Thousands of racing fans will make their pilgrimage to northwestern France this month to visit a motorsports circuit over a century old. On these grounds, dozens of the fiercest, most skilled and determined automobile drivers battle each other. Enduring the conditions, be it day or night, dry or wet, each team and driver looks to etch their name in history.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is not only the pinnacle event of endurance racing, but it is considered one of the most remarkable racing events across all motorsports. Together with the Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix, the 24 Hours of Le Mans completes the sacred racing triple crown.
With a racing spectacle so significant, it is evident that the 24 Hours of Le Mans is an event not to miss. Whether you’re new to the world of motorsport, or a lifelong racing enthusiast, this historic event is a wonderful opportunity to indulge in one of the most prominent exhibitions of skill. Here’s a beginner’s guide to what you need to know heading into this year’s race.
Aspects of Le Mans
The World Endurance Championship (WEC) holds the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the fourth event on their calendar. For those who are new to the endurance racing scene, one of the most prominent differences compared to other forms of motorsport is the combination of classes.
Automobile Club de l’Ouest fields three classes of automobiles for the Le Mans race. Among these are Hypercars, Le Mans Prototypes 2 (LMP2) and Le Mans Grand Touring Cars 3 (LMGT3). Introduced in 2021, Hypercars are considered the “top class” of WEC competing automobiles. Additionally, LMP2 cars are not a part of the traditional WEC season. The two only intersect in the Le Mans race.
Teams compete against their own classes of cars, all whilst racing on the track at the same time as the other classes. As a result, skilled driving is required to navigate through the packed field. This becomes particularly evident when battling cars have to work their way around cars of other classes.
Strategies play a crucial role in succeeding at Le Mans. Aspects of tire choices and deciding when to pit can make or break someone’s race. Furthermore, In order to tackle the 24 hours ahead of them, each team utilizes three drivers.
When in the pits, lighting-fast driver changes are required to minimize time lost during the race. Race strategies become even more complex when virtual energy is considered. Refueling during pit-stops becomes critical in ensuring cars have enough energy to finish the race while also not running too heavy.
Who to watch
It is no surprise that fans should keep their eyes on the Ferrari teams this year. Their 499P Hypercar returns to the Le Man circuit looking to win its class for the third consecutive year. Their No. 83 AF Corse car currently tops the Hypercar standings, making them evident front-runners.
Though Ferrari may be the favorite, fans should not write-off other teams. Of course, you cannot mention the 24 Hours of Le Mans without recognizing the Toyota Gazoo Racing team. Toyota notably won five straight events at Le Mans, from 2018 to 2022. With their car currently sitting in second place in the WEC Championship, another Le Mans victory is not out of the picture.
Porsche, which has been dominating the IMSA season, could make for interesting competition for the Maranello team. BMW, another team who participates in the IMSA series, is currently third in the Hypercar Championship. A Le Mans victory would be a major rebound for the German team after a disappointing performance in Spa.
While Alpine’s Formula One team may be last in the Constructor’s championship, their WEC team could pose a threat to the Hypercar class. In the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, Alpine finished in third, right behind the Ferraris. Thus, it would not be surprising to see a strong performance from the French team.
When it comes to the LMGT3 field, one should look out for the number 33 TF Sport Corvette, the current standings leader. To no surprise, the 21 Vista AF Corse Ferrari has also been dominant this season, coming in at the penultimate spot in the championship heading into Le Mans.
How to follow
This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans sees events all throughout the week of June 8. On Thursday, the qualifying schedule will set the grid for the race. Then, fans in Utah can tune in to see the race start at 8:00 AM MST on June 14. With 24 hours of action, it is easy to catch exciting racing all throughout the day.
Thankfully for fans, there are a plethora of ways to keep up with the day-long race. Subscribers to HBO’s Max platform will also have access to the race broadcast. Additionally, those who are subscribed to the radio service Sirius XM can tune in to radio coverage of the race as well.
Onboard cameras and real-time timing can be accessed for free via the FIAWEC.tv app. Some manufacturers will also stream their on-board cameras via YouTube. This means that fans can get easy access to the race itself and follow the cars of their choice for free.
With an exciting week of thrilling motorsport upcoming, capped off by one of the greatest events in all of sports, there is no better time to get into the world of endurance racing. Will you be tuning into the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year?
j.marriott@dailyutahchronicle.com
The post A Beginner’s Guide to the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.