The second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship Super Season, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, starts in just nine days and it comprises the names of the 60 entries selected to take part in the French endurance classic. The 2018 event is truly international with 180 drivers and 36 teams will represent 34 different nations from around the world.
Major manufacturers Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Porsche and Toyota will all be on the grid. Among the competitors will be two-time F1 World Champion (2005-6) Fernando Alonso, who is contesting the entire FIA WEC this season, as well as upholding his Formula One engagements. Alonso set the fastest time at last Sunday’s official test and is looking forward to making his debut at Le Mans.
The Spaniard will not be the only Le Mans rookie from Formula One. He is joined by 2009 world champion Jenson Button (SMP Racing), Spanish Grand Prix winner Pastor Maldonado (DragonSpeed) and Juan Pablo Montoya (United Autosports), winner of seven Grand Prix and the Indy 500.
Finally, a host of former Le Mans overall winners are back to try their luck again: André Lotterer, Neel Jani, Loïc Duval, Mike Rockenfeller, Marcel Fässler, Nick Tandy, Earl Bamber, Romain Dumas, Jan Lammers and Timo Bernhard. Also on the grid of this 86th edition are winners of the championships such as the FIA WEC, the ELMS and the Asian LMS that make up the endurance pyramid at the top of which sits the 24 Hours of LeMans.
This diverse selection of talented drivers, amateur or professional, rookies or seasoned competitors, forms the fabric of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The week begins with the official scrutineering sessions on 10/11 June in the centre of Le Mans, while track action begins on Wednesday 13 June, with qualifying concluding on Thursday night to determine the grid for the race that begins at 15h00 on Saturday 16 June.