24h Le Mans
Five classes will take the start in the 89th 24 Hours of Le Mans – five races within the race. Get to know the competitors in the new top class in endurance racing: Hypercar.
#7 – Toyota GR010 Hybrid – Mike Conway (GBR) – Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) – José María López (ARG)
#8 – Toyota GR010 Hybrid – Sébastien Buemi (CHE) – Kazuki Nakajima (JPN) – Brendon Hartley (NZL)
Toyota is the defending champion at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and boasts three consecutive wins. Last 15 January, the Japanese manufacturer presented the GR010 Hybrid, its new weapon in the FIA WEC. The Hypercar was developed over the last 20 months in partnership with engineers based in Cologne, Germany and hybrid electric powertrain experts at the Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Japan. The GR010 Hybrid features a powerful four-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain with a 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo engine delivering 680 hp to the rear wheels in conjunction with a 272 hp generator on the front axle. The look of the car reflects the appearance of the Hypercar GR Super Sport presented at the last 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In its choice of drivers, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is going for consistency and experience. The team has kept the same crews as last season: Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López will share the #7, and Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley the #8. Dutch driver Nyck de Vries retains his role as test and reserve driver.
The GR010 Hybrid kicked off its participation in the Hypercar class by winning the Total 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the 8 Hours of Portimão and the 6 Hours of Monza!
36 – Alpine A480-Gibson – André Negrão (BRA) – Nicolas Lapierre (FRA) – Matthieu Vaxivière (FRA)
Alpine will compete in the Hypercar class this year with the A480. The car will sport the marque's favorite number 36 with which it has triumphed in LMP2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times over the last five years. The French constructor will field an LMP1 NH technically modified to be eligible for the Hypercar class.
Alpine's car will be driven by Nicolas Lapierre (age 36, 13 participations in the 24 Hours) and André Negrão (age 28, four participations) and Matthieu Vaxivière (age 26, four participations). Alpine Elf Matmut team manager Philippe Sinault: "We chose drivers who complement each other in terms of experience and whose personalities foster a spirit of cohesion in all circumstances."
The A480-Gibson held its own against the Toyota GR010 Hybrid at the Total 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps earlier this year before scoring the pole at the 8 Hours of Portimão and finishing second at the 6 Hours of Monza.
#708 – Glickenhaus 007 LMH – Luis Felipe Derani (BRA) – Franck Mailleux (FRA) – Olivier Pla (FRA)
#709 – Glickenhaus 007 LMH – Ryan Briscoe (AUS) – Richard Westbrook (GBR) – Romain Dumas (FRA)
Glickenhaus is a niche market American constructor founded by James Glickenhaus, a film producer in the 1980s and 1990s and an American businessman. The marque first cut its teeth in the SPX class at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus owner Jim Glickenhaus: "We decided to participate in the FIA WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans to prove a hyper-specialized constructor can deliver a product of the highest technical quality." The 007 LMH is a non-hybrid Hypercar equipped with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V8 engine designed by French preparer Pipo Moteurs.
Glickenhaus has secured the services of Joest Racing, a major player in endurance racing and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with 16 overall wins at the race. Joest Racing will provide human resources, logistics support and the necessary equipment for the Glickenhaus team's participation in the top class.
The 007 LMH was built in the workshops of Podium Advanced Engineering, a Glickenhaus partner in the development of the car.
The team will be represented by extremenly talented and experienced drivers: Ryan Briscoe (age 38, five participations in the 24 Hours), Pipo Derani (age 27, five participations), Romain Dumas (age 43, 20 participations including two overall wins), Franck Mailleux (age 35, three participations), Olivier Pla (age 39, 13 participations) and Richard Westbrook (age 45, 10 participations).
Beginning this year, the new top class in the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, is Hypercar. Two types of cars are eligible: LMH (Le Mans Hypercar starting in 2021) and LMDh (Le Mans Daytona h starting in 2023).
As of 2023, both types of cars will hit the track together in the FIA WEC and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Therefore, they will be seen at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The two types of cars:
For the first year of the Hypercar class, only cars built in compliance with Le Mans Hypercar technical regulations will take the track. This allows for a wide variety of architectures, namely the presence of a hybrid system on the front axle.
In 2023, constructors having opted to follow the LMDh regulations will be able to compete in the Hypercar class. In LMDh, the "backbone" of the car, corresponding to the complete car without the engine (the bodywork and hybrid system) will be supplied by four chassis manufacturers: Dallara, Multimatic, Ligier and ORECA.
Click for the 89th 24 Hours of Le Mans entry list.
