18:38
The No.38 is already 2.0s clear of the No.20, who is in turn 25.1s ahead of the No.12 Cadillac.
2026 24 Hours of Le Mans
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24 Hours of Le Mans LIVE: Race updates as Toyota leads amid team order tension
Live updates from the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans
KEY MOMENTS
- 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans is underway
- Safety car in hour 19 for big LMGT3 crash
- No.50 Ferrari out in hour 19
- Toyota, Cadillac, BMW battling for lead
- Cadillac leads after Hour 18
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
18:37
That is, of course, the car that was on pole originally before losing that lap due to a pitlane infringement.
18:36
BMW sounds relaxed about that over the radio, given his strategy for fuel right now.
18:35
New leader
Cadillac takes the lead of Le Mans! The No.38 dives up the inside of the No.20 BMW into the second chicane on the Mulsanne straight.
18:32
Through all of that, we have a tight lead battle now. The No.20 BMW is only 0.861s ahead of the No.38 Jota Cadillac.
18:32
The No.7 Toyota and the No.83 AF Corse are being investigated for unsafe releases.
18:31
The No.30 LMP2 leader is now in for a stop, with Doriane Pin jumping in.
18:30
New leader
The No.20 BMW is back into the lead with the No.8 Toyota on its offset strategy.
18:30
The No.8 Toyota is in the pits.
18:29
A replay of that incident does show Pier Guidi in the Ferrari get a bit out of shape.
The No.9 LMP2 is in the pits for some repair to damage after that.
18:28
Ferrari clash
Another contact moment between a Ferrari Hypercar and an LMP2.
The No.51 got into the side of the No.9 Proton Competition LMP2 car at the Tertre Rouge esses. That was why there was a bollard on track there.
18:27
There was going to be an FCY, but Matt Bell cleared it with his car.
18:26
There is a bollard on the circuit at the Tertre Rouge section. This could end up being a slow zone or something to clear it.
18:25
The No.3 DKR LMP2 car is being told to come back in due to a door issue. What a nightmare that team is having today.
18:25
Ross Gunn got properly blocked by traffic through the first corner with LMP2 on one side and an LMGT3 coming out of the pits.
18:24
Meanwhile, at the front, the No.8 Toyota is 28.2s up on the No.20 BMW, but it will be due a stop in the next few laps.
18:23
Aston radio tension
"Who is this idiot? Oh... thought so".
Ross Gunn in the No.007 Aston takes a pop at Robert Kubica over the radio in this battle for 12th.
18:22
More trouble coming for Ferrari here. The No.83 is being hounded by the No.007 Aston Martin.
18:22
Tyre graphic shows pretty much all on the mediums on all corners in Hypercar.
18:20
Toyota is telling the No.8 car not to go wide at the Porsche Curves as they believe that's where the slow puncture came from for the No.7.
18:19
In LMGT3, the No.91 Manthey car is leading by 10.9s.
18:19
In LMP2, the No.30 Duqueine car is 30.1s clear of the field in that class. Great drive so far.
18:18
The No.8 Toyota has extended its lead again to 25.9s.
18:16
Cadillac problems
The Jota team boss has to go to race control immediately, according to the stewards, for car No.12. Same with team manager of the No.101 WTR entry too.
18:15
The No.3 DKR LMP2 car was in pits for 28 minutes. That car is now out around 8 laps down.