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The 2026/2027 Asian Le Mans Series kicks off this weekend with two races hosted at the circuit in Le Castellet.

Breakdown

<ul>
	<li>The 2026/2027 Asian Le Mans Series will take place solely in Europe with six races held at three circuits in France, Spain and Portugal.</li>
	<li>The Hypercar class will be represented in the championship by two Ferrari 499Ps fielded by Cetilar Racing and AF Corse.</li>
	<li>16 LMP2s are expected to compete for the title as well as an automatic invitation to the 95th 24 Hours of Le Mans (9-13 June).</li>
	<li>The GT class will have 28 GT3s entered by eight constructors.</li>
</ul>

The 2026/2027 Asian Le Mans Series season will reach a milestone in the championship's history with Hypercars joining the party alongside LMP2s and GT3s. For certain teams, the ALMS is a direct path to the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans with an automatic invitation in the LMP2 class up for grabs.

<h2>Why is the 2026/2027 Asian Le Mans Series being held in Europe?</h2>

This season of the ALMS will be held strictly in on the European continent due to the regional conflict in the Middle East and the resulting geopolitical and logistical uncertainties.

The Asian circuits capable of hosting the championship during the winter months had limited availability and the calculated logistical costs proved to be especially high.

The calendar also had to avoid overlapping with two other major international endurance racing events: the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Bathurst.

The 2026/2027 season will be structured around three events and six four-hour races: two at Circuit Paul Ricard (France), two at Jerez (Spain) and two at Portimão (Portugal).

<h2>Hypercars make their debut in the Asian Le Mans Series</h2>

One of the major new attractions this season is the Hypercar class joinging the Asian Le Mans Series for the first time ever with two Ferrari 499Ps entered.

2025/2026 season LMP2 runner-up <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/cetilar-racing-unveils-ferrari-499p-livery-for-asian-le-mans-series-61126" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cetilar Racing is stepping up</a> into the top class. Roberto Lacorte and his son Nicola will share the #47 Ferrari 499P with 2024 24 Hours winner and official Ferrari driver Antonio Fuoco.

AF Corse will field the #90 Ferrari 499P with Argentinian driver Luis Pérez Companc teaming up with Yifei Ye and Nicklas Nielsen, two other Le Mans winners.

The participation of these two prototypes adds a new sporting dimension to the ALMS and serves to strengthen the links between the various Le Mans-esque championships.

<h2>16 LMP2s on the hunt for the title and the 24 Hours of le Mans</h2>

The LMP2 class is sure to be one of this season’s main draws with a stunning 16 cars expected. The stakes go beyond simply winning the title: an automatic invitation to the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans is also in play.

Defending champion CrowdStrike Racing by APR is seeking its third ALMS trophy. George Kurtz and Louis Delétraz will be joined by Laurin Heinrich at the wheel of the #4 ORECA 07-Gibson.

Another crew to keep an eye on is the one set to share Algarve Pro Racing's #25 ORECA, namely 2026 European Le Mans Series LMP2 Pro/Am champions Michael Jensen, Enzo Trulli and Malthe Jakobsen.

2026 European Le Mans Series LMP2 champion United Autosports will field two cars. Giorgio Roda, Ian Aguilera and Sting Ray Robb will take the #22 and Phil Fayer, Hunter McElrea and Mikkel Jensen the #2.

The entry list includes several veteran endurance racing teams like DKR Engineering, Nielsen Racing, CLX Motorsport, Duqueine Team and three-time LMP2 winner at the 24 Hours Inter Europol Competition.

Read: <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-of-le-mans-2027-the-first-invitations-revealed-61073" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2027 24 Hours of Le Mans: the first invitations revealed</a>

<h2>GT3: 28 cars and eight constructors </h2>

The GT class promises to be highly competitive with 28 cars representing eight marques: seven Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evos, six Porsche 911 GT3 R Evos, four Ferrari 296 GT3 Evos, four Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evos, two McLaren 720S GT3 Evos, two Lamborghini Temerario GT3s, two Ford Mustang GT3 Evos and one BMW M4 GT3 Evo.

Defending ALMS champion Kessel Racing is gearing up to defend its crown with a special "Car Guy" livery for its Ferrari 296 entrusted to Takeshi Kimura, Mathys Jaubert and Esteban Masson.

2024/2025 ALMS GT champion Manthey will enter two Porsche 911s: seven-time 24 Hours GT class winner Richard Lietz will share the #91 with Flynt Schuring and Joel Monegro, and Klaus Bachler will join forces with Raphael Rennhofer and Max Moritz in the #92.

American team and FIA WEC competitor Heart of Racing will make its championship debut at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet. Two Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evos are expected: the #26 for Roman De Angelis, Eduardo Barrichello and Gary Newell, and the #27 for Ian James, Zac Robichon and Mattia Drudi.

Garage 59 will be represented by two McLaren 720S GT3s. AF Corse, High Class Racing, Team Qatar by Iron Lynx, Team WRT and Proton Competition will round out the grid.

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<h2>2026/2027 Asian Le Mans Series programme </h2>

The season includes three events and six races:

<ul>
	<li>Rounds 1 &amp; 2 | 13-15 November 2026 - Circuit Paul Ricard (France)</li>
	<li>Rounds 3 &amp; 4 | 15-17 January 2027 - El Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto (Spain)</li>
	<li>Rounds 5 &amp; 6 | 19-21 February 2027 - Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (Portugal)</li>
</ul>

The Circuit Paul Ricard will launch this season with two four-hour races on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November.

Check out the <a href="https://press.asianlemansseries.com/assets/fileuploads/6a/e8/6ae8882774155.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Entry List</a> for rounds 1 and 2 of the 2026/2027 Asian Le Mans Series and well as the handy <a href="https://press.asianlemansseries.com/assets/fileuploads/6a/ed/6aedc23325961.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spotter Guide</a>.

FAQ - 2026/2027 Asian Le Mans Series

When does the 2026/2027 Asian Le Mans Series season get underway?

The season kicks off at the Circuit Paul Ricard on 13-15 November with two four-hour races.

Why is the 2026/2027 Asian Le Mans Series season being held in Europe only?

As an exception due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, logistical constraints and the lack of availability of Asian circuits capable of hosting the races during the winter period.

How many races are on the 2026/2027 ALMS calendar?

The 2026/2027 season includes six four-hour races across three weekends at the circuits in Le Castellet, Jerez and Portimão.

Which classes are hitting the track in the 2026/2027 ALMS?

Hypercar, LMP2 and GT3.

How many cars are competing in LMP2?

16 LMP2s entered by multiple experienced teams such as CrowdStrike Racing by APR, Algarve Pro Racing, United Autosports, DKR Engineering, Nielsen Racing, CLX Motorsport, Duqueine Team and Inter Europol Competition.

How many GT3s will participate in the 2026/2027 Asian Le Mans Series?

The GT3 class will include 28 cars from eight constructors: Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren, Lamborghini, Ford and BMW.

What is the link between Asian Le Mans Series and the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans?

The ALMS serves as a pathway to the 2027 24 Hours. In the LMP2 class, an automatic invitation to the next running of Le Mans is awarded to the victor.

2026/2027 Asian Le Mans Series – Everything you need to know about this new season

New category names and colours will apply from today at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series, Michelin Le Mans Cup and Asian Le Mans Cup. FIA World Endurance Championship categories remain unchanged.

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and Le Mans Endurance Management (LMEM) are introducing a common naming and colour system across their endurance racing championships, designed to help spectators, fans and media identify every class at a glance. 
 
The system rests on a single principle: the category name alone designates Pro/Am line-ups, which must include at least one Bronze-rated driver under the FIA Driver Categorisation, while the “Pro” suffix identifies categories with no such requirement. Each category also carries its own colour, consistent from one championship to the next. 
 
“Le Mans has always been several races in one. Our role is to make each of them easy to follow, whether you are in the grandstands, in front of a screen or on the other side of the world. A shared language of names and colours, from Europe to Asia, serves exactly that purpose,” said Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. 
 

<h4>LMP2</h4>

At the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the European Le Mans Series, the current LMP2 category becomes LMP2 Pro, and the current LMP2 Pro/Am category becomes LMP2. They adopt new colours: navy blue and light blue respectively. 
In the Asian Le Mans Series, where LMP2 line-ups are already Pro/Am, the category keeps its name and adopts light blue.

<h4> 
LMP3</h4>

In the Michelin Le Mans Cup, the current LMP3 category becomes LMP3 Pro and keeps its gold colour. The current LMP3 Pro/Am category becomes LMP3, with orange replacing purple. The Asian Le Mans Cup adopts the same names and colours. 
In the European Le Mans Series, the LMP3 category keeps its name and driver line-up rules, with orange replacing purple.

<h4> 
GT3</h4>

The GT3 category in the Asian Le Mans Series, Michelin Le Mans Cup and Asian Le Mans Cup adopts the colour already used for LMGT3 in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the European Le Mans Series and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (green). GT3 now shares one identity across every ACO and LMEM platform.

<h4>At a glance</h4>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>CHAMPIONSHIP</td>
			<td>CURRENT NAME</td>
			<td>NEW NAME</td>
			<td>COLOUR</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>24 Hours of Le Mans / ELMS</td>
			<td>LMP2</td>
			<td>LMP2 Pro</td>
			<td>Navy blue</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>24 Hours of Le Mans / ELMS</td>
			<td>LMP2 Pro/Am</td>
			<td>LMP2</td>
			<td>Light blue</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Asian Le Mans Series</td>
			<td>LMP2</td>
			<td>LMP2 (unchanged)</td>
			<td>Light blue</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Michelin Le Mans Cup / Asian Le Mans Cup</td>
			<td>LMP3</td>
			<td>LMP3 Pro</td>
			<td>Gold (unchanged)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Michelin Le Mans Cup / Asian Le Mans Cup</td>
			<td>LMP3 Pro/Am</td>
			<td>LMP3</td>
			<td>Orange (was purple)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>European Le Mans Series</td>
			<td>LMP3</td>
			<td>LMP3</td>
			<td>Orange (was purple)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Asian LMS / Michelin LMC / Asian LMC</td>
			<td>GT3</td>
			<td>GT3 (unchanged)</td>
			<td>Green (was black)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FIA WEC</td>
			<td>Hypercar / LMGT3</td>
			<td>Unchanged</td>
			<td>Unchanged</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

Effective dates: Asian Le Mans Series 2026/2027, Asian Le Mans Cup 2026/2027, European Le Mans Series 2027, Michelin Le Mans Cup 2027, 24 Hours of Le Mans 2027. 
  
Note to editors: for statistical purposes, LMP2 Pro continues the records of the former LMP2 category, and LMP2 those of the former LMP2 Pro/Am category. The same applies to LMP3 Pro and LMP3 in the Michelin Le Mans Cup and Asian Le Mans Cup.

ACO and LMEM introduce a unified category system across their championships

McLaren Racing has enlisted the servics of Malthe Jakobsen for the FIA WEC season, including the 95th 24 Hours of Le Mans on 9-13 June 2027.

En bref

 

<ul>
	<li>Malthe Jakosen completes the McLaren 2027 Hypercar campaign driver line-up.</li>
	<li>The Dane has cornered a seat in the McLaren MCL-HY for the FIA WEC season, and therefore the 24 Hours of Le Mans.</li>
	<li>He joins Mikkel Jensen, Laurens Vanthoor, Alex Lynn, Leonardo Fornaroli and Grégoire Saucy.</li>
	<li>Next year marks the 32nd anniversary of the McLaren F1 GTR win at the 1995 Hours of Le Mans.</li>
</ul>

 

Malthe Jakobsen takes the last seat in the McLaren Hypercar that will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans. The young man will take the wheel of the <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/mclaren-mcl-hy-a-name-with-a-hint-of-promise-for-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-60533" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McLaren MCL-HY</a>,competing at the highest level of endurance racing. The British make’s return to Le Mans began with the announcement of the MCL-HY, which <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/the-mclaren-mcl-hy-s-public-debut-at-goodwood-60904">was introduced to the public</a> at Goodwood Festival of Speed

<h2>Who is Malthe Jakobsen, the new addition to the McLaren Hypercar programme?</h2>

Malthe Jakobsen belongs to the generation of racing drivers who has grown up with Hypercar as a goal. A rising star, Jakobsen has progressed rapidly through the ranks thanks to pure speed and excellent adaptability.

He turned to endurance racing right after winning Danish Formula 4 in 2019. He won the European Le Mans Series LMP3 class with Cool Racing aged 18. His performance at the wheel of a prototype opened doors in the higher classes and he was soon offered a seat in Peugeot’s FIA WEC campaign.

He confirmed his potential, earning pole positions and podium places.

His combination of speed, consistency and technical savvy caught McLaren Hypercar Team Principal James Barclay’s eye.

See also: <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/fr/actualites/gregoire-saucy-nouvelle-recrue-du-programme-hypercar-de-mclaren-61139">Grégoire Saucy, the new addition to the McLaren Hypercar programme</a>

Jakobsen hasn’t just switched teams. He is now part of a project and a continued pursuit of excellence. A Hypercar is rarely ready for a race like Le Mans when it leaves the workshop. It needs to cover some distance, and encounter the technical issues that will enable its engineers to perfect it, and its drivers to become accustomed to its handling. Jakobsen has the experience and technical know-how to contribute to the development of a Hypercar.

“He has already established himself as one of endurance racing’s most exciting young talents, combining impressive speed and consistency with the technical ability that is so important at the highest level of the sport,” says James Barclay.

<h2>Making the McLaren MCL-HY Le Mans-ready</h2>

The McLaren MCL-HY was unveiled in June 2025 and introduced to the public in July 2026 at Goodwood Festival of Speed, when its development programme was only in its tenth week.

Powered by a twin-turbo V6 engine, the Hypercar is designed to promote McLaren to the peak of endurance racing, in a position to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans outright.

However, Le Mans requires more than speed. To win the 24-hour race a team needs a combination of performance, reliability, strategy and stamina. A fast lap is a good start, but it’s not the end of the story. At Le Mans, a car must be fast day and night, in traffic, and adverse conditions. From now on, Jakobsen and the rest of the McLaren Hypercar Team will be preparing for the gruelling environment.

This campaign also has a historic element. The MCL-HY is the first McLaren designed to win the race outright since the <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-centenary-mclaren-an-f1-takes-on-le-mans-57424">F1 GTR</a> won Le Mans on first attempt in 1995.

Jakobsen is aware of the legacy: “This history of the team, including the Le Mans win in 1995, is so special and it will be an honour to represent McLaren on a global stage.”

Can the MCL-HY pull off the same feat as the F1 GTR in 1995 and win the 24 Hours of Le Mans on its first attempt? The British make has Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Ford, Genesis, Peugeot and Toyota to contend with.

Original-17676-z95-7131-edit_web.jpg

FAQ Malthe Jakobsen and McLaren at the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans

Will Malthe Jakobsen be driving for McLaren at the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans?

Yes. McLaren Racing has announced that Malthe Jakobsen will be a full-time McLaren Hypercar driver from 2027. He has a seat in the McLaren MCL-HY for the FIA WEC season, and therefore the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Which car will Malthe Jakobsen be driving in 2027?

Malthe Jakobsen will be driving the McLaren MCL-HY for McLaren’s return to top-notch endurance racing. It boasts a twin-turbo V6 engine.

When will McLaren be back at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

McLaren will be at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027 (9–13 June). The British make hadn’t entered a car in the top class since the McLaren F1 GTR.

Why did McLaren hire Malthe Jakobsen?

According to James Barclay, McLaren hired Jakobsen for his speed, consistency and technical knowledge – three all-important qualities in a Hypercar development programme.

Why is the 24 Hours of Le Mans particularly challenging for the MCL-HY?

Because Le Mans requires more than pure speed. To win the 24-hour race a team needs a combination of performance, reliability, strategy and stamina. That’s what makes the 24 Hours of Le Mans so special, and so highly-prized.

Malthe Jakobsen completes the McLaren Hypercar programme driver line-up

Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA triumphed in the final round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship at Monza in Italy today, as Toyota’s Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa clinched the Drivers’ crown.

The #38 Cadillac V-Series.R Hypercar was a contender from the outset on race day at the ‘Temple of Speed’, and in front of 75,181 trackside fans, ultimately took the chequered flag 5.607 seconds ahead of the #36 Alpine in second.

The result marked Jack Aitken, Sébastien Bourdais and Earl Bamber’s maiden victory together in FIA WEC and made them the highest-scoring line-up over the second half of the season. It also represented the Frenchman’s first trip to the top step of the podium in more than a decade – in his final appearance for the Anglo/American alliance – and the 12th consecutive campaign in which JOTA has won a race in the championship.

“I’m over-the-moon!” enthused Bamber, who himself had gone more than nine years since his previous win. “Everybody at JOTA and Cadillac Racing has put in a lot of effort and worked so hard, and the car was faultless. Jack did an amazing job and Seb executed everything perfectly. We’ve got a great mix of ingredients to look forward to in 2027 – I think we will be a real force to be reckoned with!” 

Neither Toyota scored points at Monza, but that mattered little given that the Manufacturers’ title had already been assured. Hirakawa, Buemi and Hartley duly did enough to lift the Drivers’ trophy – in the case of the latter pair, for an extraordinary fifth time.

<h2>Corvette crowned champion as Manthey wins again</h2>

The Bend Manthey made it two wins in as many races in the production-based LMGT3 category, but a second victory and fifth podium finish of the campaign was not quite enough to prevent TF Sport and Corvette from taking the season’s biggest prize, as a third-place finish for Ben Keating, Jonny Edgar and Nicky Catsburg proved sufficient to secure the Teams’ trophy as well as Drivers’ glory for the young British racer.

In his 100th FIA WEC outing, Richard Lietz then completed the job, staving off a late challenge from Heart of Racing Team’s Eduardo Barrichello (Aston Martin) to take the chequered flag ahead, with Catsburg crossing the line third to end Porsche’s unbroken run of LMGT3 titles and cement TF Sport and Edgar’s success.

Check out the <a href="https://www.fiawec.com/en/page/resultats-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">full results from Monza</a>.

All of FIA WEC. All of endurance racing’s greatest battles. Watch live and on demand with FIAWEC+ – the official streaming platform of the FIA World Endurance Championship, wherever you are, whenever you want, including the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. <a href="https://plus.fiawec.com/fr/fia-wec" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stream FIA WEC live</a> with FIAWEC+.

FIA WEC : Cadillac victorious at Monza as #8 Toyota clinches Drivers’ crown

Antonio Fuoco thrilled the ever-enthusiastic tifosi that made the trip to the Autodromo Nazionale Monza today (7 November), by clinching pole position for Ferrari ahead of tomorrow’s final round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship.

As had been the case back at the beginning of the campaign at Imola, the Ferrari 499P was the car to beat on home soil at Monza, and on this occasion, it was Fuoco who made best use of it. The Italian comfortably topped the timesheets in the opening part of the two-stage qualifying session, before seeing off his rivals once again in the 10-minute Hyperpole shootout en route to a fifth outright pole in FIA WEC and first in 18 months.

The result represented the 499P’s 11th pole in the series – and fourth in a row in Italy, having similarly snared the prime starting spot at Imola for three seasons in succession. On Sunday, Fuoco together with #50 team-mates Nicklas Nielsen and Miguel Molina will be aiming to convert that advantage into a second victory of what has predominantly been a challenging title defence for the Prancing Horse.

“Coming to Italy is always special for us and to be on pole here at Monza, as an Italian driver with Ferrari, is really emotional,” the 30-year-old reflected. “It was quite tricky because with practice having all been wet, we didn’t have chance to do any prior dry-weather running, but I really like these conditions when you just have to go and send it and try to put everything together. I think today, we did that really well. 

“I want to thank the team because in situations like this, we need to trust them on the set-up and what they give us. I’m pretty sure tomorrow in the grandstands, we will have a lot of support, and the Italian fans bring so much passion. We know it’s going to be a long race, so we need to keep cool, keep calm and continue to do our best.” 

If Fuoco was the indisputable class of the field in the first part of the session, he had it far from his own way in Hyperpole, when the former 24 Hours of Le Mans winner faced a number of threats to his supremacy and had to dig deep to come out on top. 

Continuing Genesis’ stellar Spanish form from three weeks ago, Mathieu Jaminet grabbed a second consecutive front row berth for the Korean motorsport newcomer behind the wheel of the #19 entry, just 0.096s adrift of the pace-setting Ferrari, although Barcelona hero Mathys Jaubert failed to make the top ten in the sister GMR-001.

Row two will be shared by the #38 Cadillac V-Series.R and #51 Ferrari courtesy of strong laps from Earl Bamber and Antonio Giovinazzi, with the top five rounded out by Théo Pourchaire, who produced a superb effort in the #94 Peugeot 9X8 in its final event in its current iteration, backed up by #93 stablemate Nick Cassidy in ninth.

Further down the order, neither of the title-chasing Toyota TR010 Hybrids advanced beyond the initial phase of the session, with Ryō Hirakawa and countryman Kamui Kobayashi languishing down in 15th and 16th positions respectively, ahead of only the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, currently best-of-the-rest in the championship standings.

<h2>David on LMGT3 pole for Lexus swansong</h2>

The Lexus RC F will make its final FIA WEC start in the LMGT3 class on Sunday, and it will do so from pole position, following a stellar performance by Hadrien David and Akkodis ASP Team on a damp track surface today. 

The Lexus has been a front-running contender in the production-based category over the past two seasons, with David previously securing the top spot on the starting grid in-class at Spa-Francorchamps earlier this year. The rising French star gave another demonstration of his palpable potential by mastering the mixed conditions to cement a second career pole by the margin of a mere 0.014s.

In company with #78 team-mates Tom Van Rompuy and Esteban Masson, he will now be eager to translate that into the top step on the podium, with Akkodis’ race day efforts having repeatedly been hampered by ill-fortune in 2026 – the runner-up spoils in the 24 Hours of Le Mans the squad’s sole silverware to-date.

The 6 Hours of Monza will begin at 11:00 local time (CET) tomorrow (Sunday, 8 November). 

Check out the full <a href="https://www.fiawec.com/en/page/resultats-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">qualifying and Hyperpole times</a>.

All of FIA WEC. All of endurance racing’s greatest battles. Watch live and on demand with FIAWEC+ – the official streaming platform of the FIA World Endurance Championship, wherever you are, whenever you want, including the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. <a href="https://plus.fiawec.com/en/fia-wec" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stream FIA WEC live</a> with FIAWEC+.

FIA WEC : Fuoco puts Ferrari on pole at Monza

It is with great sadness that the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has learned of the death of Alan Jones, the Formula 1 World Champion who competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on two occasions.

Born on 2 November 1946 in Melbourne, Alan Jones passed away on Thursday 5 November 2026 at the age of 80. Crowned Formula 1 World Champion with Williams in 1980, Jones also made two appearances at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

His first came in 1984, at the wheel of a Kremer Racing Porsche 956, which he shared with Vern Schuppan and Jean-Pierre Jarier. His Le Mans debut was rewarded with sixth place overall. He returned to La Sarthe in 1987 with Toyota Team Tom’s, driving a Toyota 87C alongside Geoff Lees and Eje Elgh. The trio were forced to retire during the second hour of the race.

Alan Jones also competed in 116 Formula 1 Grands Prix between 1975 and 1986. The Australian was renowned for his outright speed, fighting spirit and fiercely competitive nature.

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest extends its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.

Photo credit: Robert Dalaudière/ACO

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest pays tribute to the memory of Alan Jones

The Swiss driver joins the McLaren Hypercar team for the 95th 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In brief

 

<ul>
	<li>Grégoire Saucy (26) has a full-time seat with McLaren Hypercar for the 2027 WEC</li>
	<li>He has taken part in most of the MCL-HY tests and drove it at Goodwood with Lando Norris</li>
	<li>He won the 2026 European Le Mans Series with United Autosports: two victories and five podium places in six rounds</li>
	<li>McLaren Racing will be fielding a Hypercar at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2027.</li>
</ul>

 

Some positions don’t get advertised, they are earned lap after lap, and not necessarily in the limelight. Twenty-six-year-old Grégoire Saucy has proved himself worthy of his seat. The Swiss driver, fresh from his <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/elms-united-autosports-win-in-portugal-to-lift-2026-lmp2-title-61070">2026 European Le Mans Series</a> win, is officially a McLaren Hypercar driver for the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship. He joins <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/mclaren-racing-announces-its-first-hypercar-driver-60219">Mikkel Jensen</a>, <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/2027-24-hours-of-le-mans-alex-lynn-joins-mclaren-racing-61080">Alex Lynn</a>, and <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/leonardo-fornaroli-jumps-from-f2-to-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-with-mclaren-61059">Leonardo Fornaroli</a> on McLaren’s route to the summit of endurance racing. At the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans next June (9–13), he will therefore be part of the crew in the cockpit of the <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/mclaren-mcl-hy-a-name-with-a-hint-of-promise-for-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-60533">McLaren MCL-HY</a>, whose name is a nod to the iconic Formula One GTR that won the race in 1995.

<h2>Who is Grégoire Saucy, the new addition to the McLaren Hypercar programme?</h2>

Grégoire Saucy was born in Switzerland 26 years ago. He began by making a name for himself in single-seater racing, winning eight rounds of the Formula Regional European Championship. Then came endurance racing, where he wasted no time. In 2024 and 2025, he took part in the FIA World Endurance Championship in LMGT3 at the wheel of a McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, and understandably caught the manufacturer’s eye. He joined the British make’s development programme early in 2026.

At McLaren, they sum up Saucy in three words: speed, adaptability and determination. A 24-hour race like Le Mans requires all three.

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<h2>Well-deserved promotion</h2>

Grégoire Saucy is overjoyed: “When I joined the McLaren Hypercar Team for its development season, I hoped it might lead to a full-time race seat, but I knew there was a great deal of experienced talent in the driver market. I stayed focused, worked hard and adapted quickly to the MCL-HY.”

James Barclay, Team Principal of McLaren Hypercar Team, is satisfied: “Grégoire’s promotion is exactly what the McLaren Driver Development Programme is designed to achieve: identifying exceptional talent, supporting that development and creating a genuine pathway to a works race seat.”He adds: He has impressed us throughout the MCL-HY test programme with his pace, methodical approach within the team and his progress over the intensive testing schedule.”

The story began on 4 May, in Varano, Italy. McLaren was testing the MCL-HY for the first time. Grégoire Saucy and Mikkel Jensen were the drivers. From then on, Saucy was present at practically all the team’s tests. He also drove the Hypercar at its <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/the-mclaren-mcl-hy-s-public-debut-at-goodwood-60904">first public appearance at Goodwood Festival of Speed</a>, alongside 2025 Formula One World Champion, Lando Norris.

There are no prizes for test-driving. No chequered flag. No podium. The role requires consistency and precision. And working in the wings. Discretion makes all the difference.

<h2>Ready to take on the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans </h2>

Le Mans is not new to McLaren. The make’s <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-centenary-mclaren-an-f1-takes-on-le-mans-57424">F1 GTR</a> triumphed on first attempt in 1995 and hopes are high for the MCL-HY to do the same. In 2027, the Woking-designed Hypercar will join Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Ford, Genesis, Peugeot and Toyota in the field.

Nobody comes to Le Mans just for the ride. Grégoire Saucy begins the WEC season as a champion, with a desire to progress to the next stage. There is no question of resting on his laurels. He knows the French classic does not tolerate arrogance.

<h4>FAQ: The ins and outs of the McLaren MCL-HY</h4>

The <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/2025-24-hours-of-le-mans-mclaren-introduces-the-world-to-its-hypercar-59772">McLaren MCL-HY</a> is McLaren Racing’s Hypercar. It will compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2027.

What does MCL-HY stand for?

MCL stands for McLaren (in particular in Formula One). HY is a reference to Hypercar. Together, they spell commitment. The name is also a nod to the McLaren F1 GTR which triumphed at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans on first attempt.

What is the MCL-HY’s technical description?

The Dallara-built chassis is fitted with a twin-turbo V6 engine. The car is developed with the help of the United Autosports race team.

When did the MCL-HY first appear in public?

Its maiden outing was at Goodwood Festival of Speed, although the development programme was only in its tenth week at the time. Grégoire Saucy drove the car with Nando Norris, Formula One World Champion in 2025.

Who are the MCL-HY’s drivers?

The line-up so far is as follows: Mikkel Jensen, Laurens Vanthoor, Alex Lynn, Leonardo Fornaroli and Grégoire Saucy.

Who will the MCL-HY be up against in 2027?

In 2027, McLaren will join Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Ford, Genesis, Peugeot and Toyota in the exceptionally tough Hypercar field. 
The McLaren MCL-HY will take the start of the <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/tickets-go-on-sale-on-friday-6-november-for-next-year-s-24-hours-of-le-mans-61106">95th 24 Hours of Le Mans</a> on 12 June at 4 p.m.

Grégoire Saucy, the new addition to the McLaren Hypercar programme

Titles are on the line in Italy this weekend (6-8 November), as for one last time in 2026, FIA World Endurance Championship competitors prepare to engage in a high-speed, high-stakes battle for glory – by taming the legendary Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

Built more than a century ago in royal parkland just north of Milan, the world’s third-oldest purpose-built motor racing circuit – and oldest in mainland Europe – has a long association with the pinnacle of international endurance racing, stretching back over six decades and yielding victories for heroes of the sport such as John Surtees, Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx.

Known as ‘The Temple of Speed’, the Autodromo has undergone several transformations over the years, with its current 5.793km, 11-turn layout and combination of long straights and tight chicanes prioritising aerodynamic efficiency, traction and braking stability.

FIA WEC visited Monza for three consecutive campaigns from 2021 to 2023. On the most recent of those occasions, 12 different models of car took to the track; in evidence of the world championship’s burgeoning momentum and growth, this weekend, there will be 17. 

On the driving front, 11 home heroes feature on the grid, while Italy becomes the first country to book-end the calendar and host the series at two different venues during a single season, as the action concludes in Europe for the first time since 2019. Although the Hypercar Manufacturers’ crown has already been clinched by Toyota, three other prestigious trophies are still up for grabs in the 6 Hours of Monza – setting the scene for a scintillating final showdown..

<h2>Internal duel for Hypercar Drivers’ honours</h2>

Toyota sewed up the Manufacturers’ spoils courtesy of a commanding one-two finish last time out in Spain, but there remains the matter of the Hypercar Drivers’ World Championship to decide, with the #8 crew of Barcelona winners Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa in possession of a 17-point advantage over #7 stablemates Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Nyck de Vries. 

With just 26 points in play – 25 for victory plus one for pole position – the odds are clearly weighted in the #8 trio’s favour, as Buemi and Hartley, in their 50th FIA WEC appearance together, set their sights on a record-extending fifth title.

Alongside Hirakawa, the pair may have one hand on the coveted crown, but it is the #7 Toyota that boasts much the better résumé at Monza. Conway and Kobayashi formed part of the triumphant line-up in Italy in 2021 and 2023 – having begun both races from pole – and rounded out the rostrum in third place in 2022.

The Japanese star returns as the series’ qualifying lap record-holder at the track, while the Briton – with whom he is set to share a car for an unparalleled 75th time – will bid a fond farewell at the end of the race, as he hangs up his motorsport helmet. But will he do so with a third Drivers’ trophy in his baggage?

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Ominously for its adversaries, Toyota has won all eight FIA WEC season finales since 2017, but in front of its ever-ardent tifosi – with ticket sales hinting at a huge on-site crowd – Ferrari in particular will be eager to halt that streak this weekend, after suffering a narrow defeat to its Japanese rival in the curtain-raising contest at Imola. Not only is the Prancing Horse competing on home soil for the second time in 2026, it is also keen to conclude a challenging title defence on a high.

The Ferrari 499P was a podium-finisher on its maiden outing at the Autodromo in 2023, and five of the marque’s six Hypercar drivers – James Calado, Antonio Fuoco, Alessandro Pier Guidi, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen – have sprayed champagne there in GT categories in the past. Pier Guidi – on the cusp of his 70th FIA WEC start – holds the fastest GTE Pro lap around the circuit. 

BMW – sitting one spot further up the Manufacturers’ standings in second – is amongst six carmakers across both classes never to have previously competed at Monza in the championship, and the Bavarian brand is determined to arrest a disappointing recent run with a rostrum result. 

Elsewhere in the field, Alpine is aiming to sign off in style in its 80th and final FIA WEC event. Les Bleus’ emblematic #36 entry prevailed at the track in 2022 after finishing runner-up in 2021, with its valedictory appearance set to signal – somewhat appropriately – the marque’s 36th Hypercar race. French counterpart Peugeot, meanwhile, made its series debut at the Autodromo in 2022, with the 9X8 Hypercar reaching the podium there for the first time 12 months later.

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<h2>Corvette chasing first LMGT3 title at happy hunting-ground</h2>

‘The Temple of Speed’ has been kind to Corvette in the past. A late Ferrari splash ‘n’ dash pit-stop with just two laps remaining in 2022 handed the American brand LMGTE Pro victory, before the #33 entry made history the following campaign by clinching the LMGTE Am crown with two rounds to spare – the earliest any FIA WEC title has ever been won. 

Current crew Nicky Catsburg and Ben Keating were part of that championship-winning line-up, with their #33 team-mate Jonny Edgar on the verge of solo LMGT3 Drivers’ glory this weekend, after the Dutchman and American missed part of the season earlier on. Keating is a former Monza pole-sitter, while TF Sport has started on the front row in-class for all three races to-date at the circuit – although with no car having triumphed from pole position in any category thus far this year, qualifying may not be the secret to success this weekend. 

Monza marks the 80th FIA WEC outing for Chevrolet, and there is an even more momentous milestone for closest rival, Porsche. Across all of its GT variants, the 911 will chalk up an unprecedented 500 entries in the series, and the German sportscar has consistently shone at the Autodromo. Indeed, the last time the championship visited, Porsche locked out the LMGTE Am podium.

Italy’s own Riccardo Pera placed third that day – replicating 2026 The Bend Manthey team-mate Richard Lietz’s LMGTE Pro rostrum finish from two years prior. The ultra-experienced Austrian recently became the first driver to achieve five LMGT3 victories, and at Monza, he will become the second driver to make 100 FIA WEC starts, after Buemi in Barcelona.

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Launched in 2024, the production-based division will be making its Monza bow, and Porsche powerhouse Manthey has developed a habit of conquering circuits first time out. With an 18-point deficit to overturn to TF Sport and Edgar at the summit of the standings, Pera, Lietz and Yasser Shahin will need another big result in order to secure Manthey a third consecutive LMGT3 crown. Encouragingly for the trio, a Porsche sporting the same race number – #92 – prevailed in LMGTE Pro on its debut at the venue in 2021. 

Corvette has two irons in the fire with the #34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Z06 also still in the reckoning, while the fourth and final title contender, the #69 BMW, requires a perfect weekend and some serious bad luck to befall its adversaries if it is to spring a surprise and steal the spoils. Should that happen, it would represent the first time any competitor in any category has been crowned champion without scoring at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

<h2>Key Info</h2>

The on-track sessions will begin with free practice on Friday, 6 November. Qualifying – and the Hyperpole top ten shootout – starts at 14:20 CET (UTC +1) on Saturday, 7 November, with the six-hour race getting underway at 11:00 CET on Sunday, 8 November. 

Tickets to attend the race weekend are still available to purchase <a href="https://www.ticketone.it/artist/world-endurance-championship/wec-6-hours-of-monza-2026-4204139/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. 

Check out all the <a href="https://www.fiawec.com/en/race/6-hours-of-monza-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">key information</a> regarding the 6 Hours of Monza, including the full event timetable and entry list. 

All of FIA WEC. All of endurance racing’s greatest battles. Watch live and on demand with FIAWEC+ – the official streaming platform of the FIA World Endurance Championship, wherever you are, whenever you want, including the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Stream <a href="https://plus.fiawec.com/en/fia-wec" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FIA WEC live</a> with FIAWEC+.

FIA WEC : High speeds and high stakes in Monza season finale

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#7 TOYOTA RACING WEC JPN M Toyota TR010 Hybrid HY Mike CONWAY (GBR) P Kamui KOBAYASHI (JPN) P Nyck DE VRIES (NED) P#winner, podium

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