24h Le Mans
Sixteen cars are entered in the LMP2 category at the 92nd 24 Hours of Le Mans (12-16 June), including eight shared by amateur and professional drivers (Pro/Am). This highly competitive class never disappoints.
#9 – ORECA 07-Gibson – Jonas Ried (DEU) – Macéo Capietto (FRA) – Bent Viscal (NLD)
Proton Competition has irons in every fire: Hypercar, LMGT3 and LMP2. This ORECA 07-Gibson is competing in the 2024 European Le Mans Series under the banner Iron Lynx-Proton. Team owner Christian Ried's son Jonas finished 12th last year in LMGTE Am at the wheel of the outfit's Porsche 911 RSR-19. Macéo Capietto will be taking his rookie start and Bent Viscaal his second.
#10 – ORECA 07-Gibson – Ryan Cullen (GBR) – Patrick Pilet (FRA) – Stéphane Richelmi (MCO)
This British team is getting ready for its third participation in the 24 Hours after finishing seventh in LMP2 last year. Team spearhead Ryan Cullen is joining forces with experienced drivers Patrick Pilet and Stéphane Richelmi. The former is a 12-time veteran and the latter won the category with Signatech Alpine in 2016, though his last appearance at the race dates back to 2019. This crew is looking to reach the top step on the podium!
#14 – ORECA 07-Gibson – PJ Hyett (USA) – Louis Delétraz (CHE) – Alex Quinn (GBR) – Pro/Am
AO Racing has now teamed up with TF Sport to compete in the LMP2 category after running a Porsche 911 RSR-19 in LMGTE Am last year. The American outfit captured hearts at the 24 Hours Centenary with its custom "Rexy" the dinosaur livery, and aims to do so again with "Spike" the dragon. PJ Hyett (one of the top amateur drivers in endurance racing), Louis Delétraz and Alex Quinn are going after a category win.
#22 – ORECA 07-Gibson – Oliver Jarvis (GBR) – Bijoy Garg (USA) – Nolan Siegel (USA)
#23 – ORECA 07-Gibson – Ben Keating (USA) – Filipe Albuquerque (POR) – Ben Hanley (GBR) – Pro/Am
This American team is a longtime LMP2 pillar at Le Mans, winning the category in 2020 and finishing thrid in 2022 and 2023. Zak Brown and Richard Dean's outfit will go for gold with, at the wheel of the #23, extremely fast Portuguese driver Filipe Albuquerque, one of the most talented amateur endurance racing drivers Ben Keating and Ben Hanley who previously represented Nielsen Racing and DragonSpeed.
#24 – ORECA 07-Gibson – Fabio Scherer (CHE) – David Heinemeier Hansson (DNK) – Kyffin Simspon (USA)
British team Nielsen Racing is gearing up for its fourth 24 Hours after being forced to retire last year in the wake of an incident. For the 92nd running of Le Mans, the outfit has recruited Fabio Scherer, LMP2 winner in 2023 with Inter Europol Competition, even though the Swiss driver had suffered a triple fracture to his left heel. He will join forces with Danish driver David Heinemeier Hasson (11 participations) and Kyffin Simspon. The latter won the 2023 European Le Mans Series with Algarve Pro Racing.
#25 – ORECA 07-Gibson – Matthias Kaiser (LIE) – Olli Caldwell (GBR) – Roman De Angelis (CAN)
Algarve Pro Racing was invited to take part in the 2024 24 Hours after winning the European Le Mans Series last season. This Portuguese team is an LMP2 regular with seven participations to its credit and is competing in the European Le Mans Series again this year. Matthias Kaiser and Olli Cladwell finished second at the 4 Hours of Barcelona and seventh at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet. Thanks to such a seasoned driver line-up, Algarve Pro Racing is a category favourite.
#28 – ORECA 07-Gibson – Paul Lafargue (FRA) – Job van Uitert (NLD) – Reshad de Gerus (FRA)
Last year, IDEC SPORT Racing (seven participations) clinched the pole in the LMP2 category before finishing sixth. The French team has made it to the chequered flag a stunning six times! This year, Paul Lafargue is joined by two young drivers: Jan van Uitert and Reshad de Gerus.
#30 – ORECA 07-Gibson – John Falb (USA) – James Allen (AUS) – Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer (FRA) – Pro/Am
Gilles Duqueine's team claimed the third step on the LMP2 podium last year and is set to take the start in the 2024 24 Hours with three new drivers: John Falb/James Allen/Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer. The outfit is competing in the European Le Mans Series, finishing 11th at the 4 Hours of Barcelona and sixth at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet. Duqueine Team (five participations) is expected to make it into the category's top 10.
#33 – ORECA 07-Gibson – Alexander Mattschull (DEU) – René Binder (AUT) – Laurents Horr (DEU) – Pro/Am
This Luxembourg team has earned two consecutive Pro/Am podium finishes, won the 2023 Asian Le Mans Series and is taking part in this year's European Le Mans Series. Team leader Laurents Horr will share the #33 ORECA with Alexander Mattschull and René Binder. The latter previously represented Panis Racing, Algarve Pro Racing, Duqueine Team and Inter Europol Competition. DKR Engineering is looking for another positive result in Pro/Am.
#34 – ORECA 07-Gibson – Jakub Smiechowski (POL) – Vladislav Lomko (GRD) – Clément Novalak (FRA)
Everyone remembers this Polish team's surprise victory at last year's Centenary. Sascha Fassbender's outfit has since won the 2024 4 Hours of Le Castellet and now Jakum Smiechowski/Vladislav Lomko/Clément Novalak are considered favourites to pull off another LMP2 victory at Le Mans. The last time a team secured two consecutive wins in this category at the 24 Hours dates back to 2018-2019 and Signatech Alpine Matmut.
#37 – ORECA 07-Gibson – Lorenzo Fluxa (ESP) – Malthe Jakobsen (DNK) – Ritomo Miyata (JPN)
#47 – ORECA 07-Gibson – Naveen Rao (USA) – Matthew Bell (GBR) – Frederik Vesti (DNK) – Pro/Am
Swiss team COOL Racing has taken the start in the 24 Hours three times and is managed by Alpine Endurance Team driver Nicolas Lapierre. The #37 secured its invitation by winning the LMP3 category in the 2023 European Le Mans Series. Lorenzo Fluxa/Malthe Jakobsen/Ritomo Miyata reached the top step on the podium at the 4 Hours of Barcelone and finished second at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet in this season of the European Le Mans Series. Jakobsen is a junior driver with Team Peugeot TotalEnergies and Miyata with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing.
#45 – ORECA 07-Gibson – George Kutz (USA) – Colin Braun (USA) – Nicky Catsburg – Pro/Am
Brought by Algarve Pro Racing, this car owes its invitation to driver George Kutz, winner of the Jim Trueman Trophy in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. He is set to join forces with Colin Braun (two participations) and Nicky Catsburg (five). This ORECA was fielded last year under the banner of Algarve Pro Racing, finishing 10th in the category. Crowdstrike Racing by APR is competing in the 2024 IMSA, figuring third in the LMP2 championship.
#65 – ORECA 07-Gibson – Rodrigo Sales (USA) – Mathias Beche (CHE) – Scott Huffaker (USA) – Pro/Am
This past winter, Panis Racing got in touch with TDS Racing to enter its ORECA in Pro/Am, entrusting the car to Rodrigo Sales (three participations), Mathias Beche (10) and Scott Huffaker (one). The team owned by 1996 Monaco F1 Grand Prix winner Olivier Panis is competing in the 2024 European Le Mans Series, finishing sixth at the 4 Hours of Barcelona and eighth at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet. In eight appearances in the 24 Hours, Panis Racing has reached the third step on the LMP2 podium twice (2020 and 2021).
#183 – ORECA 07-Gibson – François Perrodo (FRA) – Ben Barnicoat (GBR) – Nicolas Varrone (ARG) – Pro/Am
AF Corse has competed in the LMP2 category since 2022. The car was forced to retire last year following an incident. François Perrodo (10 participations) and Ben Barnicoat (three) are teaming up with Nicolas Varrone, LMGTE Am winner with Corvette Racing in 2023.
The 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans entry list.
