All articles tagged with #le mans
Hans Herrmann, a legendary Porsche racing driver known for his victories at Le Mans and other major endurance races, passed away at age 97. His career included over 80 wins and a historic victory at the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans, cementing his legacy in motorsport history. Porsche and the racing community mourn his loss.
The article explains that Porsche's left-side ignition placement is primarily due to postwar resource conservation and tradition, not a racing advantage, and highlights the inconsistency of ignition placement in Porsche's racing and road cars over the years.
The Watkins Glen race weekend features a reduced entry list due to driver injuries and scheduling conflicts, with several driver and team lineup changes, including notable entries from Porsche, Ferrari, and Lamborghini, and preparations for the upcoming race with practice sessions starting Friday.
Ferrari achieved its 12th overall victory at Le Mans with a win by Kubica, Ye, and Hanson, marking Ferrari's rise to second in manufacturer standings and a historic win from outside the top ten. The race featured notable performances from Ferrari, Porsche, Toyota, and other teams, with new records set and a record crowd attending the event.
Sebastien Buemi is set to become the most experienced driver in FIA World Endurance Championship history at Le Mans, with 90 starts, while the race features a diverse field of drivers from 33 nations, including a record-sized LMGT3 class and notable milestones for female and rookie drivers. The event also celebrates Toyota's 40th anniversary with a special car design, and offers extensive media coverage and charitable initiatives.
Alex Lynn secured Cadillac's first pole at Le Mans since 1967, marking a historic moment for American manufacturers, with Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, and other teams also showcasing strong performances during the qualifying sessions. The event featured record-breaking lap times, driver achievements, and team strategies ahead of the race weekend.
Alex Lynn secured pole position for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, leading a front row lockout for Hertz Team JOTA in the FIA World Endurance Championship, marking Cadillac's first Le Mans pole. The qualifying session saw strong performances from JOTA, Porsche, BMW, and Aston Martin, with notable eliminations including Ferraris and Toyotas. The race is set to begin on Saturday afternoon.
Toyota was the fastest in the second night practice session for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Robert Kubica initially setting the pace but later having his times scrubbed for pit lane speeding; the session included incidents and class leaders in LMP2 and GT3 categories, with practice continuing on Thursday.
Aston Martin has introduced the Valkyrie LM, a high-performance, Le Mans-spec hypercar designed for track use, featuring a 697bhp V12 engine, race-ready modifications, and a comprehensive support program for owners to experience top-tier motorsport driving. Orders are now open with first drives expected in 2026.
Aston Martin has unveiled the Valkyrie LM, a limited-edition, non-homologated track day version of its Le Mans Hypercar, featuring a 6.5-liter V12 engine and race-inspired technology, with only ten units available for around £5 million each, offering owners an authentic endurance racing experience.
During the Le Mans test day, lap times were generally faster than last year, with Toyota leading in Hypercar, Ferrari and Cadillac showing strong performance, and notable improvements in LMGT3. The event saw resurfaced sections of the track, tire developments affecting LMP2 pace, and various teams assessing their cars ahead of the race, which is set to be highly competitive with many manufacturers in close contention.
Porsche has unveiled the 963 RSP, a one-off race car inspired by the historic Porsche 917, featuring bespoke design elements, a modified interior, and a hybrid V8 powertrain, debuting on the streets near Le Mans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original 917's road debut.
Porsche has unveiled a unique, road-legal version of its racing 963 RSP, created to honor the 50th anniversary of the Porsche 917, featuring extensive modifications for road use, and will be displayed at Le Mans and the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Porsche has revealed the name 963 RSP for a new road-legal version of its Le Mans prototype, hinting at a unique, handcrafted vehicle that could be driven on public roads ahead of the 2025 Le Mans race, marking Porsche's first such model since the 911 GT1 in the late 1990s.
Toyota Gazoo Racing team director Rob Leupen has expressed enthusiasm over Alpine's support for liquid hydrogen technology, which is set to be introduced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027. Alpine's Alpenglow concept car, revealed at Spa, indicates their commitment to hydrogen combustion technology, complementing Toyota's earlier efforts. However, Leupen remains skeptical about meeting the 2027 timeline due to the lack of specific regulations and necessary infrastructure.