24 Hours Of Le Mans To Adopt New Qualifying Format In 2025
The 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans – the ultimate spectacle of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) – is gearing up for a record-breaking event next summer (14-15 June 2025), introducing an exciting new qualifying format to intensify the competition.
Applications Open for Le Mans 2025
Applications to enter the 2025 race are now officially open, following a spectacular 2024 edition where an unprecedented nine Hypercars finished on the lead lap. Anticipation is already sky-high as iconic brands including Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Lexus, Mercedes-AMG, McLaren, Peugeot, Porsche, and Toyota are set to battle for endurance racing’s biggest prize.
Scrutineering and Test Day to Ignite the Build-Up
The countdown begins with scrutineering at Place de la République in Le Mans city center from Friday, 6 June to Saturday, 7 June. This fan-favorite event includes administrative and technical checks for all 62 cars and 186 drivers.
Track action officially kicks off on Sunday, 8 June with the official Test Day, allowing teams to fine-tune set-ups and giving rookies their first taste of the grueling 13.626 km circuit.
Revamped Qualifying Format for 2025
A major highlight for 2025 is the revamped qualifying structure:
Wednesday, 11 June:
- LMP2 and LMGT3 competitors will have a 30-minute session.
- The fastest 12 in each class will advance to Thursday’s Hyperpole.
- Hypercar qualifiers will follow, with the fastest 15 cars moving into Hyperpole.
Thursday, 12 June:
- Session H1: 24 LMGT3 and LMP2 cars battle for the top eight spots in each category over 20 minutes.
- Session H2: A final 15-minute dash where the top eight from each class vie for pole positions.
- Hypercar Showdown: The 15 fastest Hypercars from Wednesday’s qualifying will compete in H1; the top 10 will advance to a dramatic H2 session to decide the pole-sitter.
The new two-stage Hyperpole format promises high drama and adds another layer of excitement to race week.
Star-Studded Line-up and Debuts
This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans will see the highly anticipated debut of Aston Martin’s Valkyrie Hypercars and the return of Mercedes-AMG in the LMGT3 division alongside Iron Lynx, ensuring fierce competition at every level.
Support Races and Off-Track Entertainment
Beyond the main event, fans can enjoy action-packed racing in support categories such as the Ligier European Series, the Porsche Sprint Challenge, the Road to Le Mans, and for the first time, the thrilling Mustang Challenge.
Off-track, visitors will be treated to live music, entertainment zones, and fan-centric activities to complete an unforgettable Le Mans experience.
