A nod to the 2018 winners

Every year, illustrator Pierrick Chazeaud immortalises the winners from the previous edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kazuki Nakajima, Fernando Alonso and Sébastien Buemi - hilarious when they discovered watercolors - are captured along with technical director Pascal Vasselon and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing president Hisatake Murata.

Goodyear announces its return to endurance racing

The American manufacturer announced this morning it will return to endurance racing, and is developing a new line of competition tyres. With 14 wins at the 24 Hours, Goodyear has the third highest number of wins for a tyre manufacturer at Le Mans behind Dunlop and Michelin. Goodyear motorsport director Ben Crawley explains the decision: "The race format (from 4 to 24 hours) makes tyre selection and strategy crucial. It is therefore an interesting challenge for the technology department of our European innovation centre to study other projects in competition." The new U.S. tyre line will debut at the opening round of the next season at Silverstone on 1 September 2019.

The drivers' first briefing

This morning at 10:00, the 186 drivers gathered for the first briefing of the week. The usual instructions were disseminated and it was also an opportunity to recall the specific procedures for endurance races and the 24 Hours circuit, including slow zones and safety cars.

Sir Jackie Stewart's 80th birthday

Scottish driver Jackie Stewart turned 80 years young today. Three-time F1 world champion and former win record-holder in the discipline, he took his one and only start in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1965, at the wheel of a turbine Rover-BRM prototype. Along with 1972 winner Graham Hill, he finished 10th overall and second in the Prototypes class.