As described by Sportscar365, Toyota has expanded its driver roster for this weekend’s official 24 Hours of Le Mans Test Day by adding French racer Esteban Masson to its Hypercar programme. The move provides Masson with another opportunity to gain valuable mileage in the Toyota GR010 Hybrid ahead of endurance racing’s biggest event.
The provisional entry list for Sunday’s test day also features additional drivers for BMW and several LMP2 teams, as preparations intensify for the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans on 13-14 June.
Masson returns to Toyota Hypercar machinery
Masson will make his first public appearance in Toyota’s Hypercar since participating in the rookie test in Bahrain in 2024.
The French driver currently competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s LMGT3 category with Akkodis ASP. However, he has continued to strengthen his links with Toyota through private testing programmes conducted since his Bahrain outing.
Consequently, Sunday’s sessions will provide another important opportunity for Masson to showcase his development behind the wheel of the GR010 Hybrid.
The test day entry list places Masson alongside both Toyota entries, allowing the manufacturer to gather additional data and evaluation ahead of race week.
2026 Le Mans Test Day creates a busy schedule for Masson
While Masson will drive Toyota’s Hypercar during the official test, his race-week programme will look very different. The Frenchman is set to leave his regular No. 78 Lexus RC F GT3 seat for Le Mans and instead compete in the LMP2 category with Forestier Racing by Panis.
As a result, the test day appearance offers a rare opportunity to gain Hypercar experience before focusing on his LMP2 challenge during the race itself.
Toyota and Cadillac spread driver duties
Toyota has adopted a flexible approach to Sunday’s running, with experienced drivers Mike Conway and Sebastien Buemi also listed for both the No. 7 and No. 8 GR010 Hybrids.
Meanwhile, Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA has taken a similar approach. Sebastien Bourdais, Jack Aitken, Will Stevens and Norman Nato all appear on the entry list for both Cadillac V-Series.R entries.
The strategy allows manufacturers to maximise track time and gather extensive feedback across the demanding Circuit de la Sarthe layout.
BMW drafts in IMSA stars
BMW has also strengthened its test day resources by calling upon two familiar names from its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship programme. Marco Wittmann and Philipp Eng are both listed to drive the German manufacturer’s pair of BMW M Hybrid V8s during Sunday’s sessions.
Their inclusion provides BMW with additional experience and expertise as the marque continues preparations for one of the most important races of the season. Furthermore, the pair’s extensive knowledge of BMW’s prototype machinery could prove valuable as the team fine-tunes its setup ahead of race week.
Additional LMP2 Drivers confirmed; no major changes in LMGT3
Several LMP2 teams have also expanded their line-ups for the official test. Marlon Hernandez joins the No. 3 DKR Engineering Oreca 07 Gibson, while Sami Meguetounif is listed for both the No. 14 TDS Racing and No. 29 Forestier Racing by Panis entries.
In addition, Olli Caldwell will take part in testing with the No. 25 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca.
These additions will allow teams to evaluate different driver combinations while gathering crucial data before qualifying and race preparations begin.
Unlike the Hypercar and LMP2 categories, LMGT3 remains largely unchanged for the test day. However, Garage 59 has listed Alexander West, Benjamin Goethe, Antares Au and Marvin Kirchhoefer across both of its McLaren 720S GT3 Evo entries.
The arrangement provides the British squad with flexibility as it prepares for the challenges of the 24-hour contest.
2026 Le Mans Test Day schedule
The official Le Mans Test Day takes place on Sunday and consists of two separate three-hour sessions.
The first session runs from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. local time, while the second session takes place from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
These six hours of track action represent the only official opportunity for teams and drivers to complete running at Circuit de la Sarthe before the start of race week activities.
Looking ahead to Le Mans
With just days remaining before the 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, teams are leaving nothing to chance. Toyota’s decision to include Masson highlights the importance of maximising every available testing opportunity, while BMW and several LMP2 teams have also strengthened their programmes with additional driving talent.
As preparations enter their final phase, Sunday’s test day will offer the first real indication of form ahead of one of motorsport’s most prestigious events.
