Esteban Masson competed in his third Le Mans 24 Hours race this year and has his eyes set on going back-to-back by winning the LMP2 title in ELMS, driving once again this year for Forestier Racing by Panis. The 21 year old Canadian-born French driver moved at an early age to Ancenis-Saint-Géréon, about 150 kilometers from the iconic La Sarthe circuit, and started karting at the age of three. From there onwards, the career of the Gold-rated #29 LMP2 driver has developed in quick fashion, and with rumors going around about a potential seat opening up at Toyota Hypercar, the future is looking bright for the Toyota Gazoo Racing Junior driver, who also competes in WEC and IMSA. 

Close to Home, Cool under Pressure

To drive the 24 Hours race on French soil means something more. 

“It’s a race that is very special; it’s very close to my hometown. To drive in Le Mans is just an incredible feeling, especially for me as a Frenchman.” 

With a magic lap of 3:32.855, the 21 year old put the LMP2 car on pole position during Hyperpole 2 by 0.387s, but a penalty due to an impeding incident saw them drop back one place ahead of the tough endurance race. 

“I was very happy to be able to put it on pole,” says the young driver proudly to GT REPORT. 

“I think it’s one of the most difficult ones to get right because there are so many corners: high speed, low speed, and heavy braking zones. You need to get everything together, but we were never really in doubt because since the start of the week we were quite comfortable and quick. I was sure we had a shot at it.” 

Feeling any extra pressure driving the race so close to the place he grew up in isn’t something that plays on the mind of the 2025 LMP2 champion as he still has his eyes set on claiming that iconic first place trophy. 

“No, I would not say there is, but obviously there is always some pressure because in LMP2 it’s really a one-shot for all of us; everyone wants to win. I’m just really focused on the race. It’s a race I really want to win, but I still haven’t managed to do it in terms of podium places because last year we finished second and this year third. I will come back for sure to get that top spot.” 

Chasing a Dream in Toyota Colors 

Winning the LMP2 ELMS title last year and being on the reserve list for the Toyota Hypercar lineup, the driver looks to be rated as one of the brightest stars, but he stays humble about that. 

“I don’t know if I’m rated as one of the best drivers, but for sure I’m very comfortable and just focused on myself. I’m lucky enough to drive in very good teams, which makes a difference as well,” the two-time Le Mans podium finisher explains before elaborating further to GT REPORT. 

“I started karting, and it was always difficult getting the budget together. I’m lucky enough to be well surrounded by Toyota, by my family, and by all the people taking care of my career right now. Everything is working out quite well: with the engineers, mechanics, and just the whole crew. I want to continue pushing every race like I’m doing, enjoying it, because I’m doing the best job in the world. And I hope I still have the opportunity to be there for many years.” 

With recent rumors coming from several news sources about Toyota changing their lineups for next year, it could mean an opportunity opens up for the junior driver. 

“I hear the same things as you all do in the paddock, that things are going on, things are changing. Obviously, it’s a team that pays a lot of respect to their drivers. As you can see, they don’t change often, which I really respect, because they have full confidence in their drivers.” 

Not being able to go deeper into the rumors, the driver backs Toyota for their way of working. 

“That’s why I’m feeling very confident with them.” 

But once the chance pops up, he is more than willing to take it. 

“I don’t have, at the moment, a clear view of what I will do next year. Honestly, I’m not pushing too much. I know I’m lucky enough to be in a very good situation right now, but once I have that opportunity, obviously I will take it. I will be very happy. It’s my goal to be in the Hypercar class as soon as possible. But I’m sure it will arrive at the right time.” 

Having Kamui Kobayashi as Team Principal and driver at Toyota Hypercar is something he looks up to a lot. 

“I mean, what can I say? He just won again at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. What they’re doing is very impressive. Kamui is obviously a driver as well. I have a bit less interaction with him because he’s focused on the Hypercar program, but I would say he’s pushing me a lot as well. I see him quite often. I would say everyone within the team, Kamui included, is very supportive of my situation. I have a lot of discussions with Technical Director David Floury, Vice-Chairman Kazuki Nakajima, and former driver Hans-Peter Hess. I’m very happy about that.” 

The Frenchman joined Toyota last year as a junior driver, but the Japanese connection started years earlier. 

“After my title in EuroCup 3 in 2023, I went on to do a shootout in the Lexus RC F GT3 with Akkodis ASP Team, which was planning to race in WEC the following year. The shootout went really well, and I had the opportunity to race in WEC with them. Alongside that, I managed to drive in the ELMS championship with Takeshi Kimura, who was also my teammate in WEC. We did the double program together that year.” 

In ELMS 2024, Masson drove for Kessel Racing (previously known as CarGuy Racing and founded by Takeshi Kimura in 2015) in the Ferrari 296 GT3, ending the season in second place; just two points behind first. 

“I think the season went really well in ELMS. The WEC campaign was a bit more difficult, scoring only eight points, but in the end, I managed to have a great season on my side. I think the team saw it, Toyota saw it, and all of this made the contact with them quite easy and clear. They came, we discussed, and I had the opportunity to sign a contract in 2025 with them. Now they’re preparing me for the next steps, hopefully.” 

Ending on a High with Lexus 

Driving the #78 Lexus for Akkodis ASP Team this season in WEC, the team aims to finish the final year of this car on a high, as the step will be made to the Toyota GR GT3.

“I was very excited to drive this season. It’s been honestly quite good. We just didn’t manage to get the results because we had three technical failures in the first races where we were in the fight. The team finished P2 and P4 at Le Mans and definitely had the pace to win it. They were really fast. It’s an amazing result for a fantastic team. I’m very happy for all of them; they deserve that. We have a championship to fight for. Even if personally, because I missed Le Mans, I don’t think I will be champion in any way.”

With the team sitting 35 points behind first and holding third place with the highest-placed Lexus, the #78, of the two cars the team runs. The WEC driver stays positive and already looks forward to the rest of the season, with the target being clear.

“I’m very excited for the races coming up. Brazil, US, Japan. We have everything to do well. I want the car to finish in style. We want to fight for that.” 

Whether he will be behind the wheel of the GR GT3 is still a question that remains unanswered. 

“I would be happy to drive it, but it will depend a bit on the situation I’m in next year.” 

Defending the Title in a Tight Championship 

Having won the LMP2 title in ELMS last year with Panis Racing and driving for them again this year alongside Oliver Gray and Louis Rousset, who is new to the team, he has his goal set. Sitting in third place with 26 points, 14 points behind the leading team, United Autosports, the chase is on. 

“We won the first race again in Barcelona and scored pole position at Paul Ricard. We were P2 with 40 minutes to go after the restart but were forced to retire because we had a mechanical issue; which saw us losing a lot of points. But with four more races to go, I’m fully focused on that title right now. Because I know we have, again, everything to do it. We have a strong package and a very strong lineup. The tracks coming up are good for us as well.” 

The champion stays ice cool when asked if he feels any pressure defending last year’s title. 

“I don’t feel so much more pressure than last year. Maybe even less because I already won it. I would say I’m just even more hungry to get it again.” 

But he admits it won’t be anything but easy. 

“To defend it is very difficult, to be honest, because all the teams are privateer teams in LMP2. Everyone has the same car and the same engine; there is no BOP. The cars are also quite old now, so everyone knows them well. It has always been very tight and, with all the strong drivers and strong lineups, it’s, for me, one of the toughest championships to win. I’m lucky enough to have been able to win it with my teammates last year. And we are, again, in my opinion, in a very good position to go and defend this title this year. That’s where all my focus goes. 

The driver ends by making himself clear. 

“Having this anger to win it, I always have it, but even more now because I want to defend what we won last year.” 

“It’s ours. I want to keep it!”