With the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours race set to take place very soon, check out the entry list, class category, event schedule, how to watch live, circuit guide, start time and dates
This year’s Le Mans 24 Hours marks the 100th anniversary ever since the initial race decades ago.
Le Mans 24 race 2023 schedule, dates, start time, cars, teams, circuit details, venue, format, live stream telecast
The first night session of the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans has started! 🌙
Watch it LIVE on https://t.co/B3OAfJ9by7#WEC #LeMans24 #LeMansCentenary Peugeot Sport pic.twitter.com/xDmsrcx99r
— FIA World Endurance Championship (@FIAWEC) June 7, 2023
FERRARI TAKES HYPERPOLE AT LE MANS! 🔥
Antonio Fuoco puts the #50 Ferrari on pole position for the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans 👏#WEC #LeMans24 #LeMansCentenary | @FerrariHypercar @24hoursoflemans pic.twitter.com/frnNPRMIaG
— FIA World Endurance Championship (@FIAWEC) June 8, 2023
André Lagache and René Léonard’s No9 Chenard-Walcker was the first car to win the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1923.
2023 Le Mans 24 entry list
The 2023 race will feature nine-time overall winner Ferrari, return to the elite-level endurance racing after a 50 year absence. They will compete against current Le Mans kings Toyota, as well as Porsche, Peugeot and Cadillac. BMW, Lamborghini and Alpine are all set to join the top class at Le Mans next year as well.
2023 Le Mans 24 class category
Given below are the different race categories in the Le Mans 24 2023:
Le Mans Hypercar
The Le Mans Hypercar competition includes big manufacturers and independent teams. Toyota had an advantage in the first year of the new Hypercar rules and won. However, this season, they face tough competition from independent teams like Glickenhaus and Alpine, as well as Ferrari.
Peugeot has also entered the category this year, but it has so far struggled with reliability and performance. Other independent entries include Glickenhaus and Vanwall. With all these new developments, it remains to be seen who will come out on top in this highly competitive field.
LMDh Hypercar
The LMDh rules offer a cost-effective way for entrants to compete for the overall win at Le Mans. The regulations specify the use of a spec hybrid system, battery, and gearbox, as well as a choice of LMP2 derived chassis from four manufacturers.
Porsche is using a Multimatic chassis, while Cadillac is using Dallara’s offering. Porsche is starting a third car, and Cadillac is adding two extra cars. This year, there will be a fourth car for Porsche 963 from the British JOTA squad.
LMP2
The LMP2 category at Le Mans is predicted to be highly competitive this year, even with the new Hypercar class. Zak Brown’s United Autosport has two strong lineups, including Oliver Jarvis, Tom Blomqvist, Josh Pierson, Phil Hanson, Filipe Albuquerque, and Frederick Lubin.
Other top teams include WRT with Robert Kubica, Louis Deletraz, and Rui Andrade, Prema with Daniil Kvyat, Doriane Pin, Mirko Bortolotti, and Jota with Pietro Fittipaldi, Oliver Rasmussen, and David Heinemeier-Hansson. Endurance legend Jan Magnussen will also be driving for Inter Europol Competition.
GTE-Am
The GT discipline at Le Mans used to have two categories (GTE-Pro and GTE-Am) but now only the GTE-Pro category exists due to increased interest in the Hypercar class and decreased manufacturer interest in GTE racing. Next year, the category will switch to the cheaper GT3 ruleset, allowing for more manufacturer participation.
This year, Aston Martin will have its largest representation since 2017 and Patrick Dempsey’s Proton squad will be fielding Michael Fassbender in a Porsche. Lilou Wadoux made history as the first woman to win a WEC race at Spa and will be competing in the AF Corse Ferrari with Luis Perez Companc and Alessio Rovera. The all-female Iron Dames team and endurance legend Jan Magnussen will also be competing.
2023 24 Hours of Le Mans full schedule (BST)
| Date | Session | Location |
| June 2/June 3
(Friday/Saturday) |
Scrutineering – cars on display | Place de la République
(Le Mans city centre) |
| June 7 (Wednesday – 2pm-5pm) | Free Practice 1 | La Sarthe Circuit |
| June 7 (Wednesday – 7pm-8pm) | Qualifying practice | La Sarthe Circuit |
| June 7 (Wednesday – 10pm-12pm) | Free Practice 2 | La Sarthe Circuit |
| June 8 (Thursday – 3pm-6pm) | Free Practice 3 | La Sarthe Circuit |
| June 8 (Thursday – 8pm-8.30pm) | Hyperpole | La Sarthe Circuit |
| June 8 (Thursday – 10pm-11pm) | Free Practice 4 | La Sarthe Circuit |
| June 9 (Friday – 2pm-4.30pm) | Drivers parade | Le Mans city centre |
| June 10 (Saturday – 12pm-12.15pm) | Warm-up | La Sarthe Circuit |
| June 10-11
(Saturday-Sunday – 4pm-4pm) |
Race – 24 Hours of Le Mans | La Sarthe Circuit |
24 Hours of Le Mans how to watch live
Fans can watch the live stream of all sessions in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Discovery+. All broadcasts of the race will begin 15 minutes before each session time listed above. Fans can also watch the qualifying practice, Hyperpole and the race on Eurosport.
Le Mans circuit guide (La Sarthe)
The La Sarthe circuit, which will host the Le Mans 24 Hours is one of the greatest motor sport challenges. La Sarthe stretches about 13.6km (8.4 miles) long, which makes it longer than most modern circuits. Toyota’s Mike Conway holds the official lap record after clocking in at 3min 17.297sec while driving a TS050 LMP1 prototype in 2019.
The circuit features the famous Mulsanne Straight, which sets in some of the highest speeds seen in racing. The lap begins with a right-hand sweep into the Dunlop curb, following which it will head through the Dunlop Bridge. It will then go past the chicane section where drivers will face a number of technical corners.
Drivers will then go around Tertre Rouge and take the right-hand turn from where drivers will go full-throttle down the Mulsanne Straight. After driving through two long chicanes, the drivers then hit the brakes for the Mulsanne corner. From there, the divers take a left-right switch of Indianapolis and Arnage.
The drivers will then slalom through the sweeping Porsche curves eventually reaching the chicanes of Maison-Blanche, Ford and Raccordement to finish the lap. The Le Mans, which runs over 24 gruelling hours, is one of the greatest challenges in the world of racing.