24 Hours of Le Mans 2021

Le Mans 24 Hours, 19/20 September 2020: The #57 Team Project 1 Porsche 911 RSR GTE Am driven by Jeroen Bleekemolen, Felipe Fraga and Ben Keating waits on the starting grid ahead of the race

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) revealed just yesterday, Tuesday 9 March 2021, the 62-strong entry list for this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours. Announced recently too was the revised date for this year’s race, this being at the later than usual start time of 16h00 on 21-22 August.

Le Mans 24 Hours, 19/20 September 2020: Although the #91 works Porsche 911 RSR set the fastest qualifying time in the GTE Pro class. Driven by Gianmaria Bruni, Richard Lietz and Frederic Makowiecki, the car struggled against the competition and finished fifth (second last) in the GTE Pro class

What will be interesting this year is the new top Hypercar class. In 2021, this class has attracted two entries from Toyota with their new GR010 – Hybrid, a pair of Glickenhaus 007 LMHs, and a single Alpine A480 – Gibson, completing the five cars in this class. With just five cars in the top class, it is very disappointing to say the least as the LMP2 class is again the largest class, comprising 25 cars.

Just three manufacturers make up the LMGTE Pro class, these being Porsche, Ferrari and Corvette. The cars represented by the three manufacturers include three Porsche 911 RSR – 19s, two Ferrari 488 GTE EVOs and a pair of the new mid-engined Corvette C8.Rs. Last year the Corvettes didn’t run at Le Mans which was a big disappointment, so at least we will get to see them this year.

Le Mans 24 Hours, 19/20 September 2020: The #51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE Evo driven by James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Daniel Serra finished second in the GTE Pro class

The LMGTE Am class is almost as large as the LMP2 class, and totals 24 entries from Porsche, Aston Martin and Ferrari. The four Aston Martins will be joined by eight Porsches and no less than twelve Ferraris! Both Porsche and Ferrari are two of the manufacturers that will be in the mix for the outright win in the Hypercar class in 2023.

Le Mans 24 Hours, 19/20 September 2020: The #92 works Porsche 911 RSR of Michael Christensen, Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor suffered from power steering problems and finished sixth (and last) in the GTE Pro class

Toyota will be gunning for its fourth consecutive win at the 89th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but it will have to see off both of its rivals, Glickenhaus and Alpine if it hopes to be victorious. This will be a first for all three manufacturers in the new Hypercar class, so there will be everything to play for as all three have brand new, untried cars.

There will also be two all-female teams in the field this year. In the LMP2 class, the #1 Richard Mille Racing Team Oreca 07 Gibson will driven by Tatiana Calderon (COL), Sophia Floersch (DEU) and Beitske Visser (NLD). In the GTE Am class, the #80 Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GTE EVO will see Rahel Frey (CHE), Michelle Gatting (DNK) with A. N. Other, behind the wheel.

Le Mans 24 Hours, 19/20 September 2020: The #77 Dempsey-Proton Racing 911 RSR GTE Am driven by Matt Campbell, Riccardo Pera and Christian Ried was the highest finishing Porsche, and crossed the line in second place in the GTE Am class, just 50 seconds behind the class winning Aston Martin

The above field of cars for 2021 totals 61 entries, the 62nd entry once again being allocated to the “Innovative car” category. It is hoped that fans will once again be welcomed back to the Le Mans circuit to experience this momentous event for themselves.
Written by: Glen Smale
Images by: Virtual Motorpix/Glen Smale, Toyota Gazoo Racing, Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus