In less than a week, the world of endurance racing returns to the Circuit de la Sarthe for the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans. Crowned the most prestigious endurance race in the world, the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place from June 10 to June 14.
Often considered the ultimate test of speed, durability and stamina, it is the highlight of the WEC calendar. With entries across Hypercar, LMP2 and LMGT3, 62 cars will take to the Circuit de la Sarthe. This year’s lineup features 182 drivers from 33 nationalities. Joining the grid are returning champions and young talents making their highly anticipated debut.
What is the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the oldest active endurance race. It is held annually in June at the Circuit de la Sarthe. The event is one of the three races that make up the “Triple Crown of Motorsport“, alongside the F1 Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. The eminence of winning at Le Mans has attracted drivers from various backgrounds.
With its first-ever event held in 1923, Le Mans has witnessed the evolution of motorsport racing and remains a quintessential part of French heritage.
Track Guide
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is held yearly at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe. The track stretches 13.626 km (8.467 miles) and is considered one of the longest and fastest circuits. As it is a semi-permanent track, the circuit offers a unique blend of racing tarmac and ordinary public roads.
The circuit consists of a total of 38 corners throughout, with 18 left and 20 right. The Circuit de la Sarthe has many iconic sections, including the Mulsanne Straight and Tertre Rouge.
What Categories Are Competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
In addition to the two main categories that compete in the World Endurance Championship (WEC): Hypercar and LMGT3, LMP2 is another category that competes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Hypercars are the fastest cars on track, competing for the overall win. This category features purpose-built prototypes from global manufacturers. The Hypercar class is reserved for professional drivers and is the only class fitted with Michelin tyres.
On the other hand, LMGT3 features race-tuned versions of recognisable road cars from manufacturers. These cars are entered by private teams only and are driven by both professional and amateur drivers. LMGT3 cars are fitted with Goodyear tyres.
Finally, the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) is a closed-cockpit car designed specifically for racing. These cars are reserved for Le Mans Series events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the European Le Mans Series, and the Asian Le Mans Series. However, it can also be seen racing at the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Unlike the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes, these cars are fielded by independent teams rather than factory manufacturers. What makes the category even more unique is that all teams use the same livery, the Oreca 07 Gibson. LMP2 cars are also fitted with Goodyear tyres.
Point System
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is also considered one of the most influential races of the WEC championship. Generally, the winner of a standard 6-hour WEC race earns 25 points. Meanwhile, Le Mans offers double the amount of points.
This massive points payout means a team could redeem an underperforming season or solidify a lead with a single good performance.
For the 24 Hours of Le Mans, points will be awarded as follows:
| 1st: 50 points 2nd: 36 points 3rd: 30 points 4th: 24 points 5th: 20 points | 6th: 16 points 7th: 12 points 8th: 8 points 9th: 4 points 10th: 2 points |
Who Dominated at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans
The overall winning car of the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans and the winner of the Hypercar class was the privately entered No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P. Drivers Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, and Phil Hanson led the pack and triumphed at the Circuit de la Sarthe. This victory brought the Italian manufacturer its third consecutive win at Le Mans. This also marked the first time a privateer team won at Le Mans since 2005. Hence, demonstrating that a non-factory outfit could outclass the official factory teams from Porsche, Toyota, and even Ferrari itself.
Additionally, after winning three consecutive victories at Le Mans, Ferrari earned the right to permanently keep the official trophy at their Maranello headquarters.
In the LMGT3 class, the No. 92 Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R clinched its second victory at Le Mans. The win also marked driver Richard Lietz’s sixth Le Mans victory. Cementing the Austrian’s status as one of the best endurance racers of all time.
The LMP2 class saw Inter Europol Competition take its second victory at the prestigious event with its No. 43 challenger. It was a significant victory rooted in a dramatic late-race redemption.