Five Stories to Watch for Before Le Mans 2025
Mercedes is back at Le Mans for the first time since the infamous flying CLR debacle of 1999.
1. Ferrari Chases a Historic Le Mans Hattrick
Ferrari enters the 2025 Le Mans on a hot streak, having won the first three rounds of the WEC season (FIA World Endurance Championship).
Their two factory cars are formidable. The #51 crew James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi, and Antonio Giovinazzi, leads the Drivers’ Championship, while the #50, featuring Miguel Molina, Antonio Fuoco, and Nicklas Nielsen, returns as the reigning Le Mans winner.
The #83 privateer AF Corse entry adds further depth with Phil Hanson, Yifei Ye, and Robert Kubica. Although it struggled at Spa, it still ranks third in the standings.
If all runs smoothly, Ferrari could pull off a three-peat, an achievement that would cement their current dominance in endurance racing.
2. Can Toyota Take Back the Crown?
Toyota, once the undisputed king of Le Mans, has lost out to Ferrari in the last two years. Their response? A renewed push, highlighted by a promising pre-race showing in testing.
The #8 car, driven by Brendon Hartley, Sébastien Buemi, and Ryo Hirakawa, topped the time sheets, suggesting the fight is very much alive.
Meanwhile, the #7 car, featuring Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway, and Nyck de Vries, will sport a nostalgic GT-One tribute livery, a nod to Toyota’s near-misses in the late 1990s.
The pressure is on for the Japanese team to reclaim its glory.
3. Porsche, Cadillac and a Pack of Hypercar Contenders
Porsche has done everything but win at Le Mans since entering the Hypercar class. Despite success in IMSA and a championship-winning 2024 WEC season, a Le Mans win still eludes the 963.
Four entries, three with Penske, one with Proton, does show off strength, but reliability and fortune will be key.
Cadillac, meanwhile, brings muscle from IMSA (International Motor Sports Association), with Wayne Taylor Racing and Whelan Express Motorsport making strong debuts.
Jota Motorsport’s entry, featuring Jenson Button and Sébastien Bourdais, adds firepower to the mix.
Keep an eye on BMW’s Kevin Magnussen and the surging French Alpine team, featuring Mick Schumacher, as outside bets.
Aston Martin’s return with the Valkyrie adds spice, though it has yet to score points this season.
4. LMP2: A Wide-Open Battle Among Familiar Foes
Though no longer a WEC mainstay, LMP2 remains fiercely competitive at Le Mans.
Top billing goes to United Motorsport (Zak Brown’s team) and Inter Europol Competition the past two winners who’ve each scored big wins in IMSA this year.
IDEC Sport looks set to disrupt the status quo, leading the European Le Mans Series with wins at Barcelona and Paul Ricard Circuit.
Notably, Jamie Chadwick makes her 24-hour debut in the team’s #18 Oreca.
The field also includes strong entries from AF Corse, AO Racing (with its eye-catching ‘Spike’ livery), and Proton Competition.
