Le Mans News

Toyota Gazoo Racing retained its advantage at the top of the timesheets during second qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Thursday evening as a red flag brought the session to an early end.

Jose Maria Lopez says all Toyota Gazoo Racing drivers have been trained on how to produce solutions to any problem which requires each of them to have ‘brains like computers’ at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Toyota Gazoo Racing swept to a one-two finish during the first qualifying session for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Fernando Alonso provisionally set to make his debut in the race from pole position.

Toyota is open to using team orders through this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans as it bids to score its maiden overall victory in the classic sports car race.

Kamui Kobayashi headed up a one-two finish for Toyota Gazoo Racing in practice for the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Wednesday evening at the Circuit de la Sarthe as Fernando Alonso enjoyed his final preparations ahead of qualifying later today.

Sebastien Buemi fears Toyota will have no excuses if it fails to win this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours as the sole LMP1 hybrid manufacturer but is confident his team is fully prepared for the race learning from its previous heartaches.

Fernando Alonso is hoping for some rain to fall during Thursday’s qualifying sessions for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in order to gain experience driving the Toyota LMP1 car in damp conditions ahead of the race.

Fernando Alonso believes it is wrong to think that this weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans will be a two-car battle for victory, billing the race as being better than ever thanks to its deep LMP1 field.

Fernando Alonso is adamant his future in Formula 1 will not be swayed by the result he achieves at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council has confirmed discussions on opening up technical regulations to Hypercar concepts from 2020 as well as introducing target budgets for LMP1 entries.

Fernando Alonso set the fastest time to top the official Le Mans test day for Toyota on his first experience of the Circuit de la Sarthe. 

Stoffel Vandoorne insists his sole focus remains on Formula 1, despite McLaren’s increasing interests in expanding into other series including IndyCar and the World Endurance Championship. 

Antonio Giovinazzi is relishing his return to racing action when he features in next month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans after more than a year focusing on testing and development duties.

Pietro Fittipaldi says he is taking inspiration from Dale Coyne Racing teammate Sebastien Bourdais as he bids to contest the final part of the 2018 IndyCar season. 

Mike Simpson has replaced Dean Stoneman at the Manor Ginetta CEFC TRSM Racing LMP1 squad’s driver line-up for the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

Fernando Alonso is happy to have more sports car races on his schedule than additional Formula 1 grand prix events “because they are more fun” as he juggles two FIA world championship campaigns in 2018.

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has been named as the race starter for this year's running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, taking place at the Circuit de la Sarthe on June 16-17.

McLaren executive director Zak Brown has said that he finds the provisional plans for the new premier class at Le Mans “compelling” as the Formula 1 team considers a works return to sports car racing.

Six-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Jacky Ickx has been appointed the Grand Marshal for this year’s edition of the iconic endurance race set to take place on the 16-17 June.

Fernando Alonso says he prefers the more restricted nature of the Formula 1 paddock compared to the greater freedom offered to fans in the World Endurance Championship, having found it “stressful” at times during his Spa race weekend.

Fernando Alonso says his early success with Toyota in the World Endurance Championship with have no bearing on his Formula 1 focus but has criticised the sport for being too predictable in recent seasons.

Jenson Button has completed his maiden test with World Endurance Championship squad SMP Racing at Magny-Cours as he steps up preparations to join the Russian squad for his Le Mans debut.

Oliver Rowland turned down an offer to race in Super Formula this year so he could focus on his World Endurance Campaign and Williams Formula 1 commitments in 2018. 

FIA president Jean Todt would like to see between five and seven manufacturers racing in the top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, but hinted it may not run to the existing LMP1 regulations in order to attract new entries.