- A crowd of 1,250 theater-goers filled the five rooms showing the official 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans film Thursday evening at the Mega CGR cinema in Saint-Saturnin.

- Seven drivers were present, including Earl Bamber, winner at the 2017 24 Hours at the wheel of the #2 Porsche 919 Hybrid and 2017 World Endurance Champion; Thomas Laurent and Ho-Pin Tung, winners in the LMP2 class and second overall at Le Mans; as well as David Cheng and Tristan Gommendy, second in LMP2 and third overall representing the Jackie Chan DC Racing team. Julien Canal (Vaillante Rebellion), winner of the FIA Endurance LMP2 Drivers trophy, and Vincent Capillaire (Algarve Pro Racing) represented their hometown of Le Mans. Rounding out the group were none other than Pascal Vasselon (Technical Director of Toyota) and Rémy Brouard (Jackie Chan DC Racing team manager).
 
- Pascal Vasselon: "Presumably, two cars shall be entered in the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans. It's 90% certain." He also clarified that Toyota will be present at Le Mans for the upcoming years and that their defeats have taught them to learn from their mistakes. As for the drivers set to represent the Japanese marque in 2018, "nothing has been decided just yet."

Vasselon, at the helm of Toyota Gazoo Racing, was in particulary good spirits on Thursday. With a wonderful sense of humor, he brought up the Japanese manufacturer's last two losses at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016 and 2017: "We have a deal with the ACO and have come up with the most extraordinary ways not to win the race! Meanwhile, we have no intention of honoring that deal next year." He also offered a miniature Toyota TS050 Hybrid as well as an autograph by Kamui Kobayashi to Vincent Capillaire, distinguishing him as "Toyota and Kamui Kobayashi's biggest fan." He added it's time to "close the book [on the defeat] though it will remain in the history of 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans." Vincent Capillaire appreciated it all and underscored Toyota's team spirit!

Two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner (2015 and 2017) Earl Bamber indicated he will compete in the LMGTE Pro class next year with the Porsche 911 RSR. He also said there will be at least two cars entered in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and normally more in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Thomas Laurent enjoyed his 30 laps at the wheel of the Toyota TS050 Hybrid during the Rookie Test at Bahrain, but declined to share what 2018 will hold for him. He did however mention that Tuesday, November 28th will mark "my third anniversary with Jackie Chan DC Racing and that without the team, I would not be here." 

- Julien Canal announced that "an LMP1 and an LMP2 or two LMP1s and two LMP2s could be entered by Vaillante Rebellion next year for the 2018/2019 WEC Super Season. Nothing has been decided yet." The Le Mans native, who received a very warm welcome by those in attendance as he was awarded the FIA Endurance LMP2 trophy, added Alexandre Pesci, founder of the Swiss team, had not made any firm decisions.

- David Cheng let it be known ones of his goals is to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMP1 class with a Chinese constructor in 2020/2021 in the hopes of winning. For the 2018/2019 Super Season, Jackie Chan DC Racing will remain in LMP2. Jackie Chan, the famous actor, had committed to the team for three years with the objective of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The fact that "the goal was reached in the very first year does not change that committment,"  explained David Cheng.

Guests echoed one particular statement throughout the evening: "You don't win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Le Mans lets you win!"