The 94th version of the Le Mans 24 Hours will function a capability grid of 62 vehicles, however there can be fewer contenders combating for the general win within the Hypercar class.
Porsche’s departure from the highest division of the World Endurance Championship has contributed to a decline within the variety of Hypercar entries to 18 in 2026, down from 21 final 12 months.
The German producer had helped propel the highest class to a document tally in 2025, fielding three 963s on a manufacturing facility foundation, with privateer Proton Competitors getting into a fourth instance of the Multimatic chassis.
Though the Volkswagen Group model was eligible to take part in Hypercar this 12 months courtesy of its 2025 IMSA GTP title, its exit from the eight-round WEC prevented it from taking over its auto-invite.
One other notable absence from this 12 months’s Le Mans is Motion Specific Racing, which had been racing at La Sarthe yearly for the reason that introduction of the LMDh ruleset in 2023.
AXR’s shock exit leaves three Cadillac V-Collection.R LMDh vehicles in Hypercar: the 2 full-season manufacturing facility vehicles entered by Jota, plus a further entry fielded by Wayne Taylor Racing. WTR, which raced at Le Mans for the primary time final 12 months after rejoining Cadillac’s fold, will carry an unchanged driver line-up comprising Filipe Albuquerque, Ricky Taylor and Jordan Taylor.
The departures of Porsche and AXR have been partially offset by the arrival of Hyundai’s luxurious marque Genesis, which is able to subject a pair of Oreca-based GMR001 LMDh vehicles within the full WEC.
In any other case, the Hypercar subject stays largely secure, with eight producers current on the grid: Aston Martin, Toyota, Cadillac, BMW, Genesis, Ferrari, Alpine and Peugeot.
Of these eight manufacturers, Ferrari will head into Le Mans on the again of three consecutive victories, whereas WEC stalwart Toyota will debut its rebranded TR001 Hybrid after finishing a serious overhaul of its LMH contender over the winter. Alpine, in the meantime, is ready for its last Le Mans look in the intervening time, following its choice to withdraw from the WEC on the finish of the season.
A bigger LMP2 subject
#24 Nielsen Racing Oreca 07 – Gibson: Naveen Rao, Cem Bolukbasi, Colin Braun, #22 United Autosports Oreca 07 – Gibson: Renger Van Der Zande, Pietro Fittipaldi, David Heinemeier Hansson
Photograph by: Marc Fleury
A complete of 19 LMP2 vehicles will contest the secondary prototype division, together with 10 within the Professional-Am sub-category. This represents a modest improve over 2025, when the category featured 17 vehicles.
Reigning LMP2 champion Inter Europol will return with a pair of Oreca 07s, each entered underneath the usual P2 sub-category this time, whereas the likes of United Autosport and Proton Competitors may also subject two vehicles every.
A number of groups are becoming a member of or returning to Le Mans this 12 months, together with DKR Engineering, IMSA common CrowdStrike Racing by APR, Vector Sport, Duqueine Staff, CLX Motorsport and RD Restricted. Alternatively, RLR M Sport and CLR Pure Rxing are absent from this 12 months’s subject.
Most LMP2 groups didn’t announce their full driver line-ups, nevertheless it has been revealed that new McLaren Hypercar signing Mikkel Jensen will drive the #22 United Autosports Oreca alongside Rasmus Lindh and Gregoire Saucy. Different notable names within the LMP2 class embody Doriane Pin (Duqueine), Pietro Fittipaldi (Vector), Tom Dillmann and Nick Yelloly (Inter Europol), Louis Deletraz and Dane Cameron (AO by TF), and Oliver Jarvis (United Autosports).
Expanded LMGT3 grid
#27 Coronary heart Of Racing Staff Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3: Ian James, Mattia Drudi, Zacharie Robichon
Photograph by: Marc Fleury
The LMGT3 has grown to 25 entries with each Aston Martin and Corvette including an additional automotive in comparison with final 12 months, however with Porsche’s assault depleted after Iron Dames’s choice to drag out of the WEC.
The Coronary heart of Racing’s two Aston Martin Vantage GT3s entered for the complete WEC season can be supplemented by a further Vantage, run underneath the Racing Spirit of Leman banner. The last-named crew ran one automotive underneath its title within the full WEC final 12 months, however is absent from this 12 months’s grid as THOR takes over each entries.
Corvette may also improve its presence, with TF getting into a 3rd automotive underneath the Racing Staff by Turkey moniker and Orey Fidani’s 13 Autosport taking on the entry beforehand held by AWA.
Elsewhere, Kessel Racing will develop to a second Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, successfully changing Ziggo Sport Tempesta within the Italian marque’s roster.
Additional, Garage59 will enter a pair of McLaren 720s GT3 Evos, having taken over the working of the British producer’s LMGT3 programme from United Autosports, which is directing its consideration to its 2027 Hypercar programme.
In all, 9 producers can be represented within the LMGT3 class at Le Mans: Corvette, McLaren, Ferrari, Aston Martin, BMW, Mercedes, Ford, Lexus and Ferrari.
Of these, solely BMW, Ford and Lexus will persist with their common two-car WEC entries, whereas the remaining producers develop their presence for Le Mans.
Porsche will head to La Sarthe because the reigning LMGT3 champion, having been unbeaten for the reason that introduction of the category at Le Mans in 2024.
There are additionally 9 vehicles on the reserve checklist, break up between 5 LMP2s and 4 LMGT3s.
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