24 Hours of Le Mans 2026: The outlook for the LMP2 category

It's clear that the LMP2 class will be overshadowed by the hypercars and LMGT3 cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2026. But this is actually unjustified. Because the LMP2s always deliver great and, above all, exciting motorsport - and therefore great entertainment. The LMP2s were introduced in their current form for the 2017 season. With a few (minimal) technical changes, they are still active.

In theory, four chassis suppliers are authorised: Dallara, Ligier, Multimatic and Oreca. However, only Oreca 07s are competing in the LMP2 at Le Mans this year. An LMP2 can reach a top speed of over 325 km/h on the long Hunaudières straight. The lap times are in the region of 3:35 minutes. This puts the LMP2s between the hypercars and the LMGT3s. Of course, this means that the drivers have to be very careful. Because they lap (the LMGT3s) and are lapped (by the hypercars).

At Le Mans, all LMP2 cars run on Goodyear tyres. "Le Mans presents unique challenges in endurance racing as conditions are constantly changing during the 24 hours," said Stephen Bickley, Goodyear Endurance Programme Manager. "Teams are often faced with huge fluctuations in track and ambient temperatures between day and night, while safety cars and slow zones cool the tyres down before the drivers have to get back to race speed. Our Goodyear Racing Eagle medium tyre compounds have been developed for a very wide operating window, giving drivers of different skill levels confidence throughout the race and in varying conditions. This year, teams can run up to four consecutive stints on a single set of tyres. This means that our tyres will last longer than the regulations allow for the maximum time drivers can drive in the car."

In the FIA WEC, the LMP2s were discontinued for the 2024 season as there was no more room in the field due to the large number of hypercars. They are only still part of the WEC at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Otherwise, they still compete in the Asian Le Mans Series and European Le Mans Series - as well as in the American IMSA series.

19 LMP2s will be competing at Le Mans in 2026. Among them are some illustrious names, such as the two Oreca cars from Proton Competition. The team from southern Germany will also compete in LMGT3. The two Oreca cars from United Autosports are also sure to be among the favourites. The British racing team won the class at Le Mans in 2024. The two cars from Inter Europol Competition are also not to be underestimated. The team from Poland triumphed at Le Mans in 2023 and 2025.

The well-known Italian racing team AF Corse will also field an LMP2 at Le Mans. They will be joined by DKR Engineering, CrowdStrike Racing by APR, TDS Racing, Nielsen Racing, Algarve Pro Racing, Vector Sport, IDEC Sport, Forestier Racing by Panis, Duqueine Team, CLX Motorsport, RD Limited and AO by TF (all of them with one car each).

Three drivers from Germany are also represented in the LMP2 field. Of course, Laurin Heinrich's appearance will be eagerly awaited. He is a works driver for Porsche and will be racing very successfully in the American IMSA series in 2026 in the hypercar (Porsche 963). Heinrich had never contested an LMP2 race before Le Mans, but his qualities mean that he should hardly need any time to familiarise himself with the car. From a German perspective, there are also Jonas Ried and Stefan Aust (both Proton Competition).

Just like Heinrich, Kévin Estre and Nico Müller are also Porsche works drivers and compete in the LMP2 class - Estre with TDS Racing and Müller with Inter Europol Competition. Both will be among the fastest drivers in the class. Oliver Jarvis (United Autosports), Renger van der Zande (DKR Engineering) and Dane Cameron (AO by TF) are also internationally recognised. Two drivers, Jack Doohan (Nielsen Racing) and Pietro Fittipaldi (Nielsen Racing), have even gained Formula 1 experience.