24 Hours of Le Mans 2026: How the pre-test goes tomorrow

Let's get started: This year's 24 Hours of Le Mans is now entering the hot phase. During the night from Saturday to Sunday, the country roads between the legendary "Tertre Rouge" section of the circuit and the "Porsche Curves" will be closed to public traffic. This part of the road network of the small French town, consisting of a good nine kilometres, is part of the 13.626-kilometre "Circuit de la Sarthe". The entire length of the legendary circuit will then be open to racing cars again. And there is a very specific reason for this: tomorrow, Sunday (7 June 2026), prototypes (hypercars and LMP2) and LMGT3 sports cars will be back at full throttle in the heart of France. The time-honoured pre-test will give man and machine a chance to get ready for the upcoming 24-hour race (13/14 June 2026).

As the approximately two-thirds of the Le Mans circuit mentioned above is not available for testing during the year, the participating teams only have the test day to work on the set-up of the cars in the run-up to the race week immediately afterwards. A total of six hours are scheduled for this: From 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:30 to 18:30 respectively. Important topics in the set-up work are the adjustment of the suspension, the damper and spring elements, the stabiliser and the camber. The focus will also be on the brakes and brake balance, as well as testing the various tyre compounds and aerodynamics.

Top times should not yet be possible, especially in the first of the two practice sessions. This is largely due to the still very dirty sections of the track in the public country roads. Absolute records should not be expected in the second session either. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, an adequate level of grip around the circuit will only be achieved in continuous operation during the upcoming race week. And secondly, the teams do not want to be given a poor classification in the BoP. Only the LMP2 class is currently spared constant changes to the categorisation.

The pre-test is a compulsory event

The pre-test is now a compulsory event for the 62 cars taking part in the race. This was regulated differently in the past. Until 1999, for example, the race cars had to qualify for the 24-hour race on this day. Anyone who was too slow could pack up and drive home. This is no longer the case today, as a selection committee decides in winter who will start in the endurance classic.

The drivers are also made to fulfil their obligations on the test day. Anyone who has not taken part in at least one of the last five editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans must complete ten laps of the 13.626-kilometre circuit during the pre-test - crossing the start/finish line at least five times in the process. However, there are exceptions for Platinum drivers who have not taken part in any of the last five editions - if they are unable to attend tomorrow's race. However, they must then complete the five laps (including crossing the start/finish line) in the first free practice session on Wednesday.

As is well known, three drivers are required per car in the 24-hour race. However, the teams can nominate up to five drivers per car for the pre-test. (A driver may even be entered in more than one car for the pre-test). This year, the hypercar teams in particular are making use of this and have nominated additional drivers. Toyota has also registered regular drivers Sébastien Buemi and Mike Conway in the other car. Frenchman Esteban Masson has also been registered for both Toyota cars. BMW has registered Marco Wittmann and Philipp Eng in both BMW M Hybrid V8s. Cadillac has also registered Norman Nato, Will Stevens, Sébastien Bourdais and Jack Aitken on the other Jota car. There are also minimal additions in LMP2 and LMGT3.