What Is a Hypercar?

Hypercar has served as the head category in endurance racing, including at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the FIA Word Endurance Championship (WEC), since 2021. Two types of cars are allowed: LMHs (Le Mans Hypercar) and LMDhs (Le Mans Daytona h). 

Both Hypercars can compete in the WEC and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Rolex 24 at Daytona alike). 

The two types of Hypercar: 

• LMH: permits a wide variety of architectures and notably authorises the presence of a hybrid system on the front axle
   
• LMDh: the base of the car – corresponding to the complete car without the thermal engine, bodywork or hybrid system – is supplied by four chassis manufacturers: Dallara, Multimatic, Ligier and ORECA

FIA WEC Hypercar Regulations 

• Closed body prototype 
• Professional driver line-ups  
• Hybrid and non-hybrid cars 
• Lap time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans = 3:30 
• Cost control: budget reduced by 80% 
• Sole tyre manufacturer: Michelin 
• Minimum weight: 1,030 kg 
• Balance of Performance: sporting fairness guarantee 
• Maximum power: 500 kW 

ASTON MARTIN THOR TEAM

#007 – Aston Martin Valkyrie – Harry Tincknell / Tom Gamble / Ross Gun
#009 – Aston Martin Valkyrie – Alex Riberas / Marco Sørensen / Roman De Angelis

Aston Martin is making its first appearance in the Hypercar category this season with two Valkyries. The British constructor is entering the only Hypercar initially designed for the road. The inimitable sound of the Valkyrie's V12 should make it a crowd favourite at the 93rd 24 Hours. But facing off against the best marques in the world and immediately rising to the level of contender is no easy feat. The other manufacturers have several years of experience to draw upon while Aston Martin is a category rookie. The team is stepping into a long learning process at the highest level of endurance racing, and as such, seeing both Valkyries cross the finish line would already make for a very satisfying result. Aston Martin Thor Team is currently eighth in the Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship trophy.

ALPINE ENDURANCE RACING

#35 – Alpine A424 – Paul-Loup Chatin / Ferdinand Habsburg / Charles Milesi
#36 – Alpine A424 – Mick Schumacher / Frédéric Makowiecki / Jules Gounon

Alpine joined the Hypercar category with the A424 last season. Though 2024 was mainly a year to gain experience, the French marque finished fourth in the Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship trophy behind Toyota, Porsche and Ferrari. The team has gotten stronger this season with two third place finishes at the 6 Hours of Imola and TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps for the #36. Alpine Endurance Racing is currently fourth in the championship rankings. 

BMW M TEAM WRT

#15 – BMW M Hybrid V8 – Dries Vanthoor / Raffaele Marciello / Kevin Magnussen
#20 – BMW M Hybrid V8 – René Rast / Robin Frijns / Sheldon van der Linde

BMW M Team WRT definitely impressed last year during its first WEC season in Hypercar. The BMW M Hybrid V8 quickly improved, going from rookie to serious conetender for the top spots. The German constructor feels more confident now and is ready to battle for the podium and write a new chapter in BMW's endurance racing legacy. The #15 finished fourth at the Qatar 1812 km and the #20 reached the second step on the podium at the 6 Hours of Imola. BMW M TEAM WRT figures in third place in the Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship trophy.

CADILLAC HERTZ TEAM JOTA

#12 – Cadillac V-Series.R – Will Stevens / Norman Nato / Alex Lynn
#38 – Cadillac V-Series.R – Earl Bamber / Sébastien Bourdais / Jenson Button

Cadillac's 2024 season turned out as a mixed bag of highs and lows. The team opted to overhaul its strategy for 2025 through a technical partnership with Hertz Team JOTA and the commitment of two V-Series.Rs. The road to victory is always peppered with challenges, but Cadillac now seems better equipped to go all the way. The team finished fifth and sixth overall at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchampsclassées, its best result since the beginning of the season. Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA is fifth in the Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship trophy. 

CADILLAC WTR 

#101 – Cadillac V-Series.R – Ricky Taylor / Jordan Taylor / Filipe Albuquerque

Wayne Taylor Racing is gearing up for a new challenge after receiving an invitation to take the start in the 24 Hours with its Cadillac V-Series.R. This long-awaited dream is finally coming true for Wayne Taylor who has participated in the race a staggering 13 times (three with Cadillac between 2000 and 2002). And the cherry on top: his sons Ricky and Jordan are joining their dad on the adventure, teaming up with Filipe Albuquerque. 

CADILLAC WHELEN

#311 – Cadillac V-Series.R – Jack Aitken / Felipe Drugovich / Frederik Vesti

This American team has secured an invitation to Le Mans for the past three years in a row and is a major contender in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. In 2024, the team finished 28th in the championship classification, certainly not an accurate reflection of its true potential.

FERRARI AF CORSE

#50 – Ferrari 499P – Antonio Fuoco / Nicklas Nielsen / Miguel Molina
#51 – Ferrari 499P – Alessandro Pier Guidi / James Calado / Antonio Giovinazzi

The highlights of AF Corse's 2024 WEC season were winning Le Mans and finishing third in the Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship trophy. Thanks to a finessed 499P and experience gained by the team over the last two years, Ferrari AF Corse seems ready to clinch its third consecutive victory in the 24 Hours. The Italian marque has dominated this season with wins at the Qatar 1812 km, 6 Hours of Imola and TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The outfit tops the rankings in the 2025 Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship trophy.

AF CORSE

#83 – Ferrari 499P – Robert Kubica / Yifei Ye / Philip Hanson

AF Corse competes in the FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams. Last year, it won Lone Star Le Mans at the circuit in Austin, Texas, giving Ferrari its very first victory in the WEC outside of the 24 Hours. Though entered by a private team, the 499P is fully capable of reaching the top step on the overall podium at Le Mans. AF Corse finished second at the Qatar 1812 km, fourth at the 6 Hours of Imola and figures first in the FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams.

PEUGEOT TOTAL ENERGIES

#93 – Peugeot 9X8 – Paul di Resta / Mikkel Jensen / Jean-Eric Vergne
#94 – Peugeot 9X8 – Loïc Duval / Malthe Jakobsen / Stoffel Vandoorne

In the wake of an improved 2024 season with a podium near the end, Team Peugeot TotalEnergies is determined to succeed this year. Could the Peugeot 9X8, fine-tuned across the races, achieve a podium finish at the 24 Hours? The engineers and drivers are looking to give the top teams a run for their money. The best result secured by a 9X8 this year is ninth place at the Qatar 1812 km and 6 Hours of Imola for the #93. Peugeot TotalEnergies is seventh in the Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship trophy.

PORSCHE PENSKE MOTORSPORT

#4 – Porsche 963 – Felipe Nasr / Nick Tandy / Pascal Wehrlein
#5 – Porsche 963 – Julien Andlauer / Michael Christensen / Mathieu Jaminet
#6 – Porsche 963 – Kévin Estre / Laurens Vanthoor / Matt Campbell

With two decisive wins and remarkable reliability, Porsche showed significant progress in 2024 while facing some major challenges. On the back of its win at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, the German constructor is a favourite heading into the 93rd 24 Hours to clinch its 20th victory at Le Mans. Porsche Penske Motorsport figures sixth in the Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship trophy.

PROTON COMPETITION

#99 – Porsche 963 – Neel Jani / Nicolas Pino / Nicolas Varrone

Proton Competition is the only team to field a private Porsche 963 in the WEC this year. Neel Jani (2016 24 Hours winner with Porsche) should be able to place the car in the top 10 overall. This German outfit, like AF Corse, competes in the FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams, currently figuring second in the rankings.

TOTOTA GAZOO RACING

#7 – Toyota GR010 Hybrid – Mike Conway / Kamui Kobayashi / Nyck de Vries
#8 – Toyota GR010 Hybrid – Sébastien Buemi / Brendon Hartley / Ryo Hirakawa

With five wins in a row at the 24 Hours between 2018 and 2022, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is determined to add a sixth. Aware that luck can play a role, the Japanese constructors prefers to focus on hard work to give itself every chance of triumphing. Toyota is building on the mindset that saw it clinch the manufacturers' title at the 8 Hours of Bahrain and is approaching the 2025 Le Mans classic with the same fighting spirit. The #7 has been given a livery in honour of the 1998 TS020 (a.k.a. the GT-One). TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is second in the Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship trophy.