Discover the 24 Hours of Le Mans categories
Presentation
In 2023, no fewer than 62 cars will take the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The field includes 16 Hypercars, 24 LMP2s, 21 LMGTE Ams and 1 Innovative Car. But what do all these categories correspond to, and how can you tell them apart on the track? The answer is below.
Hypercar :
This is the queen of endurance racing, because it's in this category that you'll find the highest-performance cars. Each car has a closed body and a 100% professional crew. This category was introduced in 2021 to replace the LMP1s. To recognize them easily on the circuit: look for the cars with the number circled in red, they also have a red light on the side and on the roof. These cars can be hybrid or non-hybrid.
This year 7 brands are competing in the premier class, including the return of Ferrari and Cadillac to endurance racing.
LMP2:
LMP2 or Le Mans Prototype 2 is a category reserved exclusively for private teams, and like hypercars, the car has a closed body. Finally, they have been developed solely for racing on circuits. There are 4 manufacturers supplying the chassis, while there is just one supplier for the engines: Gibson. To recognize them on the track, look for cars with a number circled in blue and blue LEDs. This is the second most powerful category.
This year, Alpine Endurance Team will enter two Alpine A470s in the LMP2 category. The team is therefore leaving the premier class (Hypercar), as the car no longer complies with the regulations. But don't panic! this won't last long, and this "break" year will give the team the opportunity to work on its new hypercar for 2024.
LMGTE - AM :
Le Mans Grand Tourisme Endurance. In this category, the vehicle is based on the production cars found on the road. This category welcomes both amateur and professional drivers. So you can find famous drivers alongside private amateurs in the crews. To recognize them during the race, look for cars with orange LEDs and numbers.
Innovative Car:
Le Mans has always been synonymous with innovation.This is reflected in the non-classified Innovative Car category, which this year welcomes a symbol of American motor racing: a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.Entered by the Hendrick Motorsports team, it will race on the circuit as a modified version of the car that competed in the 2022 Cup Series, Nascar's main championship.The crew includes some of the biggest names in motorsport: 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button, 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours winner Mike Rockenfeller and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.