You may be surprised to learn that both the oldest and the youngest driver at Le Mans this year were in the LM P2 class. The oldest driver on the grid was 63-year-old Mark Patterson, who finished fifth with the #48 Oreca fielded by Murphy Prototypes.

24H Le Mans

24 Heures du Mans

A new-look Hyperpole will be introduced at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Get ready for a whole new level of excitement! Split over two days (11–12 June), the revised Hyperpole promises suspense, strategy and elimination. It’s an event in itself with on-track battles in every class and a frenetic fight for pole position. Don’t miss a second of the action!

In 2024, the 24 Hours of Le Mans served up an intense, closely fought race with no fewer than nine Hypercars finishing on the same lap. Starting near the front of the grid has never been so important in the quest for victory in the world&rsquo;s toughest endurance race. Qualifying therefore plays a crucial role in setting the tone before the race itself.

<h2>A multi-step&nbsp;Hyperpole process</h2>

The new two-day format, to be held on 11&ndash;12 June, is designed to ramp up the tension as the sessions progress and the field narrows down. On the Wednesday, after an initial Free Practice, the LMP2 and LMGT3 competitors set off for 30 minutes of Qualifying with a clear objective &ndash; to figure among the 12 fastest in each class that will compete in the Hyperpole run-off. A similar session will then take place for the Hypercars, but with 15 places up for grabs.

Two Hyperpole sessions &ndash; H1 and H2 &ndash; will be staged on the Thursday. In H1, the 12 LMP2 and 12 LMGT3 qualifiers will have 20 minutes to clock one of the eight fastest times and proceed to H2. This elimination format is repeated for the Hypercars, with the 15 quickest qualifiers facing off in H1 which will determine the 10 finalists. In H2, the survivors will have just 15 minutes in which to seek the perfect lap and achieve the best possible place on the grid.

<h2>Twice the thrills!</h2>

Splitting Hyperpole into two consecutive sessions is designed to create a thrilling experience for the fans and test the teams&rsquo; nerve and rapidity. With cars eliminated at every&nbsp;step, the slightest error can be costly. The shorter sessions (20 and 15 minutes) guarantee maximum intensity and force the drivers to adapt quickly to track conditions. Adaptability is a key skill for any endurance driver.

This new format is not only of benefit to the top class. LMP2 and LMGT3, more often the realm of amateurs and private teams, are thrust into the spotlight as this revolution challenges the whole grid and rewards performance in every class.

The 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans Hyperpole will conclude with a whole new ceremony. The fastest drivers will be invited on to the podium together with their team manager. A Hyperpole trophy will be presented to reward their performance and their determination to achieve pole position. No doubt that the enthusiastic 24 Hours of Le Mans crowd, ever eager to hail impressive feats, will give them a resounding cheer.

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<h2>Be there!</h2>

With this new strategic, spectacular format, fans will have the chance to witness two nights of thrilling track action before the actual race.&nbsp; The very best drivers and teams will pull out all the stops in their efforts to trim fractions of a second off their best lap time to make the cut.

Dyed-in-the-wool motorsport fans and Le Mans newcomers alike will be equally enthralled by the two days of unforgettable battles on the asphalt.&nbsp; Tickets for the 24 Hours of Le Mans Qualifying and Hyperpole sessions on 11&ndash;12 June 2025, as well as Eddy de Pretto (Wednesday) and Pascal Obispo (Thursday) in concert,&nbsp; are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/tickets" target="_blank">still available</a>. Don&#39;t miss this chance to see a piece of Le Mans history in the making!

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Don’t miss the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans Hyperpole!

A new challenge awaits Wayne Taylor Racing. The team is fielding a #101 Cadillac V-Series.R Hypercar in the hands of Ricky and Jordan Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans (11–15 June). A dream come true. Finally.

They have that most coveted of prizes: an invitation to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans! Team Principal and former driver Wayne Taylor set his sights on competing for the outright win long ago. &ldquo;It has always been our plan to go to Le Mans with a shot at the overall win. When I was there with Cadillac in 2002, I was driving and both my kids were with me as spectators. Now, 20 years later, they are driving for me with Cadillac. It is very exciting&rdquo;, he says, visibly moved.

With Cadillac WTR, Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA and Cadillac Whelen, there will be four US Hypercars at the start this June. &quot;Cadillac has built an amazing race car. This is such an important event and to be competitive you must arrive with everything in place. I believe we now have the car to beat.&quot;

<h2>A well-versed crew</h2>

Taylor can count on three seasoned drivers. First, his sons Ricky and Jordan Taylor, who total 15 Le Mans 24 Hours starts between them, not to mention several Rolex&nbsp;24 at Daytona victories. They are joined by fast-paced Portuguese driver Filipe Albuquerque, winner of the 2020 LMP2 class with United Autosports.

Wayne Taylor&rsquo;s Cadillac V-Series.R finished fifth overall at the Rolex&nbsp;24 at Daytona in January.

<h2>Cadillac&rsquo;s quest for the 24 Hours of Le Mans crown</h2>

With 12 starts, including two with Cadillac in 2000 (22nd) and 2002 (9th), Wayne Taylor has ample Le Mans 24 Hours experience of his own. This year&rsquo;s entry is a sign that Cadillac and its partners are as eager as ever to claim their share of 24 Hours of Le Mans glory. &ldquo;With the combination of Cadillac and our team partners at JOTA and AXR, we have really strong organisation. We are grateful to have a chance to compete at Le Mans,&rdquo; concludes Wayne Taylor.

See <a href="https://assets.lemans.org/explorer/pdf/courses/2025/24-heures-du-mans/uocyygucshl9wt73upgk.pdf" target="_blank">the full entry list</a> for the next 24 Hours of Le Mans (11&ndash;15 June).&nbsp;

Wayne Taylor Racing's dream come true

Today, International Women’s Rights Day (8 March) is the right time to train the spotlight on the women taking part in the 93rd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This year, the driver line-up includes five women, adding to the 65 others who have taken part in the race since it began in 1923.

<h2>Jamie Chadwick with IDEC Sport</h2>

Triple W series champion Jamie Chadwick boasts an illustrious single-seater career. She won the MRF Challenge Formula&nbsp;2000 in 2019, and has achieved two podium places, including one win, in the United States Indy NXT last year.

Chadwick, 26, from Bath, UK is just at ease at the wheel of a sportscar. She triumphed in the British G4 championship in 2015 with Ross Gunn, now an Aston Martin factory driver and won her class at the 2019 24 Hours of N&uuml;rburgring.

The Briton has recently joined the Genesis hypercar project, the luxury brand from Hyundai is preparing a FIA World Endurance Championship campaign to begin in 2026. Chadwick will be laying the foundations by competing in the European Le Mans Series this year, with 2019 winners IDEC Sport. She will share the wheel of the LMP2 #18 Oreca&nbsp;07-Gibson with Mathys Joubert and <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/andre-lotterer-set-to-race-with-idec-sport-at-the-2025-24-hours-of-le-mans-59403" target="_blank">three-time Le Mans winner Andr&eacute; Lotterer</a>.

&ldquo;I think we can be proud of how far our sport has come. But there&rsquo;s still a long way to go. I&rsquo;m looking forward to sharing the track with other talented women and to work with the women on our team. Bring on the new season!&rdquo;

<h2>Lilou Wadoux back with Richard Mille AF Corse</h2>

The first woman to win an FIA World Endurance Championship race&thinsp;&mdash;&thinsp;the 2023 TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps&thinsp;&mdash;&thinsp;Lilou Wadoux continues her route to stardom as Ferrari factory driver. At Le Mans, the French woman will be one to watch in the LMGT3 class, at the wheel of the Richard Mille AF Corse #150 Ferrari&nbsp;296.

<h2>The Iron Dames bent on performance</h2>

The Iron Dames pursue their participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This year they have the backing of <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/fr/actualites/fia-wec-les-irhttps://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/fia-wec-iron-dames-team-up-with-manthey-for-2025-59153" target="_blank">Manthey Racing</a>,

one of the most successful Porsche customer teams. In 2023, the Iron Dames claimed victory with the German brand at the Bapco 8 Hours of Bahrain. They are back at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with refuelled ambitions and a team that combines experience with emerging talent. The #85 Porsche&nbsp;911 GT3 R LMGT3 will be in the hands of C&eacute;lia Martin, Rahel Frey and Michelle Gatting. They will be aiming to top the LMGT3 tables.

&ldquo;I&rsquo;m overjoyed to be one of the women drivers on the 2025 FIA WEC grid. I can&rsquo;t wait to take part in my first 24 Hours of Le Mans. It&rsquo;s going to be wild, especially the French crowd,&rdquo; warns C&eacute;lia Martin. 
&ldquo;With twenty years driving behind me, I&rsquo;m really glad to see more and more women taking up this male-dominated sport. My advice is to stay true to yourself and make your own way. There&rsquo;s no stopping us!&quot; enthuses Rahel Frey. 
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m more than proud to be on the grid of the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans for the seventh time in succession. Being one of the Iron Dames makes it even more incredible,&rdquo; says Michelle Gatting.

<h2>Women at the 24 Hours of Le Mans</h2>

To date, 65 women have competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 1935 race boasted ten women competitors. Odette Siko&rsquo;s fourth place overall in 1932 still resonates today.

It is rare in the sporting world to see men and women compete on an equal footing. Today, like Siko, Jamie Chadwick, Lilou Wadoux, C&eacute;lia Martin, Rahel Frey and Michelle Gatting do just that, fully at home on the grid of the world&rsquo;s greatest endurance race.

2025 24 Hours of Le Mans: five women on the grid

André Lotterer, three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner (2011, 2012 and 2014 with Audi), will take part in the 93rd running of the French endurance classic (11-15 June 2025) with IDEC Sport. The German driver will replace Dani Juncadella at the wheel of the #18 Oreca 07-Gibson, in partnership with Genesis Magma Racing

Seasoned driver Andr&eacute; Lotterer (43) is all set to make his fourteenth 24 Hours of Le Mans start. He will share the wheel of IDEC Sport&rsquo;s #18 Oreca 07-Gibson with&nbsp;Mathys Jaubert and Jamie Chadwick. With Lotterer already committed to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/genesis-takes-the-wraps-of-its-gmr-001-hypercar-59196" target="_blank">Genesis Magma Racing</a>&#39;s Hypercar programme next year, this LMP2 appearance provides an excellent chance to work with the team in the Le Mans environment before stepping up to the top class.&nbsp;&ldquo;This opportunity was discussed from the beginning of our collaboration, but the priority was always the drivers from the &#39;Trajectory&#39; programme,&rdquo; the German revealed. &ldquo;Ultimately, Logan [Sargeant]&rsquo;s withdrawal gives me the chance to return to Le Mans and bring my experience to this young team. The car looks very competitive. I&rsquo;ve already spoken with Mathys and Jamie, and we will form a strong trio. Thanks to Genesis Magma Racing and IDEC SPORT for this opportunity. Racing at Le Mans is always special, and this experience will also help me stay sharp for the rest of the season.&quot;

The addition of Lotterer to the IDEC Sport/Genesis Magma Racing squad is a considered strategy, as&nbsp;Cyril Abiteboul, president of Hyundai Motorsport, explains.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is a logical choice. Andr&eacute; has immense experience and has already won the event three times,&quot; Abiteboul says. &quot;He is part of the Genesis Magma Racing family since he will race with us in Hypercar next year. This participation allows him to get familiar with the team, engineers, and mechanics this year while bringing his invaluable expertise from the 24 Hours of Le Mans.&rdquo;

IDEC SPORT Team Principal&nbsp;Nicolas Minassian&nbsp;is equally pleased to have Lotterer on board.&nbsp;&ldquo;Racing at Le Mans with Andr&eacute; is something special. He&rsquo;s proven to be fast, no matter which manufacturer he races for. This collaboration will be beneficial for everyone.&rdquo;

<h2>Dani Juncadella makes way</h2>

Dani Juncadella&nbsp;was expected to line up at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with IDEC Sport, but will now make way for Lotterer owing to his LMGT3 commitment with TF Sport (#33 Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R). The Spaniard, who won the first round of the FIA WEC &ndash; the Qatar 1812km &ndash; will nonetheless compete in the 2025 European Le Mans Series&nbsp;with IDEC Sport. &nbsp;The season opens in Barcelona on 6 April.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an incredible opportunity for me to start out in ELMS with such an experienced team,&rdquo; Juncadella says. &ldquo;Although I&rsquo;m currently in LMGT3, I&rsquo;ve already raced in LMP2 at the 24 Hours of Daytona.&rdquo;&nbsp;

<h2>A pre-Le Mans test session</h2>

Lotterer will get a chance to familiarise himself with the Oreca 07-Gibson by taking part in a test session with IDEC Sport and Genesis Magma Racing before the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The German stalwart will hope to add further success to his sparkling track record in La Sarthe in a particularly challenging LMP2 class.

André Lotterer set to race with IDEC Sport at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans

At 60 and 59 respectively, Tracy Krohn and Jacques Nicolet are just a few years younger than Patterson. Both experienced drivers are also team owners, while Nicolet runs Onroak Automotive, the Ligier constructor, too.

	All three men were official LM P2 drivers at the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours, as were the three youngest drivers in the race, which proves that this class of endurance racing attracts competitors of all ages. The youngest in the race was 19-year-old L&eacute;o Roussel, who drove the #29 Morgan for Pegasus Racing and finished ninth in class. Another youngster, Mitch Evans (20) came third in the #38 Gibson run by Jota Sport while Pipo Derani (21) took the wheel of the #28 Ligier with G-Drive Racing.

	As you probably know, the youngest ever winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is Alexander Wurz, who was 22 when he first won Le Mans. Wurz called time on his racing career last week, after the 6 Hours of Bahrain, the final round of the World Endurance Championship season.

	C&eacute;cile Bonardel / ACO &ndash; Translated from French by Emma Paulay

	PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), 24 HOURS CIRCUIT, LE MANS 24 HOURS, THURSDAY 11 JUNE 2015, QUALIFYING SESSIONS. L&eacute;o Roussel was the youngest driver on the grid at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year. 
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24H LE MANS

Who were the youngest and oldest drivers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year?

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André Lotterer set to race with IDEC Sport at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans

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