The 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans arrives with one of the strongest modern endurance racing grids, as 62 cars prepare to take on the Circuit de la Sarthe from 13–14 June 2026.
This year’s entry list features 18 Hypercars, 19 LMP2 prototypes and 25 LMGT3 cars, giving the race depth across all three classes. Hypercar will decide the overall victory, LMP2 will deliver the privateer prototype fight, and LMGT3 will bring road-based manufacturer rivalry to the world’s biggest endurance stage.
The race will begin at 16:00 local time on Saturday, 13 June, and finish at 16:00 on Sunday, 14 June. However, as always at Le Mans, the challenge begins long before the clock starts. Scrutineering, Test Day, practice, qualifying, Hyperpole, night running and the Drivers’ Parade all build towards the twice-round-the-clock contest.
Ferrari enters as the modern Le Mans benchmark
Ferrari arrives at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans as the manufacturer everyone must measure itself against.
The Italian marque has won the last three editions of the race with the 499P, beginning with its centenary victory in 2023 before adding further triumphs in 2024 and 2025. Last year, the No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P of Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson claimed overall victory, giving Ferrari another major success in the Hypercar era.
That same No. 83 crew returns in 2026, while Ferrari AF Corse also fields the No. 50 car for Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen and Miguel Molina, and the No. 51 for Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi.
Ferrari therefore brings proven machinery, race-winning drivers and recent Le Mans execution. However, the strength of the 2026 Hypercar field means it cannot rely on past success alone.
Hypercar field promises a fierce overall fight
Hypercar remains the headline class, and the 2026 field looks especially competitive. Aston Martin, Toyota, Cadillac, BMW, Genesis, Alpine, Ferrari and Peugeot will all compete in the top category, with 18 cars listed for the event.
Toyota returns with its experienced GR010 Hybrid programme and two proven crews. Cadillac brings three V-Series.R entries, with Hertz Team JOTA running two cars and Cadillac WTR adding another. BMW M Team WRT fields two M Hybrid V8s, while Alpine continues with the A424 and Peugeot returns with its 9X8.
Aston Martin adds one of the most distinctive storylines with the Valkyrie. The Heart of Racing enters two cars after showing improved WEC form, and the naturally aspirated V12-powered Hypercar gives the field a unique sound and identity.
Genesis Magma Racing also makes one of the most anticipated appearances of the year with the GMR-001-Hypercar. Its arrival adds another manufacturer to a class already rich with major global brands, while Jamie Chadwick’s historic Test Day laps in the car have also given the programme added attention.
2026 24 Hours of Le Mans: Hypercar Entry List
Balance of Performance will shape the battle
The Hypercar fight will also depend on Balance of Performance, which remains central to the way Le Mans manages different car concepts.
The class brings together LMH and LMDh machinery. Ferrari, Toyota, Peugeot and Aston Martin follow the LMH route, while BMW, Cadillac, Alpine and Genesis use LMDh architecture. Because these cars do not share the same technical base, BoP helps keep the field within a competitive window.
That does not mean BoP will decide the race by itself. At Le Mans, teams still need clean execution, reliable cars, disciplined drivers, sharp pit work and strong strategy. However, the long straights and high-speed sections of the Circuit de la Sarthe can magnify small performance differences, so every adjustment matters.
LMP2 returns with privateer depth
LMP2 gives the 2026 race one of its most unpredictable battles. The class features 19 cars, all running Oreca 07-Gibson machinery, which means teams must make the difference through preparation, engineering, pit work, driver rotation and strategy.
The category also includes nine LMP2 Pro/Am entries, creating a second contest within the class. Every LMP2 line-up must include at least one Silver or Bronze-rated driver, while any line-up with a Bronze driver also competes in Pro/Am.
Inter Europol Competition returns as the defending LMP2 winner, while United Autosports, Proton Competition, TDS Racing, Algarve Pro Racing, AO by TF and AF Corse all bring serious experience. With identical core machinery, LMP2 often produces some of the closest racing at Le Mans, and small errors can decide the class result.
2026 24 Hours of Le Mans: LMP2 Entry List
Pin adds another major storyline in LMP2
Doriane Pin will be one of the most closely watched drivers in the LMP2 field.
The 2025 F1 Academy champion returns to Le Mans with Duqueine Team in the No. 30 Oreca 07-Gibson, sharing with Richard Verschoor and Julien Andlauer. Her return gives the class another strong storyline, particularly as she continues to balance single-seater momentum with endurance racing ambitions.
Pin made her Le Mans debut in 2023 with Prema Racing. Now, she returns to La Sarthe in a class where traffic management, consistency and execution across long stints will matter as much as outright speed.
LMGT3 brings brand variety and strategic tension
LMGT3 gives the 2026 grid its largest class, with 25 cars from nine manufacturers. Aston Martin, BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Lexus, Mercedes-AMG, McLaren and Porsche all appear in the class, represented by privateer teams with varying levels of manufacturer support.
The class uses FIA GT3-based machinery with specific WEC and Le Mans adaptations. These include luminescent number panels and leader lights, which help identify cars during night running and in heavy traffic.
LMGT3 does not fight for overall victory under normal circumstances, but it often delivers some of the most intense racing. Drivers must battle their own class rivals while constantly managing faster Hypercar and LMP2 traffic. The Bronze-driver rules also shape strategy, as teams must decide when to place their amateur drivers in the car and how to protect them during difficult race phases.
2026 24 Hours of Le Mans: LMGT3 Entry List
Wadoux leads Ferrari’s female presence in LMGT3
Lilou Wadoux will return for another Le Mans appearance in the No. 150 Richard Mille AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo.
The French driver has already made history in endurance racing after becoming the first woman to win an FIA WEC race. In 2026, she shares the Ferrari with Custodio Toledo and Riccardo Agostini, giving Richard Mille AF Corse an experienced and competitive LMGT3 line-up.
Together with Pin in LMP2, Wadoux ensures female representation on the 2026 Le Mans grid. Their presence also continues a long history of women competing at La Sarthe, from Odette Siko and Marguerite Mareuse in 1930 to the modern WEC era.
Pit work could decide more than lap time
Le Mans rewards speed, but it also punishes poor execution. That makes the pit lane one of the most important performance areas across the full 24 hours.
Ferrari gave an early reminder of that during the fifth Le Mans Pit Stop Challenge, where the No. 83 Ferrari 499P crew topped the Hypercar class with an 8.870-second tyre change. Team WRT matched that time in LMGT3 with the No. 69 BMW M4 LMGT3, while CLX Motorsport led LMP2 with the No. 37 Oreca 07-Gibson.
The Pit Stop Challenge does not decide the race, but it highlights how narrow the margins can become. Across 24 hours, repeated clean stops can save crucial seconds, while a loose wheel nut, wheel-gun issue or unsafe release can destroy a team’s race.
The Circuit de la Sarthe remains the biggest challenge
The Circuit de la Sarthe gives Le Mans its unique character. The 13.626km layout combines permanent circuit sections with public roads, creating a lap that tests speed, braking stability, mechanical durability and driver confidence.
The Mulsanne Straight remains central to the race, even with its chicanes. Tertre Rouge sets up the long acceleration zone, while Mulsanne Corner, Indianapolis and Arnage punish mistakes under braking. Later in the lap, the Porsche Curves demand commitment and aerodynamic stability, especially at night or in changing conditions.
This layout also makes traffic management crucial. Hypercars, LMP2s and LMGT3s all produce lap time in different ways, so closing speeds can become extreme. Drivers must stay aggressive without taking unnecessary risks, especially when fatigue builds after midnight.
The schedule builds pressure before the race
Le Mans week starts with scrutineering in the city centre on Friday, 5 June, before Test Day gives teams two three-hour sessions on Sunday, 7 June. The main on-track programme begins on Wednesday, 10 June with Free Practice 1, qualifying and the first night practice session.
Thursday brings Free Practice 3, Hyperpole and another night session. Hyperpole will decide the front of the grid across LMP2, LMGT3 and Hypercar, but Le Mans rarely rewards qualifying pace alone. Reliability, strategy and execution matter more once the race begins.
Friday gives the event back to the fans with the Drivers’ Parade in the city centre. Then, after Saturday warm-up and the traditional build-up, the race begins at 16:00 local time.
Key 2026 Le Mans schedule
- Friday, 5 June: Scrutineering begins
- Sunday, 7 June: Test Day sessions
- Wednesday, 10 June: Free Practice 1, qualifying and night practice
- Thursday, 11 June: Free Practice 3, Hyperpole and Free Practice 4
- Friday, 12 June: Drivers’ Parade
- Saturday, 13 June: Warm-up, grid ceremony and 16:00 race start
- Sunday, 14 June: 16:00 race finish and podium ceremony
What to watch in Hypercar
Ferrari starts as the reference point, but several manufacturers have strong reasons to believe they can challenge.
Toyota brings unmatched modern Le Mans experience. Cadillac has depth across three entries. BMW has continued to develop with Team WRT. Aston Martin’s Valkyrie has shown signs of progress. Alpine and Peugeot will look to turn promise into a complete 24-hour performance. Genesis arrives as a newcomer but brings a serious driver roster and major ambition.
The key question is simple: can anyone stop Ferrari from making it four Le Mans wins in a row?
What to watch in LMP2
LMP2 should produce one of the closest class fights of the race.
Inter Europol returns as the defending winner, but the category’s single-make machinery means the field can compress quickly. Strategy, driver minimums, safety cars, slow zones and Bronze-driver execution in Pro/Am could all reshape the order.
The class may not fight for overall victory, but it could provide the most unpredictable battle across the 24 hours.
What to watch in LMGT3
LMGT3 combines brand variety with strategic complexity.
Manthey, AF Corse, TF Sport, Team WRT, Heart of Racing, Proton Competition, Akkodis ASP and others all bring serious GT pedigree. With 25 cars and nine manufacturers, the class will likely feature constant position changes, especially when safety cars and traffic compress the field.
The Bronze-driver element could decide the race. The best LMGT3 crews will not only rely on their professionals; they will build a balanced 24-hour performance around every driver in the car.
Le Mans enters 2026 with momentum
The 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans has all the ingredients for another major endurance racing spectacle.
Ferrari chases a fourth consecutive victory. Toyota aims to reclaim control. Cadillac, BMW, Alpine, Peugeot and Aston Martin all want to prove they can win the biggest race of the year. Genesis adds fresh intrigue, while LMP2 and LMGT3 give the race depth beyond the overall battle.
Le Mans always rewards more than the fastest car. To win, a team must master traffic, strategy, darkness, reliability, pit work, tyre management and pressure. That is why the 24 Hours remains unique. It does not simply ask who can be quickest. It asks who can survive, adapt and execute better than anyone else for one full day and night.
2026 24 Hours of Le Mans Entry List
2026 24 Hours of Le Mans Schedule
Pit Debrief will be providing live updates throughout the race. Follow along via our live blog.
