Few races in the world can claim to feature such a diverse display of cars or drivers on the grid. There are two types of car:

• LMPs or Le Mans Prototypes,
• and LMGTEs or Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance.

The prototype classes are open to cars developed specifically to race. They are not available for sale to the general public and are not road legal. There are two prototype classes: LMP1 (for manufacturers and private teams) and LMP2 (private teams only).

The LMGTEs are road-legal production sportscars adapted for racing. They may be driven by professional teams (the LMGTE Pro class) or a mix of professionals and amateurs (LMGTE Am).

There are separate regulations for each class. The diverse line-up attracts a wide audience and the difference in speed means plenty of overtaking and traffic management, which adds to the excitement of the race.

Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1)

Closed-cockpit prototypes designed especially for racing by car manufacturers or private teams. They may or may not have a hybrid (combustion/electric) powerchain incorporating an energy recovery and storage system.

To narrow the performance gap between hybrids and non-hybrids, an Equivalence of Technology (EoT) system has been introduced:

• Non-hybrids have a fuel allocation (which determines the power of an LMP1 engine), i.e. a maximum amount of energy permitted per lap and/or a maximum fuel flow rate, helping the cars to compete on more equal terms with the hybrids.
• The non-hybrid LMP1s also benefit from less restrictive regulations on aerodynamics than their hybrid counterparts.
• The volume of the LMP1 hybrids’ fuel tank means they are able to complete an extra lap per stint than the non-hybrids, the only advantage they have been granted.

LMP1 teams may not include any Bronze-rated drivers (see driver categories below).

Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2)

Closed-cockpit prototypes designed for the race and fielded by private teams with no involvement from the engine or chassis manufacturers. The 2018 LMP2s will all be fitted with the same engine but may choose from four chassis manufacturers: Oreca, Ligier ( as Onroak Automotive), Dallara and Riley.

LMP2 teams must include at least one Bronze or Silver-rated driver.

Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance Pro (LMGTE PRO)

Road-legal sports cars available to the public but drastically altered for the race. As the production models are so different from one another, a Balance of Performance (BoP) system has been introduced to level the playing field.

There are no restrictions on LMGTE Pro team composition.

Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance Am (LMGTE AM)

Road-legal sports cars available to the public but drastically altered for the race. The cars are identical to those in the LMGTE Pro category, except they must be at least one year old. There is a specific BoP for the LMGTE Am class.

The team must include at least one Bronze driver, then one Bronze or Silver driver

The driver categories

Depending on their age, past results and experience, drivers are classed in one of FIA’s four categories:

• Platinum (professional driver): professional drivers who meet at least two criteria on a list defined by the FIA, such as having won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMP1 or in LMGTE Pro or a factory driver with sound results.
• Gold (professional or amateur driver): drivers who meet one criterion on a long list of less stringent requirements than those defined for Platinum drivers. However, a driver who meets one of the Platinum criteria will automatically be classed as Gold.
•  Silver (amateur driver with past results): amateur drivers who meet a result-based criterion.
• Bronze (amateur driver without past results): rookie drivers or drivers without substantial results, and drivers aged over 60 regardless of their past results.

New in 2018: This year, a special committee may grant temporary exemption from the team composition rules if a driver submits a request and includes a certain number of documents. This exemption must not compromise track safety or incur a sporting advantage over the other teams entered in the same class.