As the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) prepares to begin at Sebring, the list of 62 cars invited to take part in the Centenary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 10 has just been announced. revealed.
With 62 cars, the field is made up of 16 Hypercars, 24 LMP2s, 21 LMGTE Ams and one Innovative Car. Ten teams are present on the reserve list. We have to go back to 2011 to find as many competitors entered in the premier category (17 LMP1). Although the list of 186 pilots at the start is not yet complete, there are nevertheless 12 former winners in the general classification, as well as five female pilots.
Hypercar
In the queen category, seven different brands will compete: Ferrari, Porsche, Peugeot, Cadillac, Vanwall, Glickenhaus and Toyota. The Japanese firm will aim for a sixth consecutive success but will have a hard time dealing with legendary and experienced brands. Porsche will be looking for its twentieth overall victory, while Ferrari is making its comeback 50 years following its last participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in the premier class. The Maranello brand will be able to count on nearly 75 years of expertise in the discipline and will wish to add a 10th Le Mans success to its list.
After a promising start on the other side of the Atlantic, Cadillac will field three cars and hope to continue its momentum. Peugeot, which started the competition last year at the rounds of Monza, Fuji and Bahrain, will try to add a fourth victory to its record. In 2022, Glickenhaus is on the podium of the Le Mans classic for the first time and will be able to capitalize on its experience acquired over the past two years. Vanwall, for its part, is a novice in this category and will try to play the spoilsports.
LMP2
In LMP2, 24 crews will be on the starting grid, eight of which mix professional and amateur drivers. In this high category and which offers, each year, suspense until the last moments of the race, many are the teams to be able to claim victory. Alpine, which is preparing its return to the premier class next year, is fielding two cars and will try to succeed Jota.
LMGTE Am
21 cars will take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMGTE Am. This category, which will compete in the Le Mans classic for the last time before the introduction of LMGT3 in 2024, allows amateur drivers to team up with professionals. Four brands, and not the least, will compete on the track. Eight Porsche 911 RSR-19s, seven Ferrari 488 GTE-EVOs, five Aston Martin Vantage AMRs and one Chevrolet Corvette C8.R will try to make history by putting their names on the list. The Irons Dames, made up of a 100% female trio, will once more be at the start.
Innovative Car
In 2023, the 56th Stand, dedicated to an innovative car running outside the classification, will host a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entered by the Hendrick Motorsports team, which will be making its first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It will be a modified version of the new generation car (called “Next Gen”) and which competed in the Cup Series in 2022, the main championship of Nascar. A symbol of the convergence of friendship between France and the United States in terms of endurance, this car is entrusted to an XXL crew: Jenson Button, former Formula 1 world champion, Mike Rockenfeller, winner of the 24 Hours Le Mans in 2010 and Jimmie Johnson, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.
