24h Le Mans
As it approaches its centenary, the French endurance classic promises plenty of suspense in 2020.
The 88th 24 Hours of Le Mans will finally go ahead on 19-20 September following its earlier postponement due to the worldwide pandemic. The history books show that this is not the first time the race has not been held in its customary June slot.
The inaugural edition in 1923, for instance, took place at the end of May. In 1956, it was held on 28-29 July due to major safety improvement work. And in 1968, the political and social unrest in May resulted in postponement to 28-29 September. In 2020, the field will cross the starting line at 14:30 on 19 September for 24 hours of racing, with night-time action accounting for almost half – 11 hours and 46 minutes to be exact, 3 hours 40 more than mid-June. This factor will imply different weather conditions, temperatures and visibility and a whole new level of focus from the competitors. Tyres, engine settings, driver comfort, wipers and headlamps will be more vital than ever.
The penultimate round of the FIA World Endurance Championship promises an exciting battle in each class ahead of the season’s climax in Bahrain.
, the success handicap implemented throughout the rest of the season will not apply. At Le Mans, the toughest race on the calendar, the playing field is naturally levelled and mechanical failure can strike at any time. Toyota will be aiming for a third successive win in La Sarthe for the TS050-Hybrid but, to keep the Grand Trophy, it will have to see off the Rebellion challenge. The Japanese and Swiss outfits will each field two cars. In 2021, Toyota will enter Le Mans Hypercar – the new top class. It will therefore hope its hybrid prototype will bow out with a win. Meanwhile, Rebellion will seek to end its endurance adventure in the best possible way with a Le Mans triumph. The Swiss stable has matured into a serious contender with two wins under its belt this season, and is more than capable of taking advantage of the sibling rivalry between Toyota’s #7 and #8 cars. For ByKolles, seeing the chequered flag remains the prime objective.
In LMP2, the battle promises to be as intense as ever. This is undoubtedly the class with the greatest number of candidates for victory. There is little to choose between many of the teams boosted by the influx of top-notch drivers. While Signatech Alpine Elf will also be looking for a third successive Le Mans win, it has yet to get off the mark in the 2019-20 season dominated by United Autosports (three victories). Also in with a shout are Jota, Team Nederland and Cool Racing – one win each this season – and Jackie Chan DC Racing who have clinched four podium places. Neither should we rule out the Aurus fielded by G-Drive who will be looking to offset the frustration of the last two years at Le Mans, or the all-female line-up entered by Richard Mille Team Racing, assisted by Signatech.
In LMGTE Pro, it almost goes without saying that the battle between Porsche, Ferrari and Aston Martin will be closely fought and could well go down to the wire. Ferrari, the title holder, has the edge in terms of numbers with four cars taking on two each from Porsche and Aston Martin, the current championship leader. There is an impressive array of driver talent across the board, including the all-French trio of Bourdais, Pla and Gounon recruited by Risi Competizione.
LMGTE Am, the second-largest field behind LMP2, is another three-way affair between Porsche, Ferrari and Aston Martin. Team Project 1 (Porsche) will be seeking to retain its title but AF Corse (Ferrari), Dempsey Proton Racing (Porsche), and TF Sport and AMR (both Aston Martin) will all be in the hunt. Championship leaders Collard/Perrodo/N Nielsen (AF Corse Ferrari), who recently won at Spa, will be favourites to add the 24 Hours to their list of achievements. Italian outfit Iron Lynx is fielding no fewer than three machines, including one driven by the all-female line-up of Göstner, Frey and Gatting.
Even without the support of the fans, all the competitors in the 88th 24 Hours of Le Mans will be hoping to put on a show on 19-20 September. The Circuit de la Sarthe may be shorn of its festival atmosphere this year, but the action on the track promises to be as exciting as ever.
