24 Hours of Le Mans 2026: This is exactly how the Hyperpole session works

At the end of 2019, Le Mans organiser ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest) came up with an idea to make qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans more spectacular. In this context, the so-called "Hyperpole" was devised, which was used for the first time in the 2020 edition of the great endurance classic. In 2026, the Hyperpole will once again decide the pole position in the three classes (Hypercar, LMP2 and LMGT3). However, the format of the Hyperpole has been slightly reorganised and refined for 2026. The Hyperpole starts this Thursday (11 June 2026) at 20:00. The purpose of the Hyperpole is to ensure that with only a few racing cars on the 13.626-kilometre 'Circuit de la Sarthe', the probability of a lap without traffic is quite high.

Qualifying took place yesterday, Wednesday. The best 15 hypercars, LMP2s and LMGT3s in qualifying entered the Hyperpole. The Hyperpole is now divided into four sessions. It starts with H1 for the LMP2/LMGT3, which runs from 20:00 to 20:20. The top ten then move on to the 15-minute H2. This will then be held from 20:35 to 20:50. The format for the hypercars is quite similar, as the Hyperpole also consists of two sessions. The 15 qualified hypercars will first contest H1 from 21:05 to 21:25. The ten best cars move on to H2 (21:40 to 21:55).

To summarise briefly: The grid positions from 16th place in all three classes (Hypercar/LMP2/LMGT3) are therefore already fixed after the results of yesterday's qualifying session. Starting positions eleven to 15 per class will be determined in H1. The front grid positions will be contested in H2.

The following also applies: Only one driver per car may compete during each Hyperpole session. The driver who qualified on Wednesday is excluded from the Hyperpole. There is also the additional rule that the same driver may not be in H1 and H2. The teams must therefore determine a specific driver for each hyperpole/qualifying session. In LMGT3, there is also the special rule that the qualifying session must have already been contested by the bronze-rated driver. This driver is therefore not available for selection for the Hyperpole - the situation is similar in LMP2, where the lowest-ranked driver has to contest Wednesday's qualifying session.

The tyre choice for the two Hyperpole sessions is limited to twelve tyres (in theory, three sets) per car. If it is dry, the participants will in all likelihood select the softest tyre compound - as this is considered to be the fastest.