24 Hours of Le Mans 2026

There are three classes of cars competing at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans: Hypercar, the top tier; LMP2, which makes a special return to the World Endurance Championship for this round only; and LMGT3, which replaced the LMGTE class in 2024. Manthey Racing will run two Porsche 911 GT3 R cars in the LMGT3 class.

The enduring relationship between Porsche and the 24 Hours of Le Mans began in 1951, with representation at every race since then. Porsche is the only marque to have competed for 65 years without a break and, at that time, has cultivated a raft of records. Its first class win came in 1951, before its maiden overall podium in 1958. Porsche turned its fastest qualifying lap for the first time 10 years later before its first victory came in 1970.

In 2026 Porsche celebrates 75 Years of Porsche Motorsport at Le Mans. It all started with a class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1951 where Auguste Veuillet and Edmond Mouche drove the Porsche 356 SL to victory. In the following years until 1958, Porsche got another 7 wins. This early success for the brand kickstarted what would become one of the most legendary racing brands in motorsport history. Porsche Motorsport would go on to see success in a wide variety of racing disciplines

Porsche has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans 19 times - the most of any manufacturer. It started with its very first overall win in 1970, with Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood taking victory in a 917 short tail. After going strong in Group 4, 5, and 6 racing in the 1970s, Porsche moved on to dominate the following decade, taking the most consecutive wins of any marque with seven victories in a row from 1981 to 1987. Though Porsche did not challenge for overall wins between 1998 and 2014, it returned to take three-in-a-row from 2015 to 2017 in the returning LMP1 class. After focusing on the GT class, Porsche returned to Hypercar class in 2023 with Porsche Penske Motorsport. After 3 years Porsche stopped the Hypercar program in WEC and fields two LMGT3 cars in 2026 with Manthey Racing.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place at the Circuit de la Sarthe, just outside the town of Le Mans in Pays de la Loire, France. It is a mix of permanent race track and public roads adapted specifically for the milestone event. The 8.4 mile / 13.6 kilometre circuit takes in part of the Bugatti Circuit - also used for other race series, including MotoGP - before setting off on roads usually taken at somewhat slower speeds. It forms a triangle from the Bugatti Circuit up along the Mulsanne Straight to the village of the same name before heading south to Arnage and then returning to the circuit itself.