Le Mans 2021: The team by team guide
After a two-month delay due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours is set to get underway with the start of the Hypercar era at the Circuit de la Sarthe
The latest Le Mans 24 Hours format for the Test Day, practice and Hyperpole qualifying has all been condensed into the last week, providing little time for respite before the main event.
Here is our guide to the full 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours field and our predictions on how each entry will fare at the 89th edition of this iconic endurance race.
Hypercar
Toyota Gazoo Racing
Toyota GR010 HYBRID
#7 Mike Conway/Kamui Kobayashi/Jose Maria Lopez
#8 Sebastien Buemi/Kazuki Nakajima/Brendon Hartley
Qualifying: 1st (#7), 2nd (#8)
#8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 - Hybrid Hypercar, Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima, Brendon Hartley, #7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 - Hybrid Hypercar, Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, Jose Maria Lopez
Photo by: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing
Toyota continues in the WEC for a ninth consecutive season — and 10th straight at Le Mans — with an all-new LMH to replace the successful TS050 LMP1. The driver line-ups are unchanged from last year’s WEC campaign.
Autosport says: Toyota has to be the pre-event favourite as it bids for a fourth Le Mans win a row after claiming victory with its new GR010 in the three WEC races so far.
Alpine Elf Matmut (Signatech)
Alpine-Gibson A480
#36 Nicolas Lapierre/Andre Negrao/Matthieu Vaxiviere
Qualifying: 3rd
#36 Alpine Elf Matmut Alpine A480 - Gibson Hypercar, André Negrão, Nicolas Lapierre, Matthieu Vaxiviere
Photo by: Paul Foster
Alpine and Signatech step up to the big time, after multiple successes in LMP2, with a ‘grandfathered’ ORECA LMP1 design. Lapierre has returned to the team with which he won two WEC titles to race alongside team regular Negrao and newcomer Vaxiviere, twice a Le Mans podium finisher in LMP2.
Autosport says: The A480 is a proven car that shouldn’t be much slower than the Toyotas. The big question mark concerns its fuel range.
Glickenhaus Racing
Glickenhaus-Pipo 007 LMH
#708 Pipo Derani/Olivier Pla/Franck Mailleux
#709 Ryan Briscoe/Richard Westbrook/Romain Dumas
Qualifying: 4th (#708), 5th (#709)
#708 Glickenhaus Racing Glickenhaus 007 LMH Hypercar of Luis Felipe Derani, Franck Mailleux, Olivier Pla
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
The American marque with a technical base in Italy has stepped up to the pinnacle of endurance racing after years racing at the Nurburgring 24 Hours. A measure of its ambition for its new LMH is provided by a driver line-up aboard its pair that includes two-time Le Mans winner Dumas and three-time Sebring victor Derani.
Autosport says: WEC appearances suggest that Glickenhaus will not disgrace itself.
LMP2
Richard Mille (Signatech)
ORECA-Gibson 07
#1 Tatiana Calderon/Sophia Florsch/Beitske Visser
Qualifying: 28th
#1 Richard Mille Racing Team Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2, Tatiana Calderon, Sophia Floersch, Beitske Visser
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Watchmaker Richard Mille, who is also president of the FIA’s Endurance Commission, is backing an all-female LMP2 programme for a second year in a row as part of the FIA’s Women in Motorsport initiative. Signatech, three times an LMP2 class winner at Le Mans, runs the car, this season in the WEC rather than the ELMS. Last year’s trio of Calderon, Florsch and Visser again make up the driver line-up.
Autosport says: Uninspired WEC form suggests an improvement on last year’s ninth place could be a struggle.
IDEC Sport
ORECA-Gibson 07
#48 Patrick Pilet, Paul-Loup Chatin, Paul Lafargue
Qualifying: 15th
#48 IDEC Sport Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2 of Paul Lafargue, Paul-Loup Chatin, Patrick Pilet
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Porsche factory driver Pilet, who joined the team as a late substitute ahead of the 24 Hours last year, has come into the full-season line-up for the French team owned by Lafargue's father Patrice alongside double ELMS champion Chatin and Lafargue. The team's Pro-Am #17 entry for Ryan Dalziel, Thomas Laurent and Dwight Merriman has been withdrawn after a heavy practice shunt for the last-named on Thursday.
Autosport says: In the ELMS this year, the team has yet to replicate the form that took it to class pole at Le Mans in 2018.
High Class Racing
ORECA-Gibson 07
#20 Ricky Taylor/Marco Sorensen/Dennis Andersen
#49 Jan Magnussen/Kevin Magnussen/Anders Fjordbach
Qualifying: 25th (#49), 26th (#20)
#20 High Class Racing Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2, Dennis Andersen, Ricky Taylor, Marco Sorensen
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
The Danish entrant hit the headlines earlier this year when it paired ex-F1 racer Kevin Magnussen alongside his father Jan in its additional entry for Le Mans. Magnussen Sr has moved over from the team’s regular WEC entry along with Fjordbach, while the team has brought in Aston Martin factory driver Sorensen and reigning IMSA champion Taylor to take their places in the #20 car.
Autosport says: #20 has a line-up to challenge in the Pro-Am division, while #49 must have the potential to at least get close to the established class frontrunners.
Dragonspeed USA
ORECA-Gibson 07
#21 Juan Pablo Montoya/Ben Hanley/Henrik Hedman
Qualifying: 18th (#21)
#21 Dragonspeed USA Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2, Henrik Hedman, Ben Hanley, Juan Pablo Montoya
Photo by: Eric Le Galliot
The US entrant, now operating out of premises on the doorstep of the Barcelona circuit rather than its previous base over in France not far from Paul Ricard, is down to one car for what will be its fifth Le Mans participation. F1 winner Montoya is now a full-timer in the WEC, after coming late to the party ahead of Le Mans last year, alongside Hanley and team patron Hedman.
Autosport says: DragonSpeed must be a good bet to continue its unbroken sequence of Pro-Am podiums in the WEC this season.
United Autosports
ORECA-Gibson 07
#22 Filipe Albuquerque/Phil Hanson/Fabio Scherer
#23 Paul di Resta/Alex Lynn/Wayne Boyd
#32 Nico Jamin/Jonathan Aberdein/Manuel Maldonado
Qualifying: 10th (#32), 11th (#23) 17th (#22)
#23 United Autosports Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2, Paul Di Resta, Alex Lynn, Wayne Boyd
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
The reigning Le Mans and WEC P2 title winner expands from two to three cars. Scherer has come into the WEC line-up as the silver-rated driver alongside 2019-20 champions Albuquerque and Hanson after the latter was upgraded to gold. That left no room for di Resta, but United has put together a ‘superteam’ for Le Mans, with the Scot and Lynn alongside debutant Boyd. The final car is made up of regulars from its ELMS squad.
Autosport says: With three strong cars, United must be the pre-event favourite.
PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports
ORECA-Gibson 07
#24 Gabriel Aubry/Simon Trummer/Patrick Kelly
Qualifying: 14th
#24 PR1 Motorsports Mathiasen Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2, Patrick Kelly, Gabriel Aubry, Simon Trummer
Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt
This established and successful American sportscar team makes it Le Mans debut after Kelly gained one of the discretionary Le Mans entries awarded by IMSA for his victory in the LMP2 class of the North American series with PR1 last year. The Californian operation has linked up with Panis Racing to mastermind its Pro-Am entry for Kelly and seasoned LMP2 hands Aubry and Trummer, who also joined him for a dry run at Spa.
Autosport says: Much will depend on Kelly’s pace over his mandatory six hours.
G-Drive Racing (Algarve Pro)
ORECA-Gibson 07
#25 Roberto Merhi/Rui Andrade/John Falb
#26 Nyck de Vries/Roman Rusinov/Franco Colapinto
Qualifying: 9th (#26), 24th (#25)
#26 G-Drive Racing Aurus 01 - Gibson LMP2, Roman Rusinov, Franco Colapinto, Nyck De Vries, #25 G-Drive Racing Aurus 01 - Gibson LMP2, John Falb, Roberto Merhi, Rui Andrade
Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt
A long-time sportscar entrant now racing under the Russian Automobile Federation’s flag makes its second Le Mans assault with the Anglo-Portuguese Algarve Pro squad. Super-silver Colapinto has come in alongside de Vries and the boss, Rusinov, in the lead Aurus-badged ORECA. Ex-F1 driver Merhi is back racing in LMP2 full-time in the ELMS with series regular Falb and Angolan sportscar debutant Andrade in Pro-Am.
Autosport says: ELMS form suggests both cars will be right up there in their respective sub-classes.
Jota
ORECA-Gibson 07
#28 Stoffel Vandoorne/Tom Blomqvist/Sean Gelael
#38 Antonio Felix Da Costa/Anthony Davidson/Roberto Gonzalez
Qualifying: 6th (#38), 12th (#28)
Jota team photo
Photo by: Paul Foster
The British Jota team, a fixture at the sharp end of the LMP2 grid and a class winner at Le Mans in 2014 and 2017, fields two cars under its own name this year in the full WEC. Davidson, da Costa and Gonzalez, winners this season and last in the WEC, are joined by the super-team of ex-F1 racer Vandoorne, Blomqvist and silver-rated ex-F2 driver Gelael.
Autosport says: Expect a team that has failed to finish on the LMP2 Le Mans class podium just once in the past seven years to be right up there.
Racing Team Nederland (TDS)
ORECA-Gibson 07
#29 Giedo van der Garde/Job van Uitert/Frits Van Eerd
Qualifying: 22nd
#29 Racing Team Nederland Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2, Frits Van Eerd, Giedo Van Der Garde, Job Van Uitert
Photo by: Paul Foster
RTN punched above its weight in the 2019-20 WEC, notching up a win and another three podiums with a line-up including bronze-rated van Eerd. So it’s right up there in the new Pro-Am sub-class in the WEC. Van Uitert, ELMS runner-up last year, joins regulars van Eerd and van der Garde.
Autosport says: RTN is a good bet for Pro-Am honours.
Duqueine Team
ORECA-Gibson 07
#30 Tristan Gommendy/Memo Rojas/Rene Binder
Qualifying: 20th
#30 Duqueine Team Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2 of René Binder, Guillermo Rojas, Tristan Gommendy
Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt
Duqueine makes its third Le Mans start with its best line-up yet. Gommendy is a former pole winner at Le Mans, Rojas a three-time winner of the Daytona 24 Hours and twice an ELMS champion, while silver-rated Binder’s recent experience straddles GP2, Formula Renault 3.5 and IndyCars, as well as LMP2.
Autosport says: Top line-up has yet to live up to its potential in the ELMS.
Team WRT
ORECA-Gibson 07
#31 Robin Frijns/Ferdinand Habsburg/Charles Milesi
#41 Robert Kubica/Louis Deletraz/Yifei Ye
Qualifying: 7th (#41), 16th (#31)
#31 Team WRT Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2, Robin Frijns, Ferdinand Habsburg, Charles Milesi
Photo by: Nick Dungan / Motorsport Images
A team that has won everything in the GT3 arena with Audi – the Spa and Nurburgring 24-hour classics included – has expanded full-time into LMP2 with twin programmes in 2021. It is already a double winner in the ELMS with Kubica, Deletraz and Ye, and should have won the Monza WEC round with Frijns, Habsburg and Milesi.
Autosport says: WRT is learning about a new discipline fast and has the drivers to win.
Inter Europol Competition
ORECA-Gibson 07
#34 Renger van der Zande/Alex Brundle/Jakub Smiechowski
Qualifying: 23rd
#34 Inter Europol Competition Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2 of Jakub Smiechowski, Renger Van der Zande, Alex Brundle
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
The Polish entrant has stepped up to the full WEC for this year with a campaign masterminded from new premises in its homeland rather than Germany. It’s also taken a step up in terms of its driver line-up: two-time Daytona 24 Hours winner van der Zande and P2 stalwart Brundle have joined team regular Smiechowski.
Autosport says: Fourth place last time out at Monza suggests the team is on the up.
SO24-DIROB By Graff
ORECA-Gibson 07
#39 Vincent Capillaire/Maxime Robin/Arnold Robin
Qualifying: 30th
#39 SO24-Dirob By Graff Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2, Vincent Capillaire, Arnold Robin, Maxime Robin
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Three drivers from the Le Mans locale team up at Graff with the backing of the SO24 organisation to help Sarthois compete in the 24 Hours. Capillaire is back for his eighth consecutive 24 Hours, while the Robin brothers have graduated to P2 in the ELMS this year from the LMP3 ranks.
Autosport says: It’s more about the taking part than the winning for this crew.
ARC Bratislava
ORECA-Gibson 07
#44 Oliver Webb/Mato Konopka/Miro Konopka
Qualifying: 27th
#44 ARC Bratislava Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2, Miroslav Konopka, Oliver Webb, Matej Konopka
Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt
The well-travelled sportscar team from Slovakia is back at Le Mans for a second time after a year’s absence. The team has upgraded to an ORECA from a Ligier (right) for this race. Sportscar pro Webb joins team boss Miro Konopka and son Matej, who made his WEC debut with the team at Monza.
Autosport says: The new chassis should help the team move forward.
Panis Racing
ORECA-Gibson 07
#65 Will Stevens/James Allen/Julien Canal
Qualifying: 8th
#65 Panis Racing Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2 of Julien Canal, Will Stevens, James Allen
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Monaco Grand Prix winner Olivier Panis’s team and Tech 1 Racing, more or less one entity these days, are back at Le Mans this year with a strong line-up that has already tasted victory in the 2021 ELMS. Stevens is joined by Australian Allen and highly rated silver Canal, a three-times class champion in the WEC.
Autosport says: A little team with big aspirations that should be right up there.
Realteam Racing (TDS)
ORECA-Gibson 07
#70 Loic Duval/Norman Nato/Esteban Garcia
Qualifying: 13th
#70 Realteam Racing Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2 of Esteban Garcia, Loic Duval, Norman Nato
Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt
This TDS-run operation has graduated to LMP2 in the WEC after a race-winning season in the LMP3 class of the ELMS. Swiss Garcia has pulled the strong line-up of 2013 Le Mans winner Duval and ex-Rebellion LMP1 man Nato around him for an LMP2 Pro-Am assault that has so far yielded a win and two podiums.
Autosport says: Everything will depend on Garcia’s performance on his Le Mans debut.
Racing Team India Eurasia
Ligier-Gibson JSP217
#74 James Winslow/John Corbett/Tom Cloet
Qualifying: 31st
#74 Racing Team India Eurasia Ligier JSP217 - Gibson LMP2 of James Winslow, John Corbett, Tom Cloet
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Plans for the Philippines-based Eurasia team to field an all-Indian line-up including ex-F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan unravelled due to COVID-related travel restrictions. Team boss Mark Goddard, a former British F3 regular, has assembled a new squad of Asian Le Mans Series regulars to drive the field’s only Ligier.
Autosport says: Winslow needs his rookie team-mates to get up to speed to make a mark.
Risi Competizione
ORECA-Gibson 07
#82 Oliver Jarvis/Felipe Nasr/Ryan Cullen
Qualifying: 19th
#82 Risi Competizione Oreca 07 - Gibson LMP2, Ryan Cullen, Oliver Jarvis, Felipe Nasr
Photo by: Marc Fleury
Risi, a class winner at Le Mans in 1998 with Ferrari’s 333 SP but better known as a GT stalwart, returns to prototypes after an absence of 19 years. Run by former Jota team manager Gary Holland, the team fields the ORECA that Cullen raced last year with DragonSpeed and G-Drive/Algarve Pro.
Autosport says: With Nasr, Jarvis and Cullen, Risi has the drivers to challenge.
GTE Pro
AF Corse
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
#51 Alessandro Pier Guidi/James Calado/Come Ledogar
#52 Daniel Serra/Miguel Molina/Sam Bird
Qualifying: 33rd (#52), 35th (#51)
#51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE EVO LMGTE Pro, Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Come Ledogar
Photo by: Ferrari
Ferrari maintains its presence in Pro with AF dating back to the rebirth of the WEC in 2012, though there’s a new look to the driver line-up. Ledogar comes in for Le Mans alongside Calado and Pier Guidi. Serra is now Molina’s regular partner in place of Davide Rigon, who is replaced by marque returnee Bird while the Italian recovers from Spa 24 accident.
Autosport says: Ferrari is usually a threat, but it’s 2-1 to Porsche so far in the 2021 WEC.
Corvette Racing
Chevrolet Corvette C8.R
#63 Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor/Nicky Catsburg
#64 Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy/Alexander Sims
Qualifying: 34th (#64), 39th (#63)
#63 Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R LMGTE Pro of Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor, Nicky Catsburg
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
The mid-engined C8.R makes a belated Le Mans debut after Chevrolet was forced to break its unbroken run at Le Mans stretching back to 2000 because of COVID. Ex-Porsche driver Tandy has joined Milner in the regular North American line-up, while ex-BMW man Sims has joined as third driver.
Autosport says: The C8.R has been designed to address the shortcomings of its predecessor at Le Mans. Expect a challenge.
HubAuto Racing
Porsche 911 RSR
#72 Alvaro Parente/Maxime Martin/Dries Vanthoor
Qualifying: 32nd
#72 Hub Auto Racing Porsche 911 RSR - 19 LMGTE Pro, Dries Vanthoor, Alvaro Parente, Maxime Martin
Photo by: Marc Fleury
This Taiwanese operation, a stalwart of GT racing in Asia, makes a second Le Mans appearance, but with a difference. It has moved up from GTE Am to the Pro class and switched from Ferrari to Porsche. The younger of the Vanthoor brothers is joined by Aston factory driver Martin and Parente.
Autosport says: Despite the strength of this line-up, it will be a big ask for HubAuto to challenge the factories over 24 hours.
WeatherTech (Proton)
Porsche 911 RSR
#79 Earl Bamber/Laurens Vanthoor/Cooper MacNeil
Qualifying: 38th
#79 Weathertech Racing Porsche 911 RSR - 19 LMGTE Pro, Cooper MacNeil, Earl Bamber, Laurens Vanthoor
Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt
The team funded by the title sponsor of the IMSA series is back at Le Mans for a second year in a row, this time with a Porsche run by Proton rather than a Ferrari by Scuderia Corsa. MacNeil is joined full factory pilot Vanthoor and Bamber, a kind of pseudo-Porsche works driver these days.
Autosport says: WeatherTech will need the kind of luck it got on the way to class victory at Sebring to pull off a repeat.
Porsche GT Team (Manthey)
Porsche 911 RSR
#91 Gianmaria Bruni/Richard Lietz/Frederic Makowiecki
#92 Kevin Estre/Neel Jani/Michael Christensen
Qualifying: 36th (#91), 37th (#92)
#91 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR - 19 LMGTE Pro, Gianmaria Bruni, Richard Lietz, Frederic Makowiecki, #92 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR - 19 LMGTE Pro, Kevin Estre, Neel Jani, Michael Christensen
Photo by: Porsche
Porsche, like Ferrari, is hanging around in the GTE Pro ranks as it builds up towards its return to the top division in 2023, and fields a pair of mid-engined 911 RSRs. The line-up has been subtly tweaked: ex-LMP1 man Jani is with Estre for the full season, with the duo joined by Christensen.
Autosport says: Porsche can take a first GTE Pro victory at Le Mans since 2018.
GTE Am
Absolute Racing (Proton)
Porsche 911 RSR
#18 Alessio Picariello/Marco Seefried/Andrew Haryanto
Qualifying: 52nd
#18 Absolute Racing Porsche 911 RSR - 19 LMGTE Am, Andrew Haryanto, Alessio Picariello, Marco Seefried
Photo by: Paul Foster
This powerhouse of Asian GT racing makes its Le Mans debut in conjunction with the Proton team. They are fielding a Porsche for well-travelled GT racer Seefried, who will be making only a second Le Mans start, the Porsche-aligned Picariello, and Indonesian Haryanto.
Autosport says: This line-up is better than it looked in its two WEC outings.
TF Sport
Aston Martin Vantage GTE
#33 Felipe Fraga/Dylan Pereira/Ben Keating
#95 Ross Gunn/Ollie Hancock/John Hartshorne
Qualifying: 45th (#33), 54th (#95)
#33 TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGTE Am, Ben Keating, Dylan Pereira, Felipe Fraga
Photo by: Marc Fleury
This successful British squad was unlucky not to add last season’s WEC GTE Am class title to its impressive CV. It’s back in the series with the new line-up of Keating, Fraga and Pereira, while an additional Aston comes on stream for Le Mans for works driver Gunn, Hartshorne and Hancock.
Autosport says: Keating and co will have the pace to go for the Am win he lost on a technicality in 2019.
Team Project 1
Porsche 911 RSR
#46 Dennis Olsen/Robert Foley/Anders Buchardt
#56 Matteo Cairoli/Riccardo Pera/Egidio Perfetti
Qualifying: 42nd (#56), 59th (#46)
#56 Team Project 1 Porsche 911 RSR - 19 LMGTE Am, Egidio Perfetti, Matteo Cairoli, Riccardo Pera
Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt
Project 1 fields two rather than three Porsches as it looks to repeat the inherited 2019 Le Mans victory that sealed the class title at the end of its maiden WEC campaign. Perfetti, co-champion in 2018-19, is again joined by Cairoli, with Pera coming in as the Silver in the lead car.
Autosport says: Project 1 appears to be back in form after a lean period for much of last season.
Cetilar Racing (AF)
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
#47 Antonio Fuoco/Giorgio Sernagiotto/Roberto Lacorte
Qualifying: 43rd
#47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari 488 GTE EVO LMGTE Am, Roberto Lacorte, Giorgio Sernagiotto, Antonio Fuoco
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
The Italian team has found its feet and decent form after switching from the LMP2 class of the WEC to GTE Am for this season. Ferrari academy driver Fuoco, Sernagiotto and Lacorte have tasted victory in their 488 GTE Evo – which like their Dallara P2 is run by AF – and lead the Am points heading into Le Mans.
Autosport says: The surprise package of the season looks like it will be in the fight.
AF Corse
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
#54 Giancarlo Fisichella/Francesco Castellacci/Thomas Flohr
#83 Nicklas Nielsen/Alessio Rovera/Francois Perrodo
Qualifying: 49th (#53), 50th (#83)
#83 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE EVO LMGTE Am of Francois Perrodo, Nicklas Nielsen, Alessio Rovera
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
AF fields two cars under its own name in the Am ranks from its giant enclave in the paddock. Perrodo and factory driver Nielsen defend their WEC title with Rovera (the reigning Italian GT champ), while Fisichella, Castellacci and Flohr continue for a third season in the second car.
Autosport says: Strong start to 2021 suggests the Perrodo car could finally chalk up an LM win.
Spirit of Race (AF)
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
#55 Matt Griffin/David Perel/Duncan Cameron
Qualifying: 60th
#55 Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 GTE EVO LMGTE Am, Duncan Cameron, David Perel, Matthew Griffin
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Yet another Ferrari is fielded by the giant AF operation under its alternate Spirit of Race banner. Griffin and Cameron, fresh from a Pro-Am class victory in the Spa 24 Hours with AF earlier this month, make a seventh consecutive Le Mans start together as part of another ELMS programme. South African Perel, their full-season Silver, is an experienced GT driver making his Le Mans debut.
Autosport says: An ELMS campaign in which the #55 Spirit car hasn’t been off the podium bodes well.
Kessel Racing
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
#57 Mikkel Jensen/Scott Andrews/Takeshi Kimura
Qualifying: 47th
#57 Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GTE EVO LMGTE Am, Takeshi Kimura, Scott Andrews, Mikkel Jensen
Photo by: Eric Le Galliot
This Swiss Ferrari specialist, a team established by sometime F1 racer Loris Kessel, is back at Le Mans after being forced to withdraw from last year’s race. New Peugeot driver Jensen gets a second Le Mans under his belt in advance of next season. He joins Kimura, boss of the Japanese Car Guy team, and US-based Aussie Andrews, who is leading the LMP3 points in the Le Mans Cup ELMS support series.
Autosport says: It’s a decent line-up led by Jensen, but probably lacks crucial depth of Le Mans experience.
Iron Lynx
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
#60 Paolo Ruberti/Raffaele Giammaria/Claudio Schiavoni
#80 Callum Ilott/Matteo Cressoni/Rino Mastronardi
#85 Rahel Frey/Sarah Bovy/Michelle Gatting
Qualifying: 46th (#80), 56th (#85), 57th (#60)
#60 Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GTE EVO LMGTE Am, Claudio Schiavoni, Paolo Ruberti, Raffaele Giammaria
Photo by: Marc Fleury
The team led by Andrea Piccini, a runner-up at Le Mans in GT1 with Aston Martin, makes its second Le Mans appearance, again with a trio of Ferraris. The Italian entrant is gradually expanding its own operation to become more independent from the AF Corse set-up. Experienced Belgian Bovy joins its all-female line-up, while Alfa Romeo F1 reserve Ilott makes his GTE debut after moving across from Iron Lynx’s GT World Challenge Europe programme.
Autosport says: Three decent cars must give Iron Lynx a shot at a good result.
JMW Motorsport
Ferrari 488 GTE
#66 Thomas Neubauer/Jody Fannin/Rodrigo Sales
Qualifying: 61st
#66 JMW Motorsport Ferrari 488 GTE EVO LMGTE Am, Thomas Neubauer, Rodrigo Sales, Jody Fannin
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
The British JMW squad, winner of the Am class in 2017, is back at Le Mans for its 12th start in the big race. Brit Fannin, who was part of the team’s successful GTE ELMS campaign in 2017, makes an overdue debut in the 24 Hours in a late line-up change alongside regular ELMS partner Sales from America and 22-year-old Neubauer, an ex-Formula Renault driver who cut his GT teeth in Ferraris.
Autosport says: Three Le Mans rookies will have to learn fast if they are to make an impact in the giant GTE Am class.
Herberth Motorsport
Porsche 911 RSR
#69 Robert Renauer/Rolf Ineichen/Ralf Bohn
Qualifying: 62nd
#69 Herberth Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR - 19 LMGTE Am of Robert Renauer, Ralf Bohn, Rolf Ineichen
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
The stalwart Porsche team run by identical twins Robert and Alfred Renauer was started by their late father, Alfred Herberth, 25 years ago, but is racing at Le Mans for the first time. This two-time winner of the German Porsche Carrera Cup owes its place on the grid to victory in the GT class of last winter’s Asian Le Mans Series. Robert and Bohn continue after winning in Asia, and team up with Ineichen, best known for his GT3 exploits.
Autosport says: Team and drivers don’t want for GT experience – except when it comes to racing at Le Mans.
Inception Racing (Optimum)
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
#71 Ben Barnicoat/Ollie Millroy/Brendan Iribe
Qualifying: 44th
#71 Inception Racing Ferrari 488 GTE EVO LMGTE Am, Brendan Iribe, Ollie Millroy, Ben Barnicoat
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Optimum Motorsport, which ran the British GT4 drivers’ champions back in 2016, makes its Le Mans debut under Iribe’s Inception banner. It won an automatic entry for its fourth-place finish in the GT standings in February’s Asian LMS with a McLaren GT3 car, and has forged a partnership with Kessel to field a Ferrari in the 24 Hours. Barnicoat, who is on McLaren’s books as a factory driver, and fellow Brit Millroy continue with Iribe from the Asian campaign.
Autosport says: A potential dark horse if Iribe arrives with his A-game.
GR Racing
Porsche 911 RSR
#86 Ben Barker/Tom Gamble/Michael Wainwright
Qualifying: 41st
#86 GR Racing Porsche 911 RSR - 19 LMGTE Am of Michael Wainwright, Benjamin Barker, Tom Gamble
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
This British team, a regular on the WEC trail and at Le Mans, now competes under the GR banner rather than the Gulf Racing UK name after ditching Gulf Oil colours last season. McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner Gamble, who is also racing in LMP2 in the ELMS this year, has joined the full-season line-up alongside team owner Wainwright and his regular partner Barker.
Autosport says: Team needs to put its disappointing start to the WEC behind it if it is to have a chance of emulating last season’s fifth in class.
Proton Competition
Porsche 911 RSR
#77 Matt Campbell/Jaxon Evans/Christian Ried
#88 Julien Andlauer/Lance David Arnold/Dominique Bastien
#99 Harry Tincknell/Florian Latorre/Vuttikhorn Inthraphuvasak
Qualifying: 40th (#88), 48th (#99), 51st (#77)
#88 Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR - 19 LMGTE Am, Julien Andlauer, Dominique Bastien, Lance Arnold
Photo by: Porsche
The stalwart Proton Porsche team fields three cars in Am — two as Dempsey-Proton in deference to its tie-up with American actor Patrick Dempsey — in addition to running the WeatherTech and Absolute cars. Seeking a third win in as many different classes, Porsche newcomer Tincknell makes his eighth start at the race aboard the #99 Proton entry garnered for winning the ELMS GTE title last year, while Bastien makes his second at the age of 75.
Autosport says: The full-season WEC line-up of factory driver Campbell, Evans and team boss Ried is the line-up most likely to challenge at the front of the competitive GTE Am pack.
Aston Martin (Prodrive)
Aston Martin Vantage GTE
#98 Nicki Thiim/Marcos Gomes/Paul Dalla Lana
Qualifying: 55th
#98 Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGTE Am, Paul Dalla Lana, Nicki Thiim, Marcos Gomes
Photo by: Marc Fleury
The in-house AMR team continues in Am after Aston’s withdrawal from GTE Pro after last season. Team stalwart Dalla Lana is back for a ninth crack at Le Mans — and an eighth in Am — with a new line-up. Brazilian Stock Car Championship regular Gomes is the Silver, while factory driver Thiim has replaced the otherwise-engaged Augusto Farfus for this race.
Autosport says: With second place at Monza, AMR is coming into form at the right time as Dalla Lana bids for an elusive first Le Mans win.
Rinaldi Racing
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
#388 Jeroen Bleekemolen/Pierre Ehret/Christian Hook
Qualifying: 53rd
#388 Rinaldi Racing Ferrari 488 GTE EVO LMGTE Am, Pierre Ehret, Christian Hook, Jeroen Bleekemolen
Photo by: Marc Fleury
A German team with an extensive GT3 record – it has multiple class victories at the Spa 24 Hours and an outright win in the Blancpain GT Series to its name – makes its Le Mans debut courtesy of a guaranteed grid spot garnered for finishing third in GT in February’s Asian LMS. Team regular Ehret and Hook (who won the 2021 Asian LMS GT Am title with Rinaldi) are joined by the versatile Bleekemolen as their pro.
Autosport says: A line-up with two Bronzes will struggle to run at the sharp end in class.
D’Station Racing (TF)
Aston Martin Vantage GTE
#777 Tomonobu Fujii/Andrew Watson/Satoshi Hoshino
Qualifying: 58th
#777 D'Station Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGTE Am, Satoshi Hoshino, Tomonobu Fujii, Andrew Watson
Photo by: Nick Dungan / Motorsport Images
This stalwart of the Super GT Series in Japan has made the switch to the WEC for this season after two years flying the flag for Aston Martin in the GT300 class of its home series. TF runs the D’Station Vantage alongside its regular entries, while team boss Hoshino shares the car with team regular Fujii and former factory driver Watson.
Autosport says: D’Station showed with third at Monza last month that when the Aston stays on the island it can be a contender.
Innovative car
Association SRT41 (Graff)
ORECA-Gibson 07
#84 Takuma Aoki/Nigel Bailly/Francois Heriau
Qualifying: 29th
#84 Association Srt41 Oreca 07 - Gibson Innovative Car, Takuma Aoki, Nigel Bailly, Matthieu Lahaye
Photo by: Marc Fleury
Frederic Sausset, the quadruple amputee who raced at Le Mans in 2016, has launched a scholarship to aid the advancement of disabled drivers and is back as an entrant. His SRT41 organisation is fielding a specially adapted ORECA run by Graff in the same ‘Garage 56’ grid spot for an innovative car he filled five years ago. Paraplegics Aoki (a podium finisher in 500cc motorcycle grands prix in the late 1990s) and Bailly are joined by ELMS regular Heriau.
Autosport says: Aoki and Bailly should aspire to match Sausset’s impressive 2016 performance.
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