24h Le Mans
Next week, the traditional Scrutineering sessions mark the beginning of 24 Hours of Le Mans race week. This season, the French 24-hour marathon is the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). On Saturday 8 June at 15:30, Le Mans city centre will be welcoming some exceptional guests. The Hypercars are coming to town! All nine makes in the top class will be parading their cars along a 2.1-kilometre loop through the city.
Last year, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and the local authorities organised a procession of racing cars as part of the Centenary celebrations, much to the delight of the crowds lining the streets. It was the first time the show-stopping Le Mans racing cars were driven through the city.
This year, nine Hypercars, one LMP2 and seven LMGT3s will end Saturday’s Scrutineering session with a vroom. They will be joined by a Safety Car and the Bentley 3 Litre Sport that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924. That year, John Duff drove the Bentley from Brooklands (UK) to Le Mans, and this year the car will travel the same route and remain in Le Mans for a while as an exhibit at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum (from 9 June).
The 2.1-kilometre loop from Quai Louis Blanc at the foot of the Roman wall on the river Sarthe, returning via the Tunnel Wilbur Wright, taking in rue Gambetta, Place de la République, Boulevard René Levasseur and Place des Jacobins is twice as long as last year’s route and will give more people a chance to admire several endurance racing stars, including 2023 winner the Ferrari 499P, and the recently unveiled BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car.
For safety reasons, pedestrians will be permitted to cross the road at allocated times only: 15:38 and 15:51. Marshals and other officials will survey the whole route. Spectators are requested to comply with instructions from officials on site to ensure maximum enjoyment for all!
THE CARS
Hypercar
#2 Cadillac V-Series.R – Cadillac Racing
#5 Porsche 963 – Porsche Penske Motorsport
#7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid – Toyota Gazoo Racing
#11 Isotta Fraschini Tipo6-C – Isotta Fraschini
#19 Lamborghini SC63 – Lamborghini Iron Lynx
#20 BMW M Hybrid V8 – BMW M Team WRT
#36 Alpine A424 – Alpine Endurance Team
#51 Ferrari 499P – Ferrari AF Corse
#94 Peugeot 9X8 – Peugeot TotalEnergies
LMP2
#14 Oreca 07-Gibson – AO by TF
LMGT3
#27 Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3 – Heart of Racing Team
#46 BMW M4 LMGT3 – Team WRT
#77 Ford Mustang LMGT3 – Proton Competition
#78 Lexus RC F LMGT3 – Akkodis ASP Team
#82 Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R – TF Sport
#85 Lamborghini Huracan LMGT3 Evo2 – Iron Dames
#95 McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo – United Autosports
Guests
Porsche 911 Turbo – Safety Car
Bentley 3 Litre Sport – 24 Hours of Le Mans winner in 1924
