2026 | WEC | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Starting Grid

The 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will bring together 62 cars across Hypercar, LMP2 and LMGT3 at the Circuit de la Sarthe in 2026.

No manufacturer has controlled the build-up. Instead, Aston Martin, Cadillac, Toyota, Alpine and BMW each led at least one Hypercar session during the week. The other classes produced equally small margins, with just over two seconds covering the leading 10 LMP2 entries and six manufacturers topping at least one LMGT3 session.

BMW M Team WRT will lead the race away after Dries Vanthoor delivered the first Le Mans pole position in BMW’s history. However, the starting grid only captures one moment from a week of changing conditions. The teams must now turn qualifying speed into consistency, reliability and clean execution across 24 hours.

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans provisional starting order

Hypercar

1. #15 BMW M Team WRT — BMW M Hybrid V8 — Kevin Magnussen
2. #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA — Cadillac V-Series.R — Will Stevens
3. #35 Alpine Endurance Team — Alpine A424 — Ferdinand Habsburg
4. #20 BMW M Team WRT — BMW M Hybrid V8 — René Rast
5. #101 Cadillac WTR — Cadillac V-Series.R — Filipe Albuquerque
6. #19 Genesis Magma Racing — Genesis GMR-001 — Daniel Juncadella
7. #009 Aston Martin THOR Team — Aston Martin Valkyrie — Marco Sørensen
8. #51 Ferrari AF Corse — Ferrari 499P — Antonio Giovinazzi
9. #17 Genesis Magma Racing — Genesis GMR-001 — André Lotterer
10. #38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA — Cadillac V-Series.R — Earl Bamber
11. #007 Aston Martin THOR Team — Aston Martin Valkyrie — Harry Tincknell
12. #50 Ferrari AF Corse — Ferrari 499P — Nicklas Nielsen
13. #36 Alpine Endurance Team — Alpine A424 — Frédéric Makowiecki
14. #7 Toyota Racing — Toyota GR010 Hybrid — Mike Conway
15. #8 Toyota Racing — Toyota GR010 Hybrid — Sébastien Buemi
16. #93 Peugeot TotalEnergies — Peugeot 9X8 — Paul di Resta
17. #83 AF Corse — Ferrari 499P — Phil Hanson
18. #94 Peugeot TotalEnergies — Peugeot 9X8 — Loïc Duval

LMP2

19. #28 IDEC Sport — Oreca 07-Gibson — Job van Uitert
20. #29 Forestier Racing by Panis — Oreca 07-Gibson — Esteban Masson
21. #24 Nielsen Racing — Oreca 07-Gibson — Jack Doohan
22. #43 Inter Europol Competition — Oreca 07-Gibson — Tom Dillmann
23. #4 CrowdStrike Racing by APR — Oreca 07-Gibson — Alexander Quinn
24. #30 Duqueine Team — Oreca 07-Gibson — Julien Andlauer
25. #14 TDS Racing — Oreca 07-Gibson — Mathias Beche
26. #99 AO by TF — Oreca 07-Gibson — Dane Cameron
27. #183 AF Corse — Oreca 07-Gibson — Matthieu Vaxivière
28. #343 Inter Europol Competition — Oreca 07-Gibson — Nico Müller
29. #22 United Autosports — Oreca 07-Gibson — Mikkel Jensen
30. #222 United Autosports — Oreca 07-Gibson — Oliver Jarvis
31. #26 Vector Sport — Oreca 07-Gibson — Pietro Fittipaldi
32. #37 CLX Motorsport — Oreca 07-Gibson — Ian Aguilera
33. #9 Proton Competition — Oreca 07-Gibson — Harry King
34. #44 Proton Competition — Oreca 07-Gibson — Horst Felbermayr Jr
35. #25 Algarve Pro Racing — Oreca 07-Gibson — Michael Jensen
36. #48 RD Limited — Oreca 07-Gibson — Fred Poordad
37. #3 DKR Engineering — Oreca 07-Gibson — John Farano

LMGT3

38. #27 Heart of Racing Team — Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3 — Mattia Drudi
39. #21 Vista AF Corse — Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo — François Heriau
40. #87 Akkodis ASP Team — Lexus RC F LMGT3 — Clemens Schmid
41. #78 Akkodis ASP Team — Lexus RC F LMGT3 — Jack Hawksworth
42. #32 Team WRT — BMW M4 LMGT3 Evo — Augusto Farfus
43. #69 Team WRT — BMW M4 LMGT3 Evo — Daniel Harper
44. #74 Kessel Racing — Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo — Dennis Marschall
45. #23 Heart of Racing Team — Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3 — Jonny Adam
46. #91 Manthey DK Engineering — Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 — James Cottingham
47. #77 Proton Competition — Ford Mustang LMGT3 — Ben Tuck
48. #88 Proton Competition — Ford Mustang LMGT3 — Stefano Gattuso
49. #62 Team Qatar by Iron Lynx — Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 — Abdulla Al-Khelaifi
50. #61 Iron Lynx — Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 — Maxime Martin
51. #54 Vista AF Corse — Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo — Thomas Flohr
52. #92 The Bend Manthey — Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 — Yasser Shahin
53. #10 Garage 59 — McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo — Marvin Kirchhöfer
54. #33 TF Sport — Chevrolet Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R — Ben Keating
55. #79 Iron Lynx — Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 — Lin Hodenius
56. #150 Richard Mille AF Corse — Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo — Custodio Toledo
57. #57 Kessel Racing — Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo — Takeshi Kimura
58. #59 Racing Spirit of Léman — Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3 — Valentin Hasse Clot
59. #58 Garage 59 — McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo — Benjamin Goethe
60. #2 TF Sport — Chevrolet Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R — Prince Jefri Ibrahim
61. #13 13 Autosport — Chevrolet Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R — Orey Fidani
62. #34 Racing Team Turkey by TF — Chevrolet Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R — Charlie Eastwood — disqualified

BMW converts steady progress into a landmark pole

BMW gradually moved towards the front as the week developed. Aston Martin led Test Day, Cadillac controlled Free Practice 1, Toyota topped Free Practice 2 and Alpine set the qualifying pace. BMW then moved ahead in Free Practice 3 before completing its rise during Hyperpole.

Vanthoor recorded a 3:22.564 in the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, beating the previous Hypercar lap record of 3:22.742. His performance secured BMW’s first overall pole at Le Mans, not merely its first since the Hypercar regulations arrived.

The new Hyperpole format required all three members of each crew to contribute during the qualifying process. One driver contested Wednesday’s qualifying session, another took over in Hyperpole 1 and the final driver completed the job in Hyperpole 2.

Vanthoor celebrated the achievement but immediately returned his focus to the race.

“I’m delighted to be on pole position at Le Mans! It’s an event. It’s great to be out front and to give the team what the deserve. But our aim remains to win the race! We’re going to have to run clean for 24 hours to be in with a chance on Sunday.”

The second BMW strengthened the manufacturer’s position. René Rast put the #20 M Hybrid V8 fourth, giving BMW M Team WRT two cars inside the first two rows. Nevertheless, the team must now protect that speed through traffic, temperature changes and long night-time stints.

Cadillac loses the fastest lap but retains a strong hand

Jack Aitken initially put the #38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R on pole by a narrow margin. However, officials deleted the lap after Aitken entered the pit lane before race control gave the required instruction.

Consequently, the #38 dropped to 10th, while BMW inherited pole. Despite that setback, Cadillac still placed three cars inside the Hypercar top 10.

Will Stevens put the #12 Hertz Team JOTA Cadillac on the front row, while Filipe Albuquerque secured fifth for the #101 Cadillac WTR entry. The #12 also remained inside the leading five throughout a week in which track temperatures varied from 20°C to 38°C.

Aitken acknowledged the procedural error while highlighting Cadillac’s underlying speed.

“Unfortunately, the lap was cancelled due to a procedure error. It still shows that we have fantastic pace, because we clocked the best time and the third best time, and that all three Cadillacs qualified for Hyperpole 2. And you know, even if we don’t start in pole position, we’re still going to fight hard all weekend. We’ve proved what we can do. The car seemed really, really good. The guys have done an incredible job bringing it on gradually in the last few days.

Sure, a lap like that is always a bit special. Even more so on a circuit like this one. So I really enjoyed the 20 minutes when I was the pole sitter.”

Tenth place leaves Aitken, Earl Bamber and Sébastien Bourdais with work to do. However, the 24-hour format gives them enough time to recover without forcing an aggressive opening stint.

Alpine places itself firmly among the contenders

Alpine produced one of the most consistent Hypercar performances of the week. The French manufacturer topped the opening qualifying session and regularly kept the A424 inside the leading group.

Ferdinand Habsburg secured third in the #35 Alpine, putting the car directly behind the leading BMW and Cadillac. Meanwhile, the #36 will begin from 13th.

The performance reflects the progress Alpine has made across the previous two seasons. Rather than relying on one sudden burst of pace, the team developed a competitive package through sustained work and greater knowledge of the A424.

Alpine also proved its ability to win at FIA World Endurance Championship level when it triumphed at Fuji in 2025. Therefore, the team enters Le Mans with both speed and growing confidence.

The manufacturer last won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1978. A strong start from third will give the #35 crew an opportunity to move into the lead, although the drivers must avoid treating the opening phase like a sprint.

Genesis makes an immediate impression

Genesis delivered one of the week’s most notable performances ahead of its first Le Mans start.

The Korean manufacturer placed both GMR-001s inside Hyperpole 2. Daniel Juncadella secured sixth in the #19, while André Lotterer put the #17 ninth.

Mathys Jaubert also demonstrated the team’s potential during Hyperpole 1. The 21-year-old, the only silver-rated driver in Hypercar, set his fastest lap despite losing the information display inside his cockpit because of a technical problem.

Nevertheless, Genesis still faces a test that qualifying cannot recreate. The team must prove the GMR-001’s reliability over 24 hours, manage its tyres through changing conditions and execute each pit stop without mistakes.

Its starting positions show clear potential. However, Le Mans will now determine whether Genesis can translate its impressive one-lap performance into a sustained challenge.

Aston Martin carries early pace into its first full race test

Aston Martin began the week at the top when the Valkyrie set the pace during Test Day. However, rival manufacturers gradually moved ahead during the competitive sessions.

Marco Sørensen qualified the #009 Valkyrie seventh, while Harry Tincknell placed the #007 in 11th. Therefore, both cars will start close enough to the leaders to remain involved without carrying the pressure of setting the early pace.

The front-engined Valkyrie has already demonstrated its raw speed around the Circuit de la Sarthe. Yet the race will provide a much broader examination of its performance.

Aston Martin must maintain consistent pace through changing temperatures, manage fuel and tyres efficiently and avoid the technical problems that often affect new endurance programmes. Even so, the team’s Test Day performance and two competitive grid positions give it a credible platform.

Ferrari and Toyota prepare to move forward

Ferrari and Toyota have followed quieter paths into the race, despite sharing the previous eight Le Mans victories between them.

Antonio Giovinazzi secured eighth in the #51 Ferrari 499P, while Nicklas Nielsen qualified the #50 in 12th. The defending race-winning #83 AF Corse Ferrari will start 17th after a difficult qualifying run.

Toyota faces a similar recovery task. Mike Conway will begin 14th in the #7 GR010 Hybrid, directly ahead of Sébastien Buemi in the #8.

However, both manufacturers understand how to construct a Le Mans campaign around long-run performance rather than outright qualifying speed. Toyota won five consecutive editions between 2018 and 2022, before Ferrari claimed three victories in succession.

Their starting positions should not conceal their strategic strength, mechanical knowledge or ability to respond under pressure. Furthermore, both teams can use the opening hours to move forward steadily rather than risking their races in early battles.

Qualifying rewards the quickest lap. Le Mans usually rewards the team that remains competitive after nightfall and avoids costly setbacks.

Peugeot searches for a way forward

Peugeot will occupy two of the final three positions in the Hypercar field.

Paul di Resta qualified the #93 Peugeot 9X8 in 16th, while Loïc Duval will start 18th in the #94. The #83 Ferrari separates the two French cars.

Those positions leave Peugeot with a difficult path towards the front. Nevertheless, the team’s performances earlier in the season offer some encouragement that its race pace could prove stronger than its qualifying result.

The #94 also carries a symbolic number during the 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, Peugeot must first establish a reliable rhythm, remain on the lead lap and take advantage of any problems that affect the leading group.

IDEC Sport inherits LMP2 pole

Esteban Masson set the quickest LMP2 time for Forestier Racing by Panis in the #29 Oreca 07-Gibson. However, officials penalised him for obstruction and moved the car behind the #28 IDEC Sport entry.

As a result, Job van Uitert and IDEC Sport will lead the 19-car LMP2 field from 19th overall. Forestier Racing by Panis will start alongside in second, while Nielsen Racing and Inter Europol Competition form the next row.

Just over two seconds covered the fastest 10 LMP2 cars. Therefore, traffic management, pit-stop execution and consistency will matter more than any small qualifying advantage.

A misjudged pass in mixed-class traffic, a heavy impact with a kerb or a slow driver change could transform the order. With every car using the Oreca 07-Gibson package, teams must create an advantage through preparation and execution.

Youth meets experience in the LMP2 field

The LMP2 grid features young drivers at the beginning of their careers alongside established endurance racers and factory professionals.

The #37 CLX Motorsport line-up of Adrien Closmenil, Ian Aguilera and Theodor Jensen has an average age of approximately 19. The crew will start 14th in class and 32nd overall.

Meanwhile, several teams can draw on proven Le Mans knowledge. Inter Europol Competition starts fourth with the #43 Oreca after winning the class in both 2023 and 2025.

Porsche factory drivers have also moved into LMP2 while the manufacturer remains absent from the Hypercar field. Julien Andlauer will race with Duqueine Team, Kévin Estre joins TDS Racing and Laurin Heinrich forms part of the CrowdStrike Racing by APR line-up.

Four Pro-Am teams placed inside the class’s top 10. While professional drivers helped those crews secure strong qualifying positions, each team must also maximise the performance of its bronze-rated driver during the race.

Consequently, the quickest qualifying combination may not become the strongest 24-hour crew. Collective consistency will decide the class.

Aston Martin leads a tightly matched LMGT3 contest

Mattia Drudi claimed LMGT3 pole for Heart of Racing with a 3:52.433 in the #27 Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3.

The lap established a new class record and gave Drudi his second consecutive Le Mans LMGT3 Hyperpole. It also delivered Aston Martin’s 71st FIA WEC pole since 2012 and made the manufacturer the first to secure five Hyperpoles since LMGT3 replaced GTE machinery in 2024.

However, the sessions produced no clear favourite. Ferrari, Lexus, BMW, Aston Martin, Ford and Corvette each topped at least one session during the week. In total, nine manufacturers will compete for the class victory.

Vista AF Corse will start second with the #21 Ferrari, while the Akkodis ASP Team Lexus entries occupy third and fourth. Team WRT follows with its two BMWs before the #74 Kessel Racing Ferrari.

The regulations require every LMGT3 crew to include a bronze-rated driver. Therefore, outright qualifying speed only reveals part of each car’s potential. Each team must balance its line-up and maintain competitive pace across all three drivers.

Porsche aims to extend its LMGT3 reign

Porsche does not start at the front, but Manthey’s recent record makes both of its entries serious contenders.

Richard Lietz, Yasser Shahin and Morris Schuring won the first Le Mans race under LMGT3 regulations in 2024 with the #91 Porsche. One year later, Ryan Hardwick, Lietz and Riccardo Pera secured another victory in the #92.

Lietz and Pera return in The Bend Manthey’s #92 Porsche, which starts 15th in class and 52nd overall. Meanwhile, the #91 Manthey DK Engineering entry will begin ninth in LMGT3.

Porsche must pass several faster qualifiers to extend its winning sequence. However, Manthey has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to manage long races, mixed-class traffic and changing track conditions.

As a result, its starting positions may matter far less than the condition of its cars when the race enters its final hours.

The grid sets the scene rather than the result

BMW earned the right to lead the field, while Cadillac, Alpine, Genesis and Aston Martin demonstrated enough speed to challenge from the opening stages. Ferrari and Toyota, meanwhile, will depend on experience as they begin from less prominent positions.

Similar uncertainty shapes LMP2 and LMGT3. IDEC Sport has inherited the LMP2 lead, but narrow margins leave much of the field in contention. Heart of Racing starts first in LMGT3, although eight other manufacturers stand between Aston Martin and victory.

Hyperpole identified the fastest cars across a handful of laps. The race will now ask a different question.

Every driver must manage traffic, every engineer must react to changing conditions and every mechanic must perform under pressure. When the chequered flag falls on Sunday, the teams that combine speed with discipline will decide the outcome of the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans.

See the full entry list for the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans.
See the full schedule for the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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