Driver Photo complete
The 186 drivers who will make up this year’s field gathered on the grid this morning to pose with the trophy of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Goodyear set for biggest-ever endurance race
This weekend’s race will be Goodyear’s largest-ever endurance racing operation, with it bringing more than 7,000 tyres and over 100 staff to supply a total of 44 cars, split across the LMP2 and LMGT3 classes.
Both classes will use their respective Goodyear Eagle Medium slick compound, which were first introduced in 2025 (LMP2) and 2024 (LMGT3).
“Le Mans presents challenges unlike anything else in endurance racing because conditions constantly change across the 24 hours,” said Stephen Bickley, Goodyear endurance programme manager. “Teams often face huge swings in track and ambient temperatures between day and night, while safety cars and slow zones can cool tyres before drivers are thrown straight back into racing speeds.
“Our Goodyear Racing Eagle Medium compounds have been developed to have a very wide operating window, giving drivers of varying ability levels confidence throughout the race and across changing conditions. This year we could see teams running up to four consecutive stints on a single set of tyres, meaning our tyres will be able to last longer than the regulations allow drivers to stay in the car.”
Pit Stop Challenge ends in tie
AF Corse, CLX Motorsport and Team WRT triumphed in the fifth running of the Pit Stop Challenge, held ahead of the autograph session this afternoon.
The #83 Ferrari 499P and #69 BMW M4 LMGT3 crews both completed a four-tyre change in 8.870 seconds, tying for overall honours, whilst CLX Motorsport topped LMP2 with a time of 10.6 seconds.
The overall record of 8.830 seconds, set 12 months ago by Peugeot TotalEnergies, therefore holds for another year.
Panis tribute scheme in Road to Le Mans
Road to Le Mans entrant Forestier Racing by VPS has unveiled a special livery for its #29 Ligier JS P325 – Toyota LMP3, celebrating 30 years since Olivier Panis won the Monaco Grand Prix.
Forestier backs both VPS, and Panis’ eponymous LMP2 team.
Historic cars brought in for team photos
Multiple teams have organised photoshoots between their current Le Mans machines and those from years prior.
Manthey’s pair of Porsche 911 GT3 R (992.2) LMGT3s were joined by the original 1951 Porsche 356, the car’s first marque to compete at Le Mans.
Ford, meanwhile, brought together three generations of machinery, with its Mustang LMGT3 Evo being joined by a GT40 MkII and GT LM GTE.
2053 volunteers supporting the 2026 edition
This year’s race is relying on the service of 2053 volunteers, from 23 countries. The majority, unsurprisingly, are French, with Belgium and the United Kingdom the next best represented nations.
GT3 announcement coming for Genesis?
Is Genesis set to fully reveal a GT3 car later this week at Le Mans? Florian Defet from French outlet Endurance 24 believes it will.
You can read his story HERE >>>
Images courtesy of Andrew Lofthouse, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Goodyear Racing, Manthey Racing and Ford Racing
