24 Hours of Le Mans: Ferrari, Cadillac, Porsche… the return of the great historic brands

It is clear that Toyota, the winner of the last five editions, will continue to be the competitor to beat this year. But unlike previous years, when the Japanese marque passed the checkered flag as the winner for lack of competition, this 91st edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, its centenary edition, promises to be even more sophisticated since the historic manufacturers return.

First there Porsche. The German manufacturer, holder of the record for the number of victories in 24 hours, will aim for its twentieth trophy with two Porsche 963s at the wheel, where we find two Frenchmen, Kevin Esther and Frederic Makowiecki, but above all German Andre Lotterer, three-time winner of this event.

Ferrari She also returns 50 years after her last engagement. The Scuderia, which has won nine times at Le Mans, arrives with two Ferrari 499B cars equipped with a hybrid engine and a double horizontal wing, and two racing cars, among others, Italian Antonio Giovinazzi, former Formula 1 driver.

Peugeot wants its critics to lie

Another notable comeback is the comeback Cadillac. After 21 years of absence, the American manufacturer returns to Sarthe with the intention of winning. For that, he entered three cars to compete for victory, entrusting the wheel to experienced drivers such as France’s Sebastien Bourdais and also, above all, New Zealander Earl Bamber, twice winner of the 24 Hours.

Peugeot, who won four times at the Sarthe Circuit, is also back 14 years after his last title. The French manufacturer has not participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2011 and arrives with its 9X8 in the first category of Hypercar. Ineffective during its first outings in Fuji and Bahrain, the 9X8 wants to prove its critics wrong thanks to former Formula 1 drivers Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne, Scotsman Paul di Resta and 2013 winner Luc Duval.

In this category of Hypercars, which has 16 cars on the starting line, there is also the British team Fanwalwhich goes back to the competition, which was in Formula 1 in the 1950s, and the American company Glickenhauswhose cars won third and fourth places last year.