With the race well underway, key patterns are emerging at Circuit de la Sarthe. From strategic power plays to unexpected underperformers, here’s what this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours has revealed about the Hypercar and GT3 landscape.
Ferrari Still Leads the Pack — Even from Mid-Grid
Despite only qualifying seventh, Ferrari's 499P remains the statistical frontrunner. Its competitors, including seven other Hypercar manufacturers, universally acknowledge its race pace advantage. Track data from the Test Day and practice confirms what many feared: Ferrari’s stint pace is consistently strong across tire degradation cycles.
Toyota Gazoo Racing’s technical chief David Floury summed it up bluntly: “It looks quite easy for them.” The paddock consensus supports this — Ferrari may not have dominated qualifying, but the long-run performance data marks it as the car to beat. With a potential third consecutive victory on the line, Ferrari’s status as race favorite is hard to dispute.
Toyota Faces a Tactical Battle, Not a Performance One
Toyota's GR010 HYBRID LMH has slipped from its historical dominance, and this year’s race presents one of its toughest strategic puzzles. Floury even quipped it might be more enjoyable “with a beer at the Dunlop Chicane” than from the pit wall — a telling sign of confidence levels.
Despite their pessimistic tone, Toyota remains a team that thrives under pressure. Their ability to extract performance through tire strategy, consistent laptimes, and BoP exploitation cannot be ignored. However, in an increasingly compressed Hypercar field, the margins are thin, and this could be the year their magic runs dry.
Porsche’s 963: Finally a Weapon, Not a Worry
Last year, Porsche finished a respectable fourth but lacked the top-end speed to seriously challenge for the win. That’s no longer the case. Armed with Balance of Performance adjustments and an aero upgrade approved via its evo joker allowance, the 963 LMDh now slots mid-field on straightline speed metrics — a significant gain.
Race engineers report the car is no longer vulnerable on the Mulsanne and is capable of trading sector times with Ferrari and Toyota. With clean air and tactical safety car timing, Porsche might have just enough to position itself for a podium — or more.
Hydrogen No Longer Just a Talking Point
The future arrived in the form of the Toyota GR LH2. Built on the GR010 platform, the liquid hydrogen-powered concept isn’t just for show — it’s a tangible marker on the timeline toward zero-emission endurance racing.
While the ACO is steering clear of setting a hard date, 2028 remains the unofficial target. The GR LH2’s debut proves hydrogen combustion isn’t a pipe dream. Its successful showcase is a boost to sustainability narratives within motorsport coverage and could redefine the powertrains of Le Mans over the next decade.
Peugeot’s Nightmare Weekend
Peugeot’s new 9X8 2024 LMH has failed to meet even modest expectations. Both entries missed Hyperpole, and practice pace placed them consistently at the rear of the Hypercar field. Balance of Performance adjustments appear to have hit them hard, and the French squad has yet to find a recovery path.
Veteran driver Loïc Duval was blunt: a top-five finish would require mass retirements or divine intervention. With minimal race pace and limited strategy levers to pull, Peugeot looks set to endure a long and fruitless 24 hours.
LMP2: Is This the Year for Pro-Am Glory?
The odds have never looked better for a pro-am team to top LMP2. Five of the eight Hyperpole qualifiers fall into this category, including the #29 TDS entry on pole. Add in seasoned talent like Oliver Jarvis in the #23 United Autosports car and Louis Delétraz’s presence in the #199 AO by TF machine, and the field is more balanced than ever.
New safety car rules introduced in 2023 allow any car on the lead lap to stay in contention. That, combined with well-timed yellow flag stints for bronze drivers to fulfill minimum drive time, could tip the scales toward a landmark pro-am victory.
LMGT3: Wide Open Grid with Equal Potential
Aston Martin may hold pole, but don’t read too much into it. Eight different manufacturers reached the Hyperpole session — including Mercedes, which hadn’t featured in Le Mans GT3 headlines for years. Lexus looked strong early on, while Corvette struggled with top speed.
BMW’s Augusto Farfus captured the vibe best: “Literally every single car in that field could win that race!” With new GT3 regulations compressing the field, race pace and stint consistency will determine the winner — not qualifying glamour.
Unexpected Hazard: Bugs, and Not the Mechanical Kind
Drivers reported unprecedented bug strikes on their windscreens during twilight practice sessions, impacting visibility at speeds north of 300kph. According to LMP2 veteran Oliver Jarvis, the windscreen situation bordered on dangerous: “It just covers the windscreen and it does make visibility difficult.”
It’s another variable in an already demanding environment. Whether it’s BoP changes, hydrogen transitions, or — now — insect interference, Le Mans 2025 is living up to its reputation as motorsport’s ultimate survival test.
And Finally... Jimmy Tarbuck, Golf Tragedy, and the Harrods McLaren
In the most bizarre paddock tangent of the week, talk turned to Jimmy Tarbuck’s apparent golfing fury. The story, somehow linked to the Harrods McLaren F1 GTR that almost stole victory three decades ago, involves braces, bunker tantrums, and the late Dave Price’s flamboyant style.
Somehow, it all makes sense — this is Le Mans, after all.