2026 24 Hours of Le Mans
2026 24 Hours of Le Mans
© XPB Images

24 Hours of Le Mans LIVE: Race updates as Toyota wins

Live updates from the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans

KEY MOMENTS

The 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans begins today, Saturday 13 June, with BMW starting on pole for the first time in the top class. 

The world's most famous 24-hour race will host its 94th edition this weekend, as 186 drivers across 62 cars and three classes battle for victory. 

The 2026 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will see BMW start on pole for the first time, after a dramatic Hyperpole session on Thursday evening. 

The No.15 WRT-run BMW crew of Kevin Magnussen, Raffele Marciello and Dries Vanthoor, inherited pole after the No.38 Hertz Team Jota Cadillac of Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber and Sebastien Bourdais had their pole time cancelled post-session. 

The No.38 Cadillac was dropped to 10th on the grid. 

Last year's Le Mans-winning customer Ferrari AF Corse entry - the No.83 car - driven by Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson was the big shock of qualifying, as it failed to get into Hyperpole. 

The No.83 car will defend its Le Mans crown from 17th on the grid.  

Ferrari only got one car into the final part of Hyperpole on Thursday night, with the No.51 car of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovonazzi a best of eighth on the grid. 

The Scuderia will be aiming for its fourth successive 24 Hours of Le Mans win this weekend, but will face stiff competition from a Hypercar field that looks wide open.

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans schedule

Race start - 3pm BST, 13 June

Race finish - 3pm BST, 14 June

13 Jun 2026
08:00
Hour 18

That's 17 hours of racing completed here at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

The No.8 Toyota still leads outright. 

07:59

That No.28 LMP2 car was in the lead very early in class in this race, but has dropped well off as it has gone on. 

07:57

The No.28 IDEC Sport car has spun out of the last corner, but has gotten going again. 

07:55

Hartley has extended his lead to 1.2s over Van der Linde in the BMW, helped by some traffic last time around. 

07:51

So, the No.8 Toyota takes the lead, with the No.20 still behind him in second. 

But the No.8 is going to be pitting soon and will have a longer stop for new tyres. 

07:51

The No.12 enters pitlane to serve that penalty. 

07:49
Penalty - No.12 Cadillac

Huge news!

The No.12 Jota Cadillac of Louis Deletraz has just been given a drive-through penalty for a slow zone procedure infringement. 

07:48

After that FCY, the No.12's lead is 13.4s over the No.8 Toyota, with the No.20 BMW still just behind in third. 

This is still very much a three-way battle for victory, but it's going to take some time before that explodes properly. 

07:47
Green flag

The green flag is waving again. 

07:45

In the LMGT3 class, the No.33 Corvette is leading the way just now.

07:43
Full Course Yellow

We have an FCY. Not sure why.

07:42

Let's take a look at LMP2. 

The No.30 Duquaine car, now with Doriane Pin at the wheel, remains the leader in class, albeit by 21.5s. It did have a 90s lead when I clocked off last night. 

The No.43 Inter Europol car with Tom Dillman at the wheel is its nearest challenger. Those are the main contenders right now. The No.343 Inter Europol car is in touch in third, but 53s off the lead.

07:40

Hard luck for Genesis. Both cars have had their troubles this race. Lots of hard learning in its debut, but all of it is part of the game. 

Loading this video will expose you to potential cookies and tracking by the provider
07:39

Despite his tyre troubles, Hartley is bringing the lead gap to the No.12 down. It's 17.4s, but the No.8 Toyota is lighter on fuel. 

07:37

Brendon Hartley says his tyres are "getting a bit digital" in the No.8 Toyota. He's on old tyres on this stint, while the No.20 BMW behind him is on fresh rubber. 

07:35
Overnight catch-up

If you're just waking up (looking at you, Scotland World Cup fans), this is what happened overnight in Hypercar:

The No.38 Cadillac that was in the lead battle suffered a power steering issue that became terminal

A mistake, followed by an FCY infringement, took the No.8 Toyota that was leading at the safety car out of first place. 

The No.50 Ferrari hit issues overnight. It's out there still, but eight laps down. 

 

07:31

Into the light...

Loading this video will expose you to potential cookies and tracking by the provider
07:30

Lead battle has closed up. 

The No.12 Cadillac with Louis Deletraz is 20.8s up on the No.8 Toyota, with the No.02 BMW just 1.5s further back.

07:30

A slow zone is going to be implemented where that Genesis has stopped.

07:29
Retirement - No.17 Genesis

Oh, it sounds like a clatter on the kerb at Dunlop broke something on the Genesis. That looks like it's race over for the No.17. 

07:28

The No.19 Genesis car has stopped on track down at La Chapelle. 

07:27

The leading No.12 is in and out again, switches to medium rubber and is back out in the lead. 

07:23

The No.20 BMW is in the pits. 

07:20

The No.8 Toyota in third has pitted. 

07:19
No.38 Cadillac - retirement

Good morning. Thanks to Luke for holding down the night shift. 

Unfortunately, I return to bad news for the No.38 Cadillac. Its earlier power steering issues are terminal and the car has been retired. 

Jack Aitken, Cadillac Jota, 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans
Jack Aitken, Cadillac Jota, 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans
© XPB Images