Le Mans 2023: The team by team guide

The most highly anticipated Le Mans 24 Hours in a generation takes place this weekend with a bumper top class full of several high-profile manufacturers preparing to do battle for the ultimate prize.

From the return of serial winners Ferrari and Porsche in the premier category to established frontrunner Toyota looking to extend its victory run at the Circuit de la Sarthe, the Le Mans Hypercar class is bursting with competition.

The same can also be said for LMP2, which offers another quality field. And this edition will be a final hurrah for the GTE Am class at Le Mans as it makes its bow before the arrival of LMGT3 next year.

Here is our guide to the full field and our predictions on how each entry will fare.

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Hypercar

Cadillac Racing (Ganassi)
Cadillac V-Series.R
#2 Earl Bamber/Alex Lynn/Richard Westbrook
#3 Sebastien Bourdais/Renger van der Zande/Scott Dixon

#2 Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R of Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn, Richard Westbrook

Photo by: Paul Foster

Ganassi has been at the forefront of Cadillac’s North American sportscar involvement since 2021. One DPi-V.R in IMSA became two, run under the Cadillac Racing banner, in 2022, and now the team has segued into the WEC with the new V-Series.R LMDh. It fields a single entry in both series, with the two cars (#2 WEC, #3 IMSA) coming together for Le Mans with their regular driver line-ups, including Dixon who is doing the IMSA enduros with Bourdais and van der Zande.

Autosport says: Podium near-misses for #2 in the 2023 WEC suggest Caddy will be in the mix.

Vanwall (ByKolles)
Vanwall-Gibson Vandervell 680
#4 Esteban Guerrieri/Tristan Vautier/Tom Dillmann

#4 Floyd Vanwall Racing Team Vanwall Vandervell 680 of Tom Dillmann, Esteban Guerrieri, Tristan Vautier

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

The German-based ByKolles squad is back after two seasons away, with a new LMH designed and built in-house. The car, powered by a Gibson normally aspirated V8 like the last incarnation of its predecessor, has been branded a Vanwall after the 1958 F1 constructors’ title-winning team. Sebring 12 Hours winner Vautier replaces F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who drove the car in the first three WEC rounds, alongside team regular Dillmann and newcomer Guerrieri.

Autosport says: Bringing it home will be an achievement on the car’s Le Mans debut.

Porsche Penske Motorsport
Porsche 963
#5 Dane Cameron/Michael Christensen/Frederic Makowiecki
#6 Kevin Estre/Andre Lotterer/Laurens Vanthoor
#75 Felipe Nasr/Mathieu Jaminet/Nick Tandy

#5 PORSHCE PENSKE MOTORSPORT Porsche 963 Hybrid Hypercar of Dane Cameron, Michael Christensen, Frederic Makowiecki. #75 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 of Felipe Nasr, Mathieu Jaminet, Nick Tandy, #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 of Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer, Laurens Vanthoor

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Porsche bids for Le Mans win number 20 after just five seasons out of the prototype game. The new 963 LMDh is racing in both the WEC and IMSA in the hands of the Penske factory squad. The two cars competing in the WEC (#5 and #6) with a new Penske satellite operation based in Germany are joined by an additional Le Mans entry masterminded by the IMSA squad, which is running as #75 to mark Porsche sportscars reaching the three-quarter-century mark.

Autosport says: The progress Porsche and Penske are making hints that a 20th win might be possible

Toyota Gazoo Racing
Toyota GR010 HYBRID
#7 Mike Conway/Kamui Kobayashi/Jose Maria Lopez
#8 Sebastien Buemi/Brendon Hartley/Ryo Hirakawa

#7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 - Hybrid of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, Jose Maria Lopez

Photo by: Paul Foster

The Japanese manufacturer is back for a 12th straight Le Mans campaign run out of Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe HQ in Cologne, bidding for a sixth victory in a row and a third for its GR010 HYBRID LMH. The well-developed contender has undergone a second upgrade, less significant than the first, for its third campaign – and first facing true manufacturer opposition. The driver line-up remains unchanged, except for the return of the retired Kazuki Nakajima as reserve driver.

Autosport says: Still favourites after three WEC wins from three, but a big BoP hit has lengthened Toyota's odds

Hertz Team Jota
Porsche 963
#38 Antonio Felix da Costa/Will Stevens/Yifei Ye

#38 Hertz Team Jota Porsche 963 of Antonio Felix Da Costa, William Stevens, Yifei Ye

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

The reigning champion team in LMP2 in the WEC graduates to the Hypercar class with the first of the initial wave of four customer Porsche 963 LMDhs to hit the race track. The British team is making the step up with Porsche Formula E racer da Costa and ex-F1 driver Stevens – two-thirds of its winning P2 line-up last year – plus another former champion in Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific-backed Ye, who claimed the ELMS title with WRT in 2021.

Autosport says: Jota knows the size of the task ahead but sixth on debut for its 963 bodes well.

Ferrari AF Corse
Ferrari 499P
#50 Antonio Fuoco/Miguel Molina/Nicklas Nielsen
#51 Alessandro Pier Guidi/James Calado/Antonio Giovinazzi

#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi, #50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P of Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

The Ferrari factory is back competing for overall victory at Le Mans for the first time in 50 years with an LMH developed in-house at Maranello. The marque continues its relationship with its long-term partner in GTE Pro, AF Corse, to run the 499P, which had eight months of testing under its belt prior to the season. Five of the drivers have moved up from the Ferrari GT squad, while Giovinazzi doubles up on his role as F1 reserve.

Autosport says: Test Day pace confirmed that Ferrari will be in the mix for a 10th Le Mans victory

Peugeot TotalEnergies
Peugeot 9X8
#93 Paul di Resta/Mikkel Jensen/Jean-Eric Vergne
#94 Loic Duval/Gustavo Menezes/Nico Muller

#93 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8 of Paul Di Resta, Mikkel Jensen, Jean-Eric Vergne

Photo by: Eric Le Galliot

Three-time winner Peugeot makes its return to Le Mans after an absence of 11 seasons following its entry into the WEC for the first time with its avant-garde 9X8 LMH after the big race last summer: it opted for six months of testing before racing the car. The 9X8 – like its successful predecessors, the 905 and 908 – is run by an in-house squad from Peugeot Sport based on the outskirts of Paris. Muller came into the driver squad at the end of last year.

Autosport says: Question marks remain about both the reliability and the pace of the 9X8.

Action Express Racing
Cadillac V-Series.R
#311 Pipo Derani/Alexander Sims/Jack Aitken

#311 Action Express Racing Cadillac V-Series.R of Luis Felipe Derani, Alexander Sims, Jack Aitken

Photo by: Paul Foster

This IMSA stalwart and long-time partner of Cadillac parent company General Motors in North America makes its Le Mans debut. It bolsters the Caddy ranks with its regular IMSA line-up of Sims, Derani and Aitken, who is contesting the long races with the team in the US. Action Express might be new to Le Mans, but it has an impressive endurance racing record and has already won the Sebring 12 Hours with the V-Series this year.

Autosport says: AXR will be on a steep learning curve as it seeks to match sister team Ganassi.

Glickenhaus Racing
Glickenhaus-Pipo 007 LMH
#708 Romain Dumas/Olivier Pla/Ryan Briscoe
#709 Esteban Gutierrez/Franck Mailleux/Nathanael Berthon

#709 Glickenhaus Racing Glickenhaus 007 of Franck Mailleux, Nathanael Berthon, Esteban Gutierrez

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

The American entrant makes its third appearance at Le Mans with its non-hybrid 007 LMH developed in Italy by Podium Advanced Technologies, which also masterminds the Glickenhaus squad with help from Joest. The team skipped the final two races of last year’s WEC but is back with one full-season entry and a second car for Le Mans. New faces Gutierrez and Berthon join a roster of team regulars across two cars that are largely unchanged from last year.

Autosport says: Repeating last year’s Le Mans podium looks like a big ask based on current form.

LMP2

Prema Racing
ORECA-Gibson 07
#9 Bent Viscaal/Juan Manuel Correa/Filip Ugran
#63 Doriane Pin/Daniil Kvyat/Mirko Bortolotti

#63 Prema Racing Oreca 07 - Gibson of Doriane Pin, Daniil Kvyat, Mirko Bortolotti

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Reigning ELMS champion team returns for a second crack at Le Mans glory with a two-car line-up after finishing second on its debut last year. Just two Le Mans starts between its six drivers, but plenty of potential, particularly in its #63 crew helmed by two Lamborghini factory drivers plus 19-year-old Pin, which took a Sebring podium and an Algarve pole. Correa, a winner in the ELMS last year, returns for a second WEC outing after missing two rounds due to F2 clashes.

Autosport says: Despite limited Le Mans experience, #63 is a good bet for the podium.

Vector Sport
ORECA-Gibson 07
#10 Ryan Cullen/Gabriel Aubry/Matthias Kaiser

#10 Vector Sport Oreca 07 - Gibson of Ryan Cullen, Gabriel Aubry, Matthias Kaiser

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

British team that will run the Isotta Fraschini Hypercar that comes on stream later this year makes its second LMP2 start at Le Mans, with Irishman Cullen its only returning driver. Fellow silver Kaiser aims to become the first Liechtenstein native to contest the 24 Hours since 1982. Vector’s one-lap pace is not in doubt, with 2019 Le Mans LMP2 runner-up Aubry just 0.001s shy of the Portimao 6 Hours pole, but niggling issues mean it’s yet to enjoy a clean race in 2023.

Autosport says: Vector needs to avoid the mechanical issues that have blighted its season.

Tower Motorsports (TDS Racing)
ORECA-Gibson 07
#13 Steven Thomas/Ricky Taylor/Rene Rast

#13 Tower Motorsports Oreca 07 - Gibson of John Farano, Ricky Taylor, Rene Rast

Photo by: Eric Le Galliot

Full-season IMSA entrant TDS Racing returns to Europe after placing fourth last year, fielding the entry John Farano secured by clinching IMSA’s 2022 LMP2 crown. The Canadian bronze was a late withdrawal following a crash at Laguna Seca, and is replaced by team regular Steven Thomas. Two top pros complete what appears a competitive lineup in the Pro-Am sub-division. McLaren Formula E racer Rast is back in LMP2 for the first time this year, while double IMSA champion Taylor clocks up a ninth Le Mans appearance.

Autosport says: TDS’s history at Le Mans and crack team-mates should serve Thomas well.

Nielsen Racing
ORECA-Gibson 07
#14 Rodrigo Sales/Mathias Beche/Ben Hanley

#14 Nielsen Racing Oreca 07 - Gibson of Rodrigo Sales, Mathias Beche, Ben Hanley

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

British squad with extensive LMP3 background fields its regular ELMS line-up in the Pro-Am sub-division. American bronze Sales continues his association with Nielsen for its second full season of LMP2 competition, following their 2022 Asian LMS title success, and reunites with 2021 LMP2 Pro-Am winner Hanley. Fellow gold Beche, a safe pair of hands who took third outright with Rebellion in 2018, completes the line-up that managed a top 10 in the ELMS season opener.

Autosport says: A line-up with plenty of Le Mans pedigree has a good chance for its best finish.

United Autosports
ORECA-Gibson 07
#22 Phil Hanson/Filipe Albuquerque/Freddie Lubin
#23 Josh Pierson/Tom Blomqvist/Oliver Jarvis

#23 United Autosports Oreca 07 - Gibson of Joshua Pierson, Tom Blomqvist, Oliver Jarvis

Photo by: Eric Le Galliot

Two strong cars, each with a maximum score and a second in the WEC this season, head into Le Mans among the favourites. Only a freak problem with a cockpit TV camera working loose while leading at Sebring means Portimao winners Pierson and Jarvis trail their team-mates in the LMP2 standings. Rookie Lubin has shown he’s up to the task of complementing 2020 Le Mans class victors Hanson and Albuquerque. That’s a success Richard Dean’s team has worked hard to repeat…

Autosport says: WEC form makes United a strong contender for a first Le Mans win since 2020.

Jota
ORECA-Gibson 07
#28 David Heinemeier Hansson/Oliver Rasmussen/Pietro Fittipaldi

#28 Jota Oreca 07 - Gibson of David Heinemeier Hansson, Oliver Rasmussen, Pietro Fittipaldi

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

The 2022 class winner at Le Mans is down to a single LMP2 entry for its full-season WEC line-up after expanding into Hypercar with a Porsche 963. Fittipaldi makes his second Le Mans start, having swapped from Inter Europol with 2013 P2 runner-up Heinemeier Hansson. Rasmussen finished third on Le Mans debut with Jota in 2022. The Sebring win for the ‘other’ car while it awaited the 963 shows the team is still capable, but perhaps its biggest assets are now directed elsewhere.

Autosport says: A fourth Le Mans class victory seems a stretch based on 2023 WEC form.

Duqueine Team
ORECA-Gibson 07
#30 Neel Jani/Rene Binder/Nico Pino

#30 Duqueine Team Oreca 07 - Gibson of Neel Jani, Rene Binder, Nicolas Pino

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

The French Le Mans regular, badly delayed during last year’s race by fixing an electronics glitch, fields its ELMS line-up headlined by ex-Porsche LMP1 ace Jani. The overall 2016 Le Mans winner finished second in the Barcelona season opener in April with sometime IndyCar racer Binder and Chilean rookie Pino. The 18-year-old runner-up in last year’s ELMS P3 division appears a very useful silver. It all indicates that the one-car team could be in the mix near the front of LMP2.

Autosport says: Duqueine can banish memories of a tough 2022 Le Mans with this line-up.

Team WRT
ORECA-Gibson 07
#31 Sean Gelael/Ferdinand Habsburg/Robin Frijns
#41 Rui Andrade/Louis Deletraz/Robert Kubica

#31 Team WRT Oreca 07 - Gibson of Sean Gelael, Ferdinand Habsburg, Robin Frijns, #41 Team WRT Oreca 07 - Gibson of Rui Andrade, Louis Deletraz, Robert Kubica

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

WRT’s two full-season WEC entries ought to be contenders at the scene of its dramatic victory two years ago, despite 2021 winners Habsburg and Frijns only mustering a trio of sixths with Gelael so far. Being cruelly denied on the final lap at Le Mans in 2021 means Spa winners Deletraz and Kubica aren’t lacking motivation upon their return from a year at Prema. There’s little reason to think the endurance masters at WRT won’t again be a force at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

Autosport says: Vincent Vosse’s squad has a good chance of repeating its 2021 success.

Inter Europol Competition
ORECA-Gibson 07
#32 Mark Kvamme/Jan Magnussen/Anders Fjordbach
#34 Jakub Smiechowski/Albert Costa/Fabio Scherer

#32 Inter Europol Competition Oreca 07 - Gibson of Mark Kvamme, Jan Magnussen, Anders Fjordbach

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

Much-improved Polish squad was buoyed by maiden WEC podium for its full-season crew bolstered by Costa at Spa. One-off entry for Le Mans features veteran Magnussen. Presence of bronze Kvamme, who raced a Porsche at Daytona with Magnussen, means it’s a Pro-Am runner.

Autosport says: Going off-strategy helped Inter Europol at Spa; Le Mans will be tougher.

Alpine Elf Team (Signatech)
ORECA-Gibson 07
#35 Andre Negrao/Olli Caldwell/Memo Rojas
#36 Matthieu Vaxiviere/Charles Milesi/Julien Canal

#36 Alpine Elf Team Oreca 07 - Gibson of Matthieu Vaxiviere, Charles Milesi, Julien Canal. #35 Alpine Elf Team Oreca 07 - Gibson of Andre Negrao, Olli Caldwell, Memo Rojas

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

Treble LMP2 class winner is back in the secondary division before a renewed Hypercar assault in 2024, but its two WEC full-season crews are yet to set the world alight. Milesi, a P2 winner with WRT in 2021, and three-time GT class king Canal, teamed with last year’s Toyota botherer Vaxiviere, have mustered a best finish of seventh.

Autosport says: Decent line-ups on paper, but this is likely a holding year before the team's top-class return.

Cool Racing
ORECA-Gibson 07
#37 Nicolas Lapierre/Alexandre Coigny/Malthe Jakobsen
#47 Reshad de Gerus/Vlad Lomko/Simon Pagenaud

#37 Cool Racing Oreca 07 - Gibson of Nicolas Lapierre, Alexandre Coigny, Malthe Jakobsen

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

Swiss operation owned by four-time LMP2 class victor Lapierre fields its two ELMS crews. IndyCar racer Pagenaud is back at Le Mans for the first time since 2011 with Peugeot, replacing Toyota’s Lopez alongside team regulars whose combined age is two years his junior. ELMS P3 champion Jakobsen is a winner with Am Coigny in Asian LMS.

Autosport says: A shot at Pro-Am honours is certainly on the cards for Lapierre.

Graff Racing
ORECA-Gibson 07
#39 Roberto Lacorte/Giedo van der Garde/Patrick Pilet

#39 Graff Racing Oreca 07 - Gibson of Roberto Lacorte, Giedo Van Der Garde, Patrick Pilet

Photo by: Paul Foster

Ex-F1 racer van der Garde was due to reprise IMSA partnership with Francois Heriau, part of the line-up that secured Graff’s entry by winning the Asian LMS P3 crown until a back injury from a test crash sidelined the Frenchman. Replacement bronze Lacorte comes in for a fifth LMP2 start. Porsche expert Pilet switches from IDEC Sport.

Autosport says: This all-new line-up thrown together late could factor in the Pro-Am ranks.

DKR Engineering
ORECA-Gibson 07
#43 Tom van Rompuy/Ugo de Wilde/Maxime Martin

#43 DKR Engineering Oreca 07 - Gibson of Tom Van Rompuy, Ugo De Wilde, Maxime Martin

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

A second consecutive entry from the Luxembourg squad that scooped Asian LMS LMP2 title. All-new Belgian line-up is headed by Martin, a GTE Pro winner in 2020, in his first P2 appearance since 2013. His co-drivers are 24 Hours rookies, though de Wilde won a support race in 2021. Van Rompuy stays with DKR in ELMS after P3 graduation.

Autosport says: Don’t expect DKR to be a factor when BMW factory ace Martin isn’t at the wheel.

Algarve Pro Racing
ORECA-Gibson 07
#45 George Kurtz/James Allen/Colin Braun

#45 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca 07 - Gibson of George Kurtz, James Allen, Colin Braun

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Anglo-Portuguese squad scales back to a single Pro-Am entry for IMSA regular Kurtz, making his Le Mans debut. Allen, who pipped Kurtz’s car at the line for Daytona LMP2 victory, reprises his role from APR’s ELMS roster and is joined by Daytona 24 winner Braun, back for the first time since 2007.

Autosport says: A top 10 finish would be a good outcome on its bronze driver’s debut.

IDEC Sport
ORECA-Gibson 07
#48 Paul Lafargue/Paul-Loup Chatin/Laurents Horr

#48 Idec Sport Oreca 07 - Gibson of Paul Lafargue, Paul Loup Chatin, Laurents Horr

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

The 2019 ELMS title-winners are running in colours of 1914 Indy 500 winner Delage. French squad led by Nicolas Minassian has continuity in its ELMS line-up, with returnees Chatin and Lafargue, son of team owner Patrice, joined by German P3 specialist Horr following his Le Mans debut with DKR last year.

Autosport says: Matching its best result of fifth in 2019 is possible with a clean run.

Panis Racing
ORECA-Gibson 07
#65 Manuel Maldonado/Tijmen van der Helm/Job van Uitert

#65 Panis Racing Oreca 07 - Gibson of Manuel Maldonado, Tijmen Van Der Helm, Job Van Uitert

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

Panis/Tech 1 partnership enters its ELMS crew that only retains van Uitert from 2022’s series runners-up. The Dutchman, joined by compatriot van der Helm and ex-United driver Maldonado (cousin of 2012 Spanish GP winner Pastor), finished fifth in the Barcelona opener. Van der Helm’s fourth last year with TDS is best Le Mans result of the trio.

Autosport says: After two podiums in the last three years, a top six is achievable.

AF Corse
ORECA-Gibson 07
#80 Francois Perrodo/Ben Barnicoat/Norman Nato

#80 AF Corse Oreca 07 - Gibson of Francois Perrodo, Ben Barnicoat, Norman Nato

Photo by: Eric Le Galliot

The Italian team running Ferrari’s Hypercar programme is also present in the secondary division with a Pro-Am entry for 2021 GTE Am winner Perrodo. Bronze AF stalwart Perrodo and Lexus IMSA driver Barnicoat – making his first LMP2 start at Le Mans after two GTE outings – took third in the ELMS opener with Vaxiviere.

Autosport says: Strong team-mates could aid Perrodo in repeating P2 podium of 2019.

Racing Team Turkey (TF Sport)
ORECA-Gibson 07
#923 Salih Yoluc/Tom Gamble/Dries Vanthoor

#923 Racing Team Turkey Oreca 07 - Gibson of Salih Yoluc, Tom Gamble, Dries Vanthoor

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Two-time GTE Am winner TF Sport makes LMP2 bow in the third season of its programme for 2020 Am class victor Yoluc. The Asian LMS P2 champion with DKR began his ELMS Pro-Am title defence with outright victory alongside Deletraz and Eastwood, both otherwise occupied for Le Mans. BMW factory driver Vanthoor won GTE Am in 2017.

Autosport says: Yoluc and TF are a well-oiled combination, a solid bet for Pro-Am honours.

GTE Am

Proton Competition
Porsche 911 RSR
#16 Ryan Hardwick/Zacharie Robichon/Jan Heylen
#88 Harry Tincknell/Don Yount/Jonas Reid
#911 Michael Fassbender/Martin Rump/Richard Lietz

#911 Proton Competition Porsche 911 RSR - 19 of Michael Fassbender, Martin Rump, Richard Lietz

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

Two extra ELMS Proton Porsches join the regular WEC entry for Le Mans, and these include the #911 of Hollywood star Fassbender and two-time GTE Pro winner Lietz, ahead of the squad’s planned expansion to a 963 LMDh later this year. ELMS victors Hardwick and Robichon aren’t sharing with regular team-mate Tincknell.

Autosport says: Media spotlight will again be on the team, but it may not deliver on that attention.

AF Corse
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
#21 Simon Mann/Julien Piguet/Ulysse de Pauw
#54 Thomas Flohr/Francesco Castellacci/Davide Rigon
#83 Luis Perez Companc/Alessio Rovera/Lilou Wadoux

#21 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE EVO of Simon Mann, Julien Piguet, Ulysse De Pauw

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

Expect the AF Corse Ferrari triumvirate to be in the mix, likely headed by the #83 Richard Mille machine – which, without a sizeable Sebring shunt for Perez Companc, would be right in the title fight after winning at Spa. Neither of the other cars has yet managed a WEC podium, and Piguet is the third different bronze in the #21 this year.

Autosport says: Wadoux has been a star this season, meaning the #83 will be one to watch.

TF Sport
Aston Martin Vantage GTE
#25 Ahmad Al Harthy/Michael Dinan/Charlie Eastwood
#72 Arnold Robin/Maxime Robin/Valentin Hasse-Clot

#72 TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage AMR of Arnold Robin, Maxime Robin, Valentin Hasse-Clot

Photo by: Paul Foster

TF Sport has enjoyed GTE Am glory in two of the past three years at Le Mans but only one of its six winning drivers, Eastwood, is part of the line-up this time around. The Northern Irishman, Al Harthy and Dinan have been the most successful of the WEC Astons so far, and are joined in France by the ELMS squad comprising local racers.

Autosport says: The pick of the Aston squads, but adding a third Le Mans win seems a challenge.

Corvette Racing (Pratt & Miller)
Chevrolet Corvette C8.R
#33 Nicky Catsburg/Ben Keating/Nico Varrone

#33 Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R of Nicky Catsburg, Ben Keating, Nicolas Varrone

Photo by: Paul Foster

Is this when Corvette finally ends its eight-year Le Mans victory drought? All the signs are positive, with the addition of reigning GTE Am champion Keating as the bronze helping to propel the American car to a huge lead in the early WEC standings with two wins and a further podium, even if there was some good fortune on the way.

Autosport says: Quite possibly the best chance for the C8.R to achieve a Le Mans victory.

GMB Motorsport
Aston Martin Vantage GTE
#55 Gustav Birch/Marco Sorensen/Jens Reno Moller

#55 GMB Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR of Gustav Dahlmann Birch, Marco Sorensen, Jens Reno Moller

Photo by: Nikolaz Godet

The Danish team, only founded last year, has secured an entry courtesy of winning the 2022 Le Mans Cup GT crown. But it’s not last season’s successful pairing on duty; instead, teenager Birch – son of the team owner – steps up alongside last year’s GTE Am victor Sorensen and Moller.

Autosport says: Sorensen and Moller bring driving experience but don’t guarantee the team's debut success.

Project 1-AO
Porsche 911 RSR
#56 PJ Hyett/Gunnar Jeannette/Matteo Cairoli

#56 Project1 - AO Porsche 911 RSR - 19 of PJ Hyett, Gunnar Jeannette, Matteo Cairoli

Photo by: Paul Foster

Americans Hyett and Jeannette are again due to partner Cairoli at the German team after calendar clashes prevented them from racing in Portugal. But preparations for Le Mans were disrupted by a Spa qualifying crash for Hyett that left him in hospital and the car was withdrawn. The #56 has been a midfield contender in the other WEC events.

Autosport says: A repeat of its 2019 Le Mans triumph appears unlikely for this Porsche squad.

Kessel Racing
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
#57 Takeshi Kimura/Scott Huffaker/Daniel Serra
#74 Kei Cozzolino/Yorikatsu Tsujiko/Naoki Yokomizo

#57 Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GTE EVO of Takeshi Kimura, Scott Huffaker, Daniel Serra

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

The Swiss squad expands to running two Ferraris at Le Mans, courtesy of finishing second in the GTE ELMS ranks last year. Its charge will be led by the regular #57 WEC entry, which claimed third in the Sebring opener and has been boosted by Serra’s arrival, while it’s joined by a second all-Japanese crew that lacks experience at this level.

Autosport says: Could improve upon its previous best of ninth, but it may not be by much.

Iron Lynx/Dames
Porsche 911 RSR
#60 Claudio Schiavoni/Matteo Cressoni/Alessio Picariello
#85 Sarah Bovy/Michelle Gatting/Rahel Frey

#85 Iron Dames Porsche 911 RSR - 19 of Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting, Rahel Frey

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Again the sole all-female crew on the entry, the Iron Dames trio has successfully swapped from Ferrari to Porsche machinery this year and shown impressive WEC qualifying pace, ever-present on the front row. Yet it only has a third and fifth place to show for it after a couple of errors from Frey. Sister Iron Lynx car less likely to feature.

Autosport says: Historic Iron Dames win could be possible if qualifying prowess is converted.

JMW Motorsport
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
#66 Thomas Neubauer/Louis Prette/Giacomo Petrobelli

#66 JMW Motorsport Ferrari 488 GTE EVO of Thomas Neubauer, Louis Prette, Giacomo Petrobelli

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

The British entrant is one of only three teams joining the GTE Am ranks at Le Mans that doesn’t have a full-season WEC entry. Instead, its Ferrari can be found in the ELMS. But, unlike the crew that took a podium in the ELMS opener in Spain in April, this is a combination not truly proven at this level.

Autosport says: Another year when the chances of replicating its 2017 triumph appear slim.

Dempsey-Proton Racing
Porsche 911 RSR
#77 Christian Ried/Mikkel Overgaard Pedersen/Julien Andlauer

#77 Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR - 19 of Christian Ried, Mikkel Pedersen, Julien Andlauer

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Ried has reunited with former one-make Porsche ace Andlauer as the pair aim to repeat their 2018 Le Mans class success and make up for Ried missing out on a podium with late wishbone woe last year. They are joined by former Project 1 driver Pedersen and were runners-up at Sebring.

Autosport says: With two proven winners aboard, this car cannot be discounted.

GR Racing
Porsche 911 RSR
#86 Michael Wainwright/Ben Barker/Riccardo Pera

#86 GR Racing Porsche 911 RSR - 19 of Michael Wainwright, Benjamin Barker, Riccardo Pera

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

An unchanged line-up for the British regular as it makes another attempt at GTE Am glory. But, given how competitive the class is looking, a repeat of GR’s somewhat surprising fourth last year – when it profited from problems for others – might be a challenge. Especially as it’s yet to finish higher than seventh in the 2023 WEC races.

Autosport says: Other Porsches are more likely to win but 2022 showed this 911 can’t be discounted.

Northwest AMR (Prodrive)
Aston Martin Vantage GTE
#98 Ian James/Daniel Mancinelli/Alex Riberas

#98 Northwest AMR Aston Martin Vantage AMR of Ian James, Daniel Mancinelli, Alex Riberas

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

The #98 Aston may still be entered under the NorthWest AMR banner but, following marque veteran Paul Dalla Lana’s sudden retirement from the cockpit pre-Spa, it’s the successful IMSA Heart of Racing operation behind it. James, Mancinelli and Riberas finished seventh in class on their debut but competing at Le Mans is a sterner challenge.

Autosport says: It would be impressive if this Aston is at the heart of the GTE lead action.

Walkenhorst Motorsport
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo
#100 Chandler Hull/Andrew Haryanto/Jeff Segal

#100 Walkenhorst Motorsport Ferrari 488 GTE EVO of Chandler Hull, Andrew Haryanto, Jeff Segal

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

Walkenhorst is best known as a successful BMW GT squad, scoring a Spa 24 Hours triumph in 2018, but gets to make its Le Mans debut courtesy of Asian series glory over the winter. Of its ALMS title winners, only Hull retains his place for the switch to a Ferrari and is joined by 2016 class conqueror Segal and regular GTE Am guest Haryanto.

Autosport says: Given the strength of the class, Walkenhorst will be in at the deep end.

D’Station Racing (TF)
Aston Martin Vantage GTE
#777 Satoshi Hoshino/Casper Stevenson/Tomonobu Fujii

#777 D'Station Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR of Satoshi Hoshino, Casper Stevenson, Tomonobu Fujii

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

The Japanese car run in collaboration with TF is back for a third crack at Le Mans and the WEC. Team bosses Hoshino and Fujii are again behind the wheel and have been joined by ex-British F4 frontrunner Stevenson, who switched to sportscars last year. But the trio has yet to do better than a 10th-place finish in 2023.

Autosport says: Not one of the favourites and it will be tough to improve upon its sixth place from 2021.

Garage 56

Hendrick Motorsports
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
#24 Jimmie Johnson/Mike Rockenfeller/Jenson Button

#24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 of Jimmie Johnson, Mike Rockenfeller, Jenson Button

Photo by: Paul Foster

The Garage 56 entry slot for a so-called innovative car returns for the first time since 2021 with an intriguing project put together by NASCAR, Chevrolet and Hendrick. The idea is to promote NASCAR in Europe by running a modified Next Gen Cup car with a trio of high-profile drivers.

Autosport says: The aim has to be to keep rumbling around at GTE pace for 24 hours.

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