Countdown to 24: Le Mans 2025

The 93rd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is almost here. With all major sessions now complete and the race set to begin on Saturday at 16:00 CEST, we look back at the key moments from the week and the headlines shaping this year’s edition.

Track action: Cadillac leads the way

Cadillac has dominated the week. Sébastien Bourdais opened strong in Free Practice 1, setting a 3m25.148s in the #38 Cadillac V-Series.R entered by Hertz Team JOTA. Alex Lynn continued that form by taking fastest times in both qualifying and Thursday’s two-part Hyperpole session, setting a 3m23.166s in the #12 Cadillac. Earl Bamber made it a front-row lockout for the American marque, their first outright pole at Le Mans since 1967.

Mathieu Jaminet qualified third in the #5 Porsche 963 for Porsche Penske Motorsport. Ferrari, so dominant in the FIA World Endurance Championship this season, struggled. The #50 Ferrari 499P qualified seventh, and neither the #51 nor the #83 made it into the Hyperpole shootout.

In LMGT3, Mattia Drudi secured pole position in the #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3. Alessio Rovera qualified second in the #21 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3, while Valentino Rossi will start third in the #46 Team WRT BMW M4 LMGT3 on his second appearance at Le Mans.

TDS Racing’s Mathias Beche took pole position in LMP2 with the #29 Oreca 07-Gibson, while the #199 AO by TF Sport entry of Louis Delétraz had led the earlier qualifying session. Robert Kubica topped the timesheets in night-time Free Practice 4 on Thursday after Hyperpole with a 3m26.523s in the #83 Ferrari.

Full qualifying report.

Qualifying shake-ups

Wednesday’s qualifying brought drama. The #6 Porsche was disqualified for being underweight in post-session scrutineering. As a result, it will start from the back of the Hypercar field. The disqualification allowed the #009 Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH, entered by The Heart of Racing (THOR), to take part in Hyperpole.

News headlines this week

While teams battled on track, there was no shortage of developments off it. From last-minute driver changes to major manufacturer announcements and long-term regulatory decisions, Le Mans week delivered plenty of headlines beyond the timing sheets. Here are the key stories shaping the future of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Michelle Gatting out: Iron Dames driver Michelle Gatting was injured in a driver change during the test day and has been replaced by Sarah Bovy in the #85 Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3.

Full story.

Ford and McLaren confirm 2027 Hypercar entries: Ford announced it will return to the top class in 2027 with a new Hypercar built by ORECA. Ben Sayers has been named programme manager. McLaren will also join in 2027, launching its Hypercar programme under the McLaren United AS banner. The car is being developed in partnership with United Autosports and Dallara. James Barclay has been appointed as team principal.

Hypercar regulations extended to 2032: The FIA confirmed that the current Hypercar ruleset — including both LMH and LMDh — will remain in effect through the end of the 2032 season. This guarantees stability and continued manufacturer participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

2026 FIA WEC calendar announced: Presented during the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Macau, the 2026 calendar is unchanged from 2025 and features eight rounds across five continents:

22–23 March: Prologue – Lusail (Qatar)
26–28 March: Qatar 1812km – Lusail (Qatar)
17–19 April: 6 Hours of Imola – Imola (Italy)
7–9 May: 6 Hours of Spa – Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)
10–14 June: 24 Hours of Le Mans – Le Mans (France)
10–12 July: 6 Hours of São Paulo – Interlagos (Brazil)
4–6 September: Lone Star Le Mans – Circuit of The Americas (USA)
25–27 September: 6 Hours of Fuji – Fuji Speedway (Japan)
5–7 November: 8 Hours of Bahrain – Bahrain International Circuit

Spotlight on the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH

This year marks Aston Martin’s long-awaited return to the top class at Le Mans with the Valkyrie AMR-LMH. Derived from the Valkyrie AMR Pro track car, the V12-powered prototype debuts in 2025 as a non-hybrid Hypercar built to LMH regulations. It represents a different path from many of its rivals, prioritising mechanical simplicity and aerodynamics over hybrid complexity.

Read the full story: Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH – The road car reborn for Le Mans glory

Looking back before we go forward

In the lead-up to the race, we revisited some of the legendary machines that shaped Le Mans history:

– Audi R8 LMP – Five-time winner and the benchmark of the early 2000s

– Peugeot 908 HDi FAP – The diesel-powered challenger that ended Audi’s run in 2009

– Aston Martin DBR1-2 – A V12-powered throwback wrapped in Gulf colours

Find these stories and more in our Retro GT series on GT REPORT.

Want to know more before the race begins?

We’ve got you covered with everything you need to dive deeper into the world of Le Mans:

What is the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

Get up to speed with our complete explainer on the race’s history, format, classes, and what makes it the crown jewel of endurance racing.

Read the explainer.

The full 2025 Le Mans entry list

Find out who’s on the grid this year across all three classes, from factory Hypercars to GT3 debutants.

Explore the entry list.

Weather forecast: Dry race expected

According to Racecast Weather, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is expected to stay dry throughout the race. A slight chance of a light shower remains for Saturday morning, but it is not expected to impact the race. Conditions will be mostly cloudy with a high of 24°C and light winds from the west.

Sunday looks partly sunny and dry, with cooler morning temperatures around 13°C, rising to 26°C by the afternoon.

Final preparations

Saturday’s warm-up begins at 12:00 CEST, with the race scheduled to start at 16:00. With 62 cars across Hypercar, LMP2, and LMGT3, and 24 hours of racing ahead, the stage is set for another unforgettable chapter in endurance racing history.