Race week for the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans continued on Saturday, 6 June, as Scrutineering concluded in the heart of the city before the 62-car field turns its attention to Test Day at the Circuit de la Sarthe.
Held once again at the Place de la République, the second and final day of administrative and technical checks completed the first major public event of the 94th running of the legendary endurance race. After 39 cars passed through Scrutineering on Friday, the remaining 23 entries were inspected on Saturday, bringing together the final Hypercar, LMP2 and LMGT3 contenders before track running begins.
Saturday’s programme carried particular weight, with Ferrari AF Corse and Toyota Racing among the headline Hypercar teams scheduled to complete their checks. The appearance of the Ferrari 499P and Toyota GR010 Hybrid added another major layer of anticipation to a race already expected to be one of the most competitive in recent Le Mans history.
While Friday brought appearances from BMW, Genesis, Peugeot, Aston Martin, Cadillac and Alpine, Saturday completed the Hypercar picture. Ferrari arrived seeking a fourth consecutive Le Mans victory, while Toyota returned determined to reclaim the race it last won in 2022.
Scrutineering concludes in the city centre
Scrutineering remains one of the defining traditions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Before the cars reach the Mulsanne Straight, Indianapolis, Arnage or the Porsche Curves, they are brought into the city centre, where fans can see the machinery, drivers and teams up close.
On Saturday, that tradition reached its conclusion for the 2026 edition. Technical marshals completed the final checks on the remaining 23 cars, ensuring each entry complied with the race’s administrative and technical requirements before being cleared for track action.
Vector Sport opened the day at 09:00 with its #26 ORECA 07-Gibson, while Team WRT’s #69 BMW M4 LMGT3 Evo closed the Scrutineering programme at 12:40. In between, the final Ferrari, Toyota, Mercedes, Lexus, McLaren, BMW, LMP2 and LMGT3 entries passed through the city centre inspection area.
With all 62 cars now cleared, the formal introductions are over. The competitive work begins on Sunday with Test Day.
Ferrari refuses to carry the favourite label
Ferrari AF Corse was one of the major attractions on Saturday, with the Ferrari 499P returning to Le Mans as the car to beat after three consecutive overall victories.
Since Ferrari’s return to the top class of endurance racing in 2023, the Italian manufacturer has built an exceptional record at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, despite that recent success, the team arrived at Scrutineering cautious about the level of competition it faces in 2026.
James Calado acknowledged that Ferrari’s challenge is different this year.
“There is more competition than in the past three years. The car has also been altered and has slightly different tyres, so the team needs to adjust. The goal remains to win again, bearing in mind it won’t be easy.”
Antonio Fuoco, winner in 2024, also pointed to the strength of the Hypercar field and the uncertainty of the race.
“Given the first two rounds of the season and the level of competition, it will be difficult to take four in a row. We are not as dominant as before. Having said that, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a different story. The car has always performed well here.”
Robert Kubica, who was part of last year’s winning #83 Ferrari AF Corse entry, echoed that view.
“The other teams have done a better job than us. But things are different here. There won’t be much between us.”
Ferrari may not want to be described as the favourite, but with three straight Le Mans victories behind it, the 499P remains one of the central reference points of the Hypercar field.
Toyota ready to counterattack
Toyota Racing also drew major attention on Saturday, with the Japanese manufacturer completing Scrutineering for its two Toyota GR010 Hybrids.
A five-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Toyota has not stood on the top step since 2022. After several years as the dominant force in the race, the manufacturer now returns as a challenger trying to regain control of the event.
The team arrives with a different version of its Hypercar compared with last year, and recent performances have suggested that Toyota could once again be a major threat. Its victory at the 6 Hours of Imola showed that the GR010 Hybrid still has the speed and race execution required to defeat Ferrari.
Technical Director David Floury made clear that Toyota’s target is victory.
“Our aim is to get back into winning mode. But Cadillac, BMW and Ferrari are very strong. We’ve worked hard on our set-up and our approach to the race, to improve our position.”
Kamui Kobayashi, driver of the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid, offered an even clearer warning.
“We’ll be more aggressive.”
That message sharpened one of the defining storylines of the 2026 race. Ferrari is chasing history. Toyota wants its crown back. Behind them, Cadillac, BMW, Alpine, Aston Martin, Peugeot and Genesis all believe there is an opportunity.
Romain Dumas returns with his own team
Saturday’s Scrutineering programme also brought a special LMP2 storyline, as Romain Dumas returned to Le Mans with RD Limited.
The two-time overall winner is preparing for his 24th start in the race, but this year carries additional personal significance. Rather than competing only as a driver, Dumas is taking part with his own team, adding another chapter to his long relationship with the event.
Despite balancing his Le Mans preparations with commitments connected to the Pikes Peak hill climb, Dumas underlined the importance of simply being part of the grid.
“We fought hard to be here this year. It’s a particularly good feeling to be taking part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with my own team. We’re here to enjoy the ride and make it to the finish line.”
For some drivers, Le Mans is not simply another round on the calendar. Dumas’ return is a reminder of the personal connection that many competitors build with the race across years, teams and eras.
LMGT3 contenders complete the field
The LMGT3 class also completed its Scrutineering programme on Saturday, with Mercedes-AMG, Lexus, McLaren and BMW among the final manufacturers to appear in the city centre.
Iron Lynx returned with the Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 and with greater confidence after gaining more experience with the car. Maxime Martin said the team felt better prepared for the challenge ahead.
“The car is better prepared and more competitive. We know what to expect this time. Experience makes us stronger.”
Akkodis ASP Team also arrived with ambition after winter developments to the Lexus RC F LMGT3. The car has been updated in an effort to remain competitive against newer GT machinery, and José María López believes the team can now fight nearer the front.
“We’ve come a long way. Today, we have the means to compete with the leaders.”
McLaren’s Garage 59 entry also attracted attention. The 720S LMGT3 Evo claimed victory earlier in the season at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, and Thomas Fleming pointed to one characteristic that could matter at Le Mans.
“It’s a fast car. Its top speed is one of its greatest strengths.”
With the long straights of the Circuit de la Sarthe playing such an important role in race performance, McLaren’s speed could prove valuable once track running begins.
Team WRT’s two BMW M4 LMGT3 Evos were the final cars to undergo Scrutineering in 2026. After the car’s winter development programme and victory at Imola, Augusto Farfus said BMW had reason to be optimistic.
“The turbo, the brakes… the car’s been improved in many ways. We hope the changes will enable us to be among the leaders.”
As in Hypercar, the LMGT3 picture appears difficult to predict. Ferrari, Porsche, Ford, Corvette, Aston Martin, Mercedes, Lexus, McLaren and BMW all bring serious contenders to the race.
Cars parade through the streets of Le Mans
Saturday’s activities did not end with Scrutineering.
From 15:00, 19 of the 62 cars entered in the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans paraded through the streets of the city, giving fans another rare opportunity to see the machinery away from the circuit.
The parade featured representatives from Hypercar, LMP2 and LMGT3, with 14 manufacturers represented: Ferrari, Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Lexus, Mercedes, Porsche, McLaren, Peugeot, Ford, Toyota, Cadillac and Genesis.
The route took the cars from the Place du Jet d’eau to the Place des Jacobins, with thousands of fans lining the streets. Along Quai Louis-Blanc, the field ran alongside the Sarthe River before heading towards Old Le Mans, bringing the sound and spectacle of endurance racing into the centre of the city.
The Genesis Hypercar drew attention as its engine note echoed through the streets, while the Aston Martin Valkyrie’s naturally aspirated V12 proved especially popular with the crowd. Jules Gounon also delighted fans as he waved from the Alpine A424 with the door open.
For the city of Le Mans, the parade is more than a promotional event. It is a direct link between the race and the people who live around it, allowing the cars that will soon exceed 300 kph on the Mulsanne Straight to pass beneath balconies and through streets filled with spectators.
Saturday 6 June Scrutineering programme
09:00 — #26 ORECA 07-Gibson – Vector Sport
09:10 — #48 ORECA 07-Gibson – RD Limited
09:20 — #57 Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo – Kessel Racing
09:30 — #74 Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo – Kessel Racing
09:40 — #22 ORECA 07-Gibson – United Autosports
09:50 — #222 ORECA 07-Gibson – United Autosports
10:00 — #61 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 – Iron Lynx
10:10 — #79 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 – Iron Lynx
10:20 — #62 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 – Team Qatar by Iron Lynx
10:30 — #50 Ferrari 499P – Ferrari AF Corse
10:40 — #51 Ferrari 499P – Ferrari AF Corse
10:50 — #83 Ferrari 499P – AF Corse
11:00 — #78 Lexus RC F LMGT3 – Akkodis ASP Team
11:10 — #87 Lexus RC F LMGT3 – Akkodis ASP Team
11:20 — #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid – Toyota Racing
11:30 — #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid – Toyota Racing
11:40 — #99 ORECA 07-Gibson – AO by TF
11:50 — #10 McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo – Garage 59
12:00 — #58 McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo – Garage 59
12:10 — #4 ORECA 07-Gibson – CrowdStrike Racing by APR
12:20 — #25 ORECA 07-Gibson – Algarve Pro Racing
12:30 — #32 BMW M4 LMGT3 Evo – Team WRT
12:40 — #69 BMW M4 LMGT3 Evo – Team WRT
Saturday parade entrants
Hypercar
#007 Aston Martin Valkyrie – Aston Martin THOR Team – Harry Tincknell
#8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid – Toyota Racing – Sébastien Buemi
#12 Cadillac V-Series.R – Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA – Norman Nato
#17 Genesis GMR-001-Hypercar – Genesis Magma Racing – Mathys Jaubert
#20 BMW M Hybrid V8 – BMW M Team WRT – Philipp Eng
#36 Alpine A424 – Alpine Endurance Team – Jules Gounon
#51 Ferrari 499P – Ferrari AF Corse – Alessandro Pier Guidi
#93 Peugeot 9X8 – Peugeot TotalEnergies – Stoffel Vandoorne
LMP2
#14 ORECA 07-Gibson – TDS Racing – Tobias Lutke
#99 ORECA 07-Gibson – AO by TF – Dane Cameron
LMGT3
#2 Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R – TF Sport – Prince Jefri Ibrahim
#10 McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo – Garage 59 – Marvin Kirchhöfer
#23 Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3 – Heart of Racing – Gray Newell
#54 Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo – Vista AF Corse – Francesco Castellacci
#63 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 – Team Qatar by Iron Lynx – Abdulla Al-Khelaifi
#69 BMW M4 LMGT3 Evo – Team WRT – Parker Thompson
#77 Ford Mustang LMGT3 – Proton Competition – Ben Tuck
#78 Lexus RC F LMGT3 – Akkodis ASP Team – Hadrien David
#92 Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 – The Bend Manthey – Riccardo Pera
It is now time for track action
With Scrutineering complete, all 62 cars entered in the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans have been cleared to take to the track.
The first phase of race week has delivered public spectacle, city-centre atmosphere and early statements of intent. Ferrari remains the benchmark but refuses to accept the favourite label. Toyota has made clear that it is ready to attack. Cadillac, BMW, Alpine, Aston Martin, Peugeot and Genesis are all part of a Hypercar field that looks capable of producing one of the closest contests in recent memory.
In LMP2, experienced teams and returning names are preparing for another fiercely contested race. In LMGT3, the range of manufacturers and the strength of the customer teams suggest another open fight.
On Sunday, the focus shifts from the Place de la République to the Circuit de la Sarthe. Test Day will give teams two three-hour sessions to refine set-ups, collect data and begin understanding the competitive order.
At Le Mans, however, early impressions can disappear quickly. What looks certain one day can become uncertain the next.
Scrutineering has confirmed the scale of the challenge. The city has welcomed the cars. The crowd has heard the first engines. Now, the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans begins to move towards the track.
Pit Debrief will be providing live updates throughout the race. Follow along via our live blog.
