The forecast for today’s race calls for a zero per cent chance of rain (though partly cloudy skies), high temperatures of 28º from the start through the opening hours, and again at the finish, with lows around 13~14º.
Depending on the number of Safety Car and Full Course Yellow interventions, it means the high mark of 387 laps completed last year is within reach, though it’ll take a mighty effort to touch the all-time distance record of 397 laps/5410.713 kilometres (2010) or the second-best mark of distance (395 laps in 2015).
Starting Grid
The starting grid for the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been published along with the starting drivers.
It’ll be Kevin Magnussen who starts the pole-winning #15 BMW M Team WRT Hybrid V8, next to Will Stevens in the #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R on the front row.
Job van Uitert and Mattia Drudi, who won the pole positions for their cars in Hyperpole 2, will start the #28 IDEC Sport ORECA 07-Gibson LMP2 and #27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage LMGT3.
The #94 Peugeot 9X8 was given a three-place grid penalty after qualifying for impeding the #101 WTR Cadillac, but as it had already qualified last in Hypercar, it will still start 18th at the back of the class’ grid.
STARTING GRID >>>
Laurens Vanthoor joins WEC world feed commentary team
The English-language world feed broadcast of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be bolstered by the inclusion of last year’s runner-up finisher and 2018 GTE Pro class winner Laurens Vanthoor.
Vanthoor will lend his analysis and expertise to a commentary team which already includes regular broadcasters Martin Haven, Graham Goodwin, and Anthony Davidson – bolstered by David Addison and Michelle Gatting as guest commentators. Shea Adam and Bruce Jouanny will of course report from pit lane.
Though he had no plans to race at Le Mans this year following Porsche Penske Motorsport’s withdrawal from WEC Hypercar, Vanthoor also turned laps in a #22 United Autosports ORECA 07-Gibson during Test Day on Sunday, which will prepare him for 2027 when he joins McLaren United AS’ incoming Hypercar programme.
Peugeot holds pre-race parade
Peugeot Sport celebrated the 100th anniversary of its first 24 Hours of Le Mans entry with a grand parade of 20 competition and production cars this afternoon. Cars included were headlined by the Le Mans-winning 905 and 908 prototypes.
The French marque has also announced that it is set to develop ’24 Hours of Le Mans’ editions of its road-going roster, the 208, 308, 408, 3008, and 5008. More details about these models will be revealed at the next 24 Hours of Le Mans, though Stellantis has revealed that all of the Le Mans special edition models will feature black and blue liveries.
BMW brings popular M3 Touring race car to Le Mans
In an instant, the BMW M3 Touring 24H became a fan-favourite during this Nürburgring 24 Hours, from the musings of an April Fool’s gag to reality, and a successful car with an incredible fourth place overall finish (following yesterday’s disqualification of the Red Bull Abt Lamborghini)!
While it’s too late for the racing saloon to appear this year as a Garage 56 entry, the M3 Touring 24H is at the Circuit de la Sarthe as an exhibition piece. The car will also appear at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed.
AF Corse LMP2 drivers escape disaster in Driver Parade
The #183 AF Corse ORECA 07-Gibson of François Perrodo, Ben Barnicoat, and Matthieu Vaxivière will start today’s race despite what can best be described as a near-catastrophe during Friday’s grand parade of drivers through the city.
Any team is used to having challenges in the build-up to the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But yesterday, all three drivers were ejected from their open-top vehicle after the car they were riding in took the ramp to the presentation area rather too aggressively, catching all three off guard.
All went to the medical centre as a justifiable precaution; thankfully, all three were not seriously injured.
Images © DPPI, United Autosports, Peugeot, dailysportscar.com
