&#39;s biggest endurance races.

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Inter Europol Competition brings a more recent, but already impressive, history. Founded in 2010 by Wojciech and Jakub Śmiechowski, the Polish team has scored three LMP2 victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans over the past four editions, including a <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/2026-24-hours-of-le-mans-a-historic-one-two-finish-in-lmp2-for-inter-europol-competition-60822" target="_blank">one-two finish in 2026</a>. IMSA LMP2 champions in 2024 and FIA WEC runners-up, the team has established itself as one of the leading forces in the category.

Its decision to choose the Ligier JS P228 reflects a desire to continue that progress. For Inter Europol Competition, this new generation of LMP2 cars represents an opportunity to bring fresh momentum to the category. One chapter is coming to an end, but the objective remains the same: to continue fighting at the front.

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Panis Racing completes the trio. Founded in 2016 by Olivier Panis and Fabien Barthez, the French team has secured four podium finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and won the ELMS LMP2 title in 2025. It is also fighting at the sharp end of the championship this season.

For Olivier Panis, the decision to join forces with Ligier has a particular resonance. His 1996 Monaco Grand Prix victory came at the wheel of a Ligier. Almost three decades later, this chapter of French motorsport history is being extended with the JS P228. Panis Racing will rely on VPS Racing, the organisation notably led by Aur&eacute;lien Panis, to carry the project forward from 2028.

MJA_1924A_MJ2_0080.jpg

<h2>The Ligier JS P228, the first face of a new LMP2 era</h2>

With these three teams, Ligier Automotive is not simply preparing a new race car. The French manufacturer is preparing its return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a generation of prototypes set to shape the LMP2 category from 2028 to 2032.

The Ligier JS P228 will continue a story that began in 2014 with the Ligier JS P2, which marked Ligier Automotive&#39;s return to the international motorsport scene. Since then, the manufacturer has developed its expertise in sport prototypes, as well as single-seaters and GT cars. More than a decade of accumulated experience is now converging towards a new challenge.

The JS P228 will make its competitive debut in 2028 in the European Le Mans Series and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It will then enter the Asian Le Mans Series for the 2028/2029 season before joining the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2029.

For spectators at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 2028 is already shaping up to be a special occasion. New regulations, a new generation of LMP2 cars and new prototypes will transform the face of the category. But the essential remains unchanged: for 24 hours, these prototypes will have to endure and push their limits.

And behind the technology, there will be stories to follow. Algarve Pro Racing returning to Ligier. Inter Europol Competition looking to continue its rise. Panis Racing writing a new chapter in a French motorsport story closely linked to the manufacturer.

Three teams. One new prototype. A new LMP2 era. In 2028, the Ligier JS P228 will meet the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And with it, three teams that will not be arriving simply to watch the race unfold, but to try to write its history.

Three Major Teams Choose Ligier for the New Generation of LMP2

Ford Racing has taken another major step in its return to the top level of endurance racing. On Monday, 17 August, the first images of its Hypercar on track were unveiled as the new American machine continues its testing programme ahead of its FIA WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in 2027.

It is a silhouette that fans have been waiting to see. After several months of development away from the spotlight, the Ford Hypercar has finally hit the track. Its testing programme began on 5 August with several days of shakedown testing, during which the team methodically checked each of the car&rsquo;s systems. On Monday, 17 August, Matt Campbell and Logan Sargeant took the wheel for the first proper track tests, providing the first glimpse of Ford&rsquo;s future endurance racing contender.

<h2>A first run, and a new chapter begins</h2>

Before chasing outright performance, Ford Racing first had to ensure that everything was working as it should. The initial running allowed the team to check and activate all of the Hypercar&rsquo;s systems. It may be an invisible stage for the wider public, but it is essential: before thinking about lap times, every component, control and interaction between the various systems must perform as planned.

This initial phase went according to Ford&rsquo;s planned programme. The car is now ready to enter a new phase: track testing, where every lap brings new lessons and takes the prototype one step closer to its ultimate goal.

For this first outing, Matt Campbell and Logan Sargeant took turns behind the wheel. Tom Blomqvist, who was also present during the initial development phase, is set to join the testing programme in the coming days. The three drivers are part of <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/ford-reveals-the-names-of-the-2027-hypercar-driver-crews-60778" target="_blank">the six official drivers selected by Ford for its 2027 Hypercar programme</a>, alongside Mike Rockenfeller, Nick Yelloly and Sebastian Priaulx.

The first image of this Ford on track ultimately tells a much bigger story than that of a simple test. It marks the moment when a project becomes reality. Until now, this car could only be imagined racing through the field at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now, it exists, it is running and it is starting to rack up the miles.

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<h2>Ford prepares its return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans</h2>

And, naturally, behind these first laps lies a story that goes far beyond the development of a prototype.

In 2027, Ford will return to the top class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, almost six decades after its last involvement at the highest level. It is a return that inevitably echoes the history of the race. In the 1960s, the Ford GT40 left an indelible mark on Le Mans by securing four consecutive victories between 1966 and 1969. In 2016, 50 years after the first of those wins, the Ford GT also triumphed in the LMGTE Pro class.

The next chapter will be different. Ford is not returning simply to make up the numbers. The American manufacturer is preparing for a genuine battle at the highest level of the FIA WEC, with the ambition of returning to Le Mans in 2027 as part of an Hypercar field that promises to be stronger than ever.

Ford&rsquo;s Hypercar has only just begun its story. But since Monday, 17 August, one thing is certain: it has now left the computer screens behind and entered the real world. And it will be worth keeping an eye on it over the coming months. Because its next major appointment is already marked in bold on the calendar: the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Further images and additional information about this testing programme are expected to be released by Ford Racing next week.

Ford reveals first images of its Hypercar on track

At its Dearborn test facility, Ford Racing is already putting its future Hypercar engine through a full lap simulation of the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit. It marks another milestone in the American manufacturer's preparation for its return to the Hypercar class of the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship.

Just months before its eagerly awaited return to the top category of the FIA World Endurance Championship, Ford Racing continues the development of <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/ford-hypercar-v8-roars-to-life-for-the-first-time-ahead-of-the-2027-24-hours-of-le-mans-60883" target="_blank">its Hypercar</a>. At its technical centre in Dearborn, Michigan, the manufacturer is simulating a complete lap of the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit on an engine dyno. Gear changes, long full-throttle acceleration zones &ndash; the 5.4-litre V8 is already experiencing the demands of the legendary French endurance classic long before it turns a wheel on track.

Ford Racing Recreates a Lap of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Circuit

Ford Racing recrée un tour du circuit des 24 Heures du Mans

<h2>When the Dyno Simulates the 24 Hours of Le Mans</h2>

Every time Ford Racing fires up its engine dyno in Dearborn, the room holds its breath. The naturally aspirated 5.4-litre V8, derived from the Coyote engine, is not simply running to verify that everything works as intended. Thanks to a real-time simulation, it faithfully reproduces an entire lap of the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit.

The engine surges beyond 9,000 rpm, powers down the Mulsanne Straight at full throttle, brakes hard for Mulsanne Corner and accelerates once again towards the Porsche Curves. While the engine cannot tell the difference between a real circuit and a virtual one, Ford&#39;s engineers carefully analyse every piece of data collected to identify where further improvements can be made.

This approach allows valuable development work to continue long before on-track testing begins. Every dyno session provides crucial insights to enhance reliability and performance &ndash; two essential qualities for taking on a race that lasts 24 hours.

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<h2>A Legacy Born with the GT40</h2>

This development programme is rooted in a story that is deeply intertwined with the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford points out that the test cell used today sits only a few metres from the one where the engines for <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-centenary-the-american-benchmark-ford-gt40-57263" target="_blank">the legendary GT40</a> were developed more than sixty years ago.

The manufacturer proudly embraces this connection between past and present. The lessons learned during the GT40&#39;s victorious Le Mans campaigns of the 1960s continue to shape today&#39;s engineering methods, while modern technologies are opening a new chapter in Ford&#39;s endurance racing story.

<h2>Preparing Drivers Before the First Track Test</h2>

The engine is only one part of the equation. At its Technology Centre in North Carolina, Ford Racing is also preparing <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/ford-reveals-the-names-of-the-2027-hypercar-driver-crews-60778" target="_blank">its drivers</a> using a full-scale cockpit mock-up, known as a &quot;buck&quot;, of its future Hypercar.

Driving position, control ergonomics, visibility and operating procedures are all refined in meticulous detail so that drivers are already fully familiar with the car before taking to the track. The objective is straightforward: arrive at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with as few unknowns as possible.

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The first test sessions in France are now just around the corner. Until then, every hour spent on the engine dyno and in the simulator brings Ford one step closer to its return to the Hypercar class in 2027.

For every team competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the race never begins with the drop of the French tricolour. It comes to life months earlier, in workshops where data still outweighs the roar of the crowd. Yet one thing never changes: every simulation, every test and every finely tuned detail serves the same purpose &ndash; to be ready when the time comes to tackle the 13.626 kilometres of the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit.

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