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MP 1700: LMP2 24 Hours of Le Mans Preview 2026
MP 1700: LMP2 24 Hours of Le Mans Preview 2026
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About this episode
It's The Week In Sports Cars show LMP2 Le Mans Preview featuring DailySportsCar.com's Stephen Kilbey and Graham Goodwin
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Buick Verano
"... Engineering. And this is Sebastian Alvarez, John Verano in Canada, Renga Vandezander in the number three,..."
Car
Ferrari 499
"...r because of course the 83 is the other submarine Ferrari 499. And the story behind that number is that's of co..."
Car
Ford Dark Horse
"... effectively, oh really? Could that be a bit of a dark horse? The interesting to note about this is the nine c..."
Car Buick Verano
1 mention · 02:33Car Ferrari 499
1 mention · 23:00Car Ford Dark Horse
1 mention · 29:58
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Welcome to the Week in Sports Cars, part of the Master Group podcast collection. It's
another edition of the Le Mans 2026 preview brought to you by the Justice Brothers and
Toronto Merit Sports dot com. This is LMP2, this is that segment. It's the all-Orca pack
that will be racing for glory in LMP2 and LMP2 Pro-Am this year. Graham is alongside me.
Graham Goodwin, the editor-in-chief of DailySportsCar.com. I'm Stephen Kilby, editor of DailySportsCar.com
and WC correspondent for Racer Magazine. Excited to break down what is, I'm sure, going to
be an awesome field and awesome class and an epic battle in this race, 19 cars, Graham.
It's 19 cars, isn't it? It's 10 cars in LMP2. It's 9 LMP2 per round, so pretty much all
the way straight down the line. You're right, all-Orca on the Goodyear tyre with the awesome
Gibson 4.2-litre V8 that will add again to the soundtrack of Le Mans, coming towards the
end of that era, just two more to go with those cars. But for me, Stephen, it's the quality
of the teams and the quality of the drivers. And in particular, the quality of the pros,
I should say, in Pro-Am. How are we going to do this? We're going to do this pro, the
LMP2 class first and Pro-Am second or the other way round.
Let's talk about BOP first. Oh, no, we don't need to because there isn't any BOP. So all
of you people who are sitting there moaning about BOP but then say, obviously, it's a
rubbish class. It's the Oracle Cup. You're wrong. It's an awesome class.
It's fantastic.
And there's no BOP and it's just raw power.
If you're not keeping an eye on LMP2 during the 25 hours of Le Mans, God, are you missing
out? It's fantastic. Yeah, no, it's very awesome.
Anybody that's getting used to watching the European Le Mans series, the Asian Le Mans
series will need no telling. It's spectacular racing. Quality of the teams, despite the
departure of some of the super teams for hypercar, is still right up there, as we'll be talking
about in the next hour or so, I guess. But Stephen, what are we looking forward to? We
are going to have a crack through the Pro Ams first.
Yeah, let's do Pro Am first. And should we do it in numerical?
I think we're going to have to because otherwise we're going to get terribly, terribly confused.
Start with the number three then from Luxembourg, DKR Engineering. And this is Sebastian Alvarez,
John Verano in Canada, Renga Vandezander in the number three, Oracle, that features a
fantastic looking livery for 2026 with reflective stripes on the car. So if it makes it to the
nighttime, it's going to be an absolute fan favorite.
Oh, yeah, it's a cool livery anyway. And they've done a really nice job of it over the recent
years in the LMS. So yeah, I'm looking forward to having a little stand up from the desk about
three o'clock in the morning, stretching my arms a little bit, walking over to the window,
the pressure of watching that go by. Do love a reflective livery.
Well, Renga Vandezander amongst it, that's by no means the only current hypercar slash
GTP driver we'll be talking about in LMP2 or indeed LMP2 Pro Am. He's absolutely a star
power there. Sebastian Alvarez pretty quick. John Verano, having taken quite a while to
come back after a back injury. 24 hour race then is clearly a big test for John. What
do we think about Dica engineering? Ken Dijek in class and his team absolutely know how
to run a endurance race.
Yeah. And Renga's there to do some heavy lifting and there is an element in Pro Am of for these
Bons drivers who can bring the biggest gun. And John Verano has found a pretty big sized
bazooka, isn't he, for this race. So looking forward to seeing how this car kind of gets
on DKR have had pedigree at this race. Haven't they? They've got podiums, haven't they, in
LMP2 Pro Am in the past and they're not running anymore. Are they Graham with that incredible
2017?
No. Early chassis.
Or are they? I mean, here's the thing. chassis five, we're now up to about 150 by the way,
but that is their second car. They've got chassis 140 now. But Kenny did tell me they
were saving that car for the endurance races.
Oh, really?
So we need to find out which of the two cars they've got there that want to watch. It is
going to be a family favorite for the way it looks. I've no doubt it'd be pretty darn
good in terms of the way it goes. Is it has it got strength in depth enough to be there
for the podium positions? I wonder because as you'll see as we get down this list, oh
my God, the strength in depth in LMP2 Pro Am. So Luxembourg for the podium or Luxembourg
for the win?
It's a bit of weight.
What I would say is there is up and down the order, a little bit of an IMSA flair about
this. And although it's a DKR engineering badged effort and the locals don't take part
in IMSA's LMP2 class, with Sebastian Alvarez and John Verano. This is a pairing that's
in place with John Verano's Tower Motorsports team in IMSA. What I would say is they've
had a pretty good start to this season by all measure, got second place at Sebring and
that's a really tough place to go and get a result. So if that's an indication of what
their ceiling is, I think we could be interested to see if they can fight up the front in this
pack.
Well, you say that, then we come crashing into, let's hope not literally, into the number
four car. That's a crowd-strike racing by APR car, one of two in LMP2 Pro Am that will
be looked after by Uncarve Pro Racing, sevens, two cocks. This one, American flagged, it
is the IMSA entry. And oh my God, look at this lineup. George Kurtz, who is one of the strongest
true bronzes in this field without a shadow of a doubt. Alex Quinn, we'll come back and
talk about Alex for a moment. And Lauren Heinrich, it's a triple barrel shotgun of an
effort. So, you know, every team in Pro Am has got to have a bronze driver pretty clearly.
The Mr. Motivator behind that and certainly where the opportunity, the resources coming
from is George Kurtz, focusing on LMP2 this year, no GT racing for him. Lauren Heinrich,
now, fall factory Porsche driver will be a full season driver next year in IMSA in the
963 until that weekend was leading the IMSA championship. Despite the fact he's not, he
had the switch between Tyneski and JDC. But as a driver led, and so maybe a little less
bit of a convincing run at Detroit, made a mistake that had him sitting thinking about
his choices in life on Pit Lameville in a wee while. But make no mistake, that young man
is one of the very best and has got plenty of time to get better. And then we switched to
Alex Quinn. So, Alex, now a development driver for the Peugeot hypercar team, I think, okay,
what else we talk about in this class? He is going to be one of the top five fastest drivers
in that field. No, he's really, really quick, LMP2 car. And he's very good in a pro-am car as
well. He's very good at working with bronze drivers. We have seen that. He's got that skill
set already at such a young age in the year, the mess that I imagine that this is a car that's
going to feature both of our top three. So we try and predict who's going to win each of these
classes. And you look at George Kurtz, you look at the George Kurtz APR, double act, if you will,
huge success. I mean, George has won Le Mans in class in the LMP2 prime as recently as 2023 with
our Garpo Racing. And of course, this year, he's fresh from winning Daytona, Rolex 24 back in
January with Alex Quinn in the lineup. So, yeah, they're not messing about here, are they? It'll
be a car that looks spectacular. It'll be a car that goes spectacularly well, I'm sure. For me,
one of the favourites. And if the race plays out in a certain way, George's drier time is done.
We get a couple of safety cars and they're on the lead lap. Who knows that Quinn, that could win
the class overall. Well, let's wait and see with that one. Have we peaked early? Well, let's find
out. TBS Racing is next up. This is the 14 car. The 9 Proton next. No, that's the P2 car. Yeah,
come back to that. C, C. Apologies. Steady. Steady. Bronner's driver is Tobias Luka,
the one behind Shopify, I think, I'm right. Which is, I think this is going to be a car that carries
that livery. Then we've got the two pros, Matthias Besch and Chextra Effect, Kevin Estra. Now, Kevin
hasn't done much in P2 cars, has he? No, but he's done plenty in prototypes.
Quite a lot. I think I'm right in saying, Stephen Kilby, has quite a reputation for being,
how could we put this, pacey. So, the last time he was at Le Mans in a P2 car, do you remember when it was?
No. 2015 with Oak Racing with Lawrence Vantor and Chris coming. Was he really?
Unbelievable. In a JSP2 that didn't finish. Dear me. Probably Kevin's fault. It definitely was.
Matthias Besch. Purposeful, I think. We've got to talk about Matthias' style.
Aggressive is another way to put it out. If you're wheel to wheel with him, you're going to know about
it. Then, basically, it's like a tag wrestling team. You can just bring the car in, tag go to
Kevin Estra and you're in all sorts of trouble there as well. So, if this pair can show their
pace and aggression without faults, they could well be up there. There's no doubt. Look, it's
the easiest thing in the world to say, the weakest link here is blah, blah, blah. I'm not comparing
the best look to the two pro drivers. Of course I'm not. That's not fair. But I would say that I
think Tobias is not the strongest Le Bronson in this world. No. He's new to Le Mans. He's pretty
new to prototype racing as a horse. He's got a lot to learn still. Clearly, extremely passionate about
it, willing to put his money where his mouth is and come and do these big races. It will be a
challenging week for you. There's no doubt about it. But he has people around him and TDS are a
fantastic team. I'm thinking particularly Kevin Estra that will guide him through it well. If he
can stay error free, then he's got the two pros alongside him that can deliver some sort of result.
I'm not expecting this to be a car that's gunning for the win, even with a Kevin Estra. He's clearly
coming into this race feeling like he's got a lot to prove in a sense of he wants to get back in
hypercar. We know he does. He wants to make sure that people know he's still very much there and
fighting behind the wheel. There's going to be an interesting story about this car and how well
it does. What we see if we see Kevin strapped in in a stint where he can fight through the field,
I think that would be quite entertaining. But yeah, remains to be seen how high the ceiling will be.
Okay. Let's move on. There's going to be another car with assistance from TDS when we get to the
P2 class. But next up for Pro-Am is the 25 car. This is the other R-Car pro racing run car run
under their own banner. Michael Genson, the ex-Ajahn Le Mans series champion, joined by Jake Hughes
and Enzo Trulli. So Michael getting more and more confident in a P2 car, loving his racing and finding
speed as he finds his confidence with two young men, both of whom are beginning to show some real
sparkle. What do we think about Jake Hughes and Enzo Trulli? Enzo Trulli, fantastic, a real, real
talent has been working with, with Michael in Asian Le Mans and in LMS so far this year. Won the
first round of the season at Barcelona with Malte Acupson in the third chair. I think they're a
really good double act. And for someone like Michael having continuity from LMS into the Le Mans
and Le Froules will help him. Jake Hughes, if you look at it on the face of it, he's racing in
LMP2, not P2 Pro-Am with our Gav Pro in LMS this year. He's come into it and it's not been a great
start to the season, two night place finishes and bottom of the standings. But I don't think
that's Jake Hughes is making at all. I think he's been impressive. I think he's been quick
and he was quick from the prologue onwards this year. He's someone I'm looking, I'm keeping an eye
on, somebody that could develop in the next year or so to being in the sort of Alex Quinn realm of,
oh, wow, okay, another young British upstart who's, you know, Olly Gray. Yeah, and Olly Gray, that sort
of, that sort of ilk. And he has got plenty of relevant experience. He's obviously done high level
single seaters. He's been in Formula Two, he's done Formula Three, he's done a little bit of
Formula E as well. Prototype racing clearly made major differences there. He's got the speed and
this would be a very interesting week to watch him and see how he takes on his first Le Mans.
Okay, let's move down. Next one up in an LMP2 Pro is the number 44 car. This is from Proton
Competition. And this is the car for Hearst Field by My Jr. Hearst Field, Hearst Felix Feldby My,
that is Junior's son, and Lorenzo Fluxer. Again, not a car I expect to see absolutely at the sharp end
here. This is Hearst Feldby My Jr. I think finding his feet in an LMP2, the same for his son as the
Silver. Fluxer, very capable of being quick. I think might well have a few fair tussles, but
unlikely on the face of it to be a car that on pace matches the pace of some of the cars around
them. Yeah, this is definitely one of those cars I expect to be going for a more metronomic run
rather than sticking it on pole, battling for first, second, or third throughout the race.
Not so they can't bring something to the party. And I certainly think Lorenzo Fluxer,
someone in the MES, has at times shown to be a really, really capable P2 driver.
So yeah, I mean, what to say beyond that, really, I just think this is a car that if it runs well,
if they stay out of the garage and stay out of the barriers, as if it gets chaotic,
if it's a race that is a bit attritional, could get something out of it, but I'm not expecting
them to be there on pace alone. And by the way, will appear in the iconic Fubmlye Colours, which
look absolutely fantastic on that car. Moving forward, that car getting the nod, by the way,
through its appearances in the Asian Le Mans series, principally, as does an a first time
appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, despite the fact that has not found to be space for this team
in the grid for the European Le Mans series, RD Limited, RD is Roman Dumas, and it is the
double overall race winner, an ex Porsche and Audi factory driver, Roman Dumas, that appears in the
car with his bronze Fred Portat and Tristram Votier. Now, Fred was struggling with a back injury
over the winter, and I know they were looking to make sure that he was fit and ready for this.
He'll need to be, because this is not a place where you want to be anything other than superfits,
but Fred capable of sticking with the programme. For me, if Fred Portat is fit and able to produce
his best, this could be quite interesting. Yeah, they would just have been spectacular at that time
in the Asian Le Mans series and really, really impressive. And I'm really excited to actually
go and just chat to Roman when we've seen him at scrutineering onwards, because he'll take a huge
amount of pride to be taking his own team. And relief. And relief. But just in general, he's
put a lot into this. And it's a challenge to get here from just doing Asian Le Mans series.
They're a race-winning squad from the Asian Le Mans series. One on debut, didn't they?
Yeah, it's a pan. It's a James Allen that was part of that effort in the Asian Le Mans series.
And great to see them getting a go at it. It's going to be interesting to see how this matches
up in terms of the standards set by RD Limited against the prevailing competition. And there's
a story strand here, which is right now, we're at the point in the LMP2 cycle where new regulations
are not very far away, new cars are coming. Teams are going to be looking at buying cars. Teams are
going to be looking at trying to get spaces on the grid. This is the sort of race where if RD
Limited can prove that it belongs, fight up there too for Nail, they get a good result out of this
one. When it comes down to selection committee and ELMS entry list next year and beyond, and coming
back to Le Mans and getting back to Asian Le Mans series, this could go a long way in securing
that team's future as becoming more permanent presence on the grid throughout the season.
Well, shifting from a team that's making its debut at Le Mans to three with real heritage at this event,
first of them is the number 99 car AO by TF, European Le Mans series champions in LMP2 Pro.
It is PJ Hyatt, the bronze driver of the squad from the Aero Racing side with Dane Cameron, X
Porsche factory driver of course has now become a firm part of the Aero Racing
massive and joined as a late replacement. And this comes as the switch that happened in hypercar
with news that Alex Lin would not be able to drive with Louis Delatras stepping out, being
replaced by, man we just mentioned, James Allen, another super quick guy in an LMP2 car.
Lots of strands about this, but let's talk first about the look of the car because it's not Spike
the Dragon. No, it's Rocky the Pegasus, which is a new character for the team, which I've no
doubt there'll be people plastered in Rocky gear throughout the fan villages of Le Mans.
Can be plastered as in they're wearing a lot of it or plastered because they're in the fan village
and they've been working on the bar, propping it up. No, it looks very nice,
really. I mean, every time Aero turns up with a new character and a new livery, they always do a
spectacular job, but it's going to look awesome. It looks really nice. It's in collaboration with
Mobile One, which is where the Pegasus angle of this comes from. And yeah, it's an effort that to
me, you should be considering right up there with the battle for the podium and the race win here.
They've had that late change, like you say, with Delatras stepping out and James Allen stepping
in, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be any drop off in pace whatsoever.
This is a really strong lineup. And in part, its prospects are so strong, not because James Allen
is such a quick P2 driver, not because Dan Cameron is someone with a wealth of experience racing
around the world and particularly in IMSA, but because P2 Hyatt has become such a good bronze
in a P2 car, gets better all the time. This time last year, we were talking about when are
you finally going to win a race? It feels like he's basically won every race.
He's been astonishing. But again, he's another of this, I want to say new breed of bronzes,
that just demands so much from themselves. And genuinely disappointed if he's found himself
falling slightly short in and qualified. He's quite harsh, he's critic, isn't he?
He is. So it's going to be an interesting one to see how this gels. James Allen,
I think is one of the best out there, the pure LMP2 drivers. In other words, drivers have not
yet been given a break in a GTP or a hypercar. And Dan Cameron, well, he's more class. It's as simple
as that. And he's done wonders with PJ. Yeah, cannot ignore this car in any way, shape or form. So
that's AO by TF. The second of those three teams with heritage includes a driver with heritage
at this race. And that is the bronze rated Francois Proto, who brings this effort together.
And as always, Francois has dipped into the talent bank and plucked out a couple of ripe plums,
one of whom is long term collaborator, Mathieu Vazervier, who's always motivated at this great
race. The makes for a French duo, but joined by Ben the Goat, Barney Goat.
The first time since 2020. Oh, he did Le Mans with them in 2024, and then Didier Le Mes with
Francois in 2023. So that's a bit of pedigree racing with Francois.
But Ben is just super quick. Mathieu, difficult to race against, is another one from the
you know, the open up the folder that says fast and aggressive. And once you flick past the picture
of Mathieu's Bech, there's Mathieu Vazervier right there too. And by the way, Louis Delatras.
All three of them capable of going wheel to wheel, head to head and any other part they're
not to be that kind of gets in the way. The 183 Francois beginning to show flashes of his old form.
He had tricky few months. I know he's been very, very busy with the rest of his life.
Beginning to show flashes of his old form, realizing he's got to get basically get nailed in.
And up the ante against, you know, an increasing field of competition. Can't ignore that car.
Can't ignore that car. If Francois does a job and Math Vaz is quick and doesn't make any sort of
there's no laps and concentration when he's behind the wheel. This is a car that comes in the class
as well. This is what's so great about P2 Pro Am is that there's only a couple of cars where you think
the rest of them, you can make the case. Let's look at the final car in a by the way, that is the
183 again here for the 24 hours. And one not the 83, which would be normally Francois regular
because of course the 83 is the other submarine Ferrari 499. And the story behind that number
is that's of course as team principal. Batty, reserving effect of that number should
that ever be a class where Francois comes back to the WC. That's why they've hung onto that car.
I thought it was just because it was Francois age. I thought that's why.
See it here me. You're brave. You're brave with him not in the room. Finally though, it's the 222
from United Autosports. And that's a brand new number for them. That's because they've got the
222 and the 222. That is for Daniel Schneider from Brazil, the gentleman driver joined by
Ollie Jarvis and Ben Hanley. And that is United going with pace and experience alongside a valuable
customer for them, Daniel Schneider. Dan finding consistency. There's no doubt about it. You know,
he's not one of the pace here. Bronze drivers in this field, but definitely finding consistency
and also making fewer errors. Which is the wall. No, no, no, absolutely. So again,
what he'll approve to himself by doing that is, oh, I'm going to minute the results are better.
And that means that what you'll find is an easier transition to a focus on that consistency
rather than over driving with pace and making those mistakes. He'll absolutely be aware,
as a guy who started this race previously, that that's what's required here in Spain. But beyond
that, once he's got through that time and once he's handed that car over to both Ollie Jarvis
and Ben Hanley, there are two drivers that do have pace and absolutely know what is required at this
completely unique race. Yeah. So the good news is there's two angles. Ollie Jarvis has worked with
Dan Schneider plenty. They know each other well, they work together very well. And it wasn't that
long ago that we were talking about Ollie Jarvis as a LMP2 race winner of United Lomano only a
couple of years ago. Then you've got Ben Hanley, who is fresh from a phenomenal performance from
the team in LMP2 at the ELMS, winning at Paul Ricard with Griffin Peebles and Greg Warsalsi.
He's on his day. I'm playing a full part in that. Yeah, playing a massive part in that. And on his
day is as quick, as not quick, and everyone else in a P2 car. How much is he rated by United Auto
Sports? Well, he's rated enough that they've been putting him on development duties for the
new McLaren hypercar. It's been out in the last few days before we made this recording and putting
laps on the brand new McLaren that we'll see here at this great race next year. So that's the nine.
Top three. We're not going to get into the might be a firm car in the mix for the...
Right, we're doing subclass. Just subclass first. The top three, and I'm going to ask you a name,
one that you think might make it. 25, Al Gore pro racing. Okay. The four. Yeah.
Crowdstroke by APR. And the 183, of course. Interesting. Not a million miles away from
the... 25 is certainly in the mix. For me, the four is absolutely going to be in that list.
The 99, AIR by TF, I think, is going to be in amongst it. I am slightly concerned about the
fitness levels for Fred Portat. But without that, I'd be having the 48 car there. 25. It's two new
young drivers in this race that is bothering me about that. I'm going to go for the 183. So it's
the 99, the 183, and the four. The winner for you? I'm going to be bold. And that's the thing,
is that AIR by TF car and TF are so good at running P2 car. The only reason I'm not putting them in
the top three is because there's not enough space in the top three. It's a toss up. But I'm going
to be bold and say it's an APR 12 with the four leading the 25. Okay. I agree with you, the four,
with that shadow of a doubt. I think that stands out to me. The one is one of these races, isn't
it? Where you can spend a week thinking that's the car, car. It could
just as easily be George Kurtz pulling in with a broken throttle linkage in the first hour. And then
all of a sudden, it's so close, you've got no way back in. But there's certainly, for me, you're
right, there's three or four teams there that you could honestly expect to see battling it out
in the front. And I really want them to be in the mix with the other P2 cars. I think that'd be
awesome. Because there's so much talent there. There's so many drivers that you're like, I'd love
to see, you know, a Rengar van der Zander battling with the top end drivers in the P2 class as well.
I really hope that we get that. Let's switch straight over then to LMP2. And that is 10 cars.
Again, all Orica 07s with the Gibson engine and again on the same Goodyear tyres. First,
numerically, is Proton competitions car. That's one where we've had a fairly recent change. You
know, this read Harry King and Kakarushin Ota. But I think replaced the originally named Lenny
Reid. Did he not? Wasn't Lenny named in that car to start with? Your memory is better than mine.
I think it was. But certainly, Ota-san is a relatively new addition to that one. Of course,
he's racing in the United States with Akira. So it's quite interesting.
All over the place in Japan, mainly with super GT, super Formula A. He's a rapid talent here.
So what do we think of that one? That's a cracking line up for me. That's a cracking line up.
Jonas Reid is getting better and better. He's kind of one of those that feels a little bit like
a Giorgio Roder in a sense that is just so often he doesn't get the result.
But if everything comes together, he's got the ability to be able to keep a car in the heart.
He's won a race for the LMS. That's not easy. Yeah. And it could very easily,
with the likes of Harry King, Kakarushin Ota with the car with him, this could be a car that comes out
there and wins this race to get to the podium. Because I rate Ota and I really rate Harry King.
Harry King in Asia Lomon series was unbelievable. He was with that pure racing effort that went a bit
awry. Yeah, I think Harry was phenomenal behind the wheel. Harry took some flat from within the
team, I think completely unfairly. But when he got on that, here's the thing, whenever he got
that car, you got excited about it. Oh yeah. You knew it was going to be spectacular and it was.
So that's one to remember, the number nine prototype competition car. Could that be an
effectively, oh really? Could that be a bit of a dark horse? The interesting to note about this is
the nine car in ELMS is the car that we've been seeing racing with the Ford performance,
venture engineering, or Ford racing, venture engineering backing. That's not the case. We
don't have the likes of a Sepriot or Mike Rockenfeller with the Ford branding all over it,
or venture engineering branding. But what we don't know is, do we have some of the background crew?
I bet we do. That's going to be something we're going to have to spy. Dig into. Moving down,
next one numerically, we leap straight from number 19 to number 22. It's the other United
Autosports car. It's Mikkel, not Michael Jensen, Rasmus Lind and Gregor Sauti.
So right, what to say here? Well, Mikkel has obviously now confirmed as a McLaren full season
driver, moving over from Peugeot. He's firmly part of their test and development
plans. Rasmus Lind, known to be pacey. Gregor Sauti, boy has he made progress year on year.
He's been loyal to United. United has been loyal to him. They love him. They think he's a massive
team player. He's a real asset to that unit. And I completely agree. Not only has he been
getting stronger and stronger in a P2 car, he's been better and better as we've seen him over
the years in GT3 and LMGT3. This is a really nice lineup. I really like this one. In particular,
we've got the hand of Mikkel Jensen, who's in the middle of that development program, as you say,
with McLaren. And this is an opportunity for him in a year when he's been sitting and watching
WC races on sidelines to get a bit feisty and get a big result in a big race. I think he's
definitely one to watch. Rasmus Lind, Rasmus was part of the... Part of the IMSR effort, isn't he?
Part of the IMSR effort, which Daytona winning IMSR effort, is another strong hand here. I
expect him to be one of the better drivers in the field in the silver column. But yeah,
I mean, really, really strong start to the season for him in LMP2 in IMSR. Leads the championship
after getting a second place finish at Seabringer. There's only been two races in LMP2 there, but
still a very strong start. And he'll come into this with plenty of confidence. And this is
united, we've not seen in WC competition this year because Garret and I stepped in
while they move into hypercar and develop the LMDH. This is a huge deal for them, this P2 effort,
isn't it? And this is a car that they'll want to keep flying the flag for the team and hopefully
rack up another win. So that's United Auto Sports, a known quantity across LMP2 and twice winners,
I think in LMP2 at Le Mans now, from memory. Move on to Nielsen Racing. So this is a team that's
sort of reinvention some pretty major investment that's been spent pretty wisely by Nielsen Racing.
And we've seen an immediate uptick in terms of performance in the European Le Mans series
from them. They bring to this effort David High-Mahanson, who has a Le Mans win, albeit in GT,
but three podium finishes across the class as he's contested the Danish tech genius,
but silver ranked racer, Edward Pearson, new name for many, who is part of the team's effort
in the European Le Mans series, and Jack Dillon steps over from Formula One.
Certainly we've seen an uptick. It's not been quite as steady a boat in terms of the overall
performances. Every person I think is adapting to P2, but it's taking some time. And I think
particularly for that reason, I'm going to say here, this is a team I don't immediately see
Stephen being running up the front of this race. And I think they will be looking for
speed, yes, but principally consistency. But this is going to be a car that's going to be
worth a follow. And I think they will have loads of eyes on it purely because Jack Dillon's in that
car. And it's a big transition from him going from the heights of Formula One and how he was
treated in my mind pretty poorly on his way out the door very quickly. He's now moved in sports
cars. He's got that smile back in his face that we often see from drivers who have reached a high
level in single seaters and it's not gone the way they're expected. I'm excited to see one how he
soaks up this event, what he thinks of it. He seems incredibly motivated to make something of this
move into sports cars. And this is a big opportunity for him on a big stage to show everyone what he
can do. I hope he can. I hope me too. I mean, nobody likes to see someone of obvious talent
battered down by the machine around him, which is frankly, I completely agree with you,
was what it looked like to me. We have much to say with Logan's Argent, Logan's family smile.
And this is a great period in sports car racing, giving talented drivers like that an opportunity
to say, that's not my level. What you've seen there, that's not my level. Here's what I
can do against my peers. And let's hope he gets the opportunity to shine and to enjoy this huge event.
That is Nielsen Racing. Next up, it's another UK team, so three in a row, Vector Sports.
With their new look effort, just one car from their two car effort in the LMS here. That is for
Ryan Cullen, Silver Driver, Pietro Fidipaldi and Vlad Lomko.
Vector, appear for the enigma really. They're a very well run team. Got a lot of time for Gary
Holland. I think he's a great team manager. Speak to Holly for you. It's a long way.
Thanks very much, Gary. But a team that yet to see properly break through and get a big standout
signature result. Could this be the opportunity? I'd like to think that this is going to be a
competitive car. I think what we're not prepared to say is a favourite. We're beginning to see
regularly. I'll say the same for Nielsen. Whereas in the years where maybe it was a bit more of a
struggle, you'd be expected to see those cars 10th, 11th, 12th. We're now seeing them 4th, 5th,
6th and then rising up through the order. They're waiting for a bit of a dose of luck
to get the result that they will feel that they deserve from those efforts.
Nothing wrong with that effort, that lineup. Nothing to say that they can't be actually in with the
mix of things. A lot of it is going to come down to just how the look and the strategy holds for
them. But good to see Vectorsport coming back with, like I say, a new look. If they're carrying
the same livery, it's a bit London buses, but nothing wrong with that. Red with, I think it's a
white striping for their regular P2 Pro car. But good luck for them. Don't overlook Vlad Longko.
No, God knows. He's very impressive when he was with into Europol. Second at Le Mans, I think.
Second in the LMS standings. He is a talent. I think he's one that some people may overlook,
but they shouldn't. Edexport next up. That's part of what's the 26 car for Vectorsport.
28 car is Edexport. Just one of their two cars in contention at Le Mans this year. Last year,
they ran their second car for the Genesis Trajetry Program. That continues, by the way, with a new
trio this year in the European Le Mans series, but that is not a car that's entered for Le Mans.
The 28, though, Paula Farg, twice from memory European Le Mans series champion, the Silver Rank
Driver. Valeria Rignicella looked after by Marco Ciacci. He is the one member of the
Trajetry Program in the race. There you go. And Jove Van Uter, who we're beginning to have to say
is a veteran in LMP2, which is shocking. Still big smile, still super competitive.
That's quite a well-balanced squad. It's not shouting at me that I expect that car to be
running in the front. And a part of that is, sort of think Paula Farg needs a bit of a reset.
He did look in odd form at Paul Ricard fighting with the team car. And when I say fighting,
I mean fighting. And I don't know whether or not there's a bit of frustration that he's not got
a yard of peace there before. I think this is a car that can do very well. I mean, coming off
very good at Paul Ricard, finished third in what is a truly awesome P2 class. And that's when
Lafargue and Jove Van Uter race removed Paulic Chattano. And Jove Van Uter has been fantastic
at them on and just not got the big result yet. I mean, we're seeing to remember how competitive
they were and how well they were running up the field when they had that... Lost the wheel.
Yeah, lost the wheel. And that was last year, wasn't it? The year before he finished third with
Paula Farg. And by the way, he's had a second place in P2 Pro Am. I think I said it on the
broadcast, was proud of the way that he dealt with that. The crowd very pleased to see him get out
that car after what could have been an horrendous shunt. But it was very gracious with the crowd
and their response to him from stepping out the car. But lovely guy, a delight always to meet him
in the paddock. And let's hope that he gets a Le Mans run that he deserves. And I'm looking forward
to seeing what Rente and cellak can do because he's going to be an opportunity for him. Yeah. And
being part of the Genesis Directory program, clearly you can see there's the potential for him
to open some doors in his career if he does well enough. We saw him very quick in a P3 car and
obviously Mogicciocci and the team around Valeria have been working hard to catch the eye of something
that will launch him up the prototype order. We moved the 28 EDEC car to the 29 for SDA racing
by Panis car. So this is the other car run actually by TDS racing for SDA racing bringing you back
into Olivier Panis' efforts. Well, Louis Rousset is the new name there this year, but joined by
Oli Gray and Esteban Masson. I'd say right now that's going to be my top three.
It's for me, you know, I mean, they came a whisker, didn't they, from winning the class last year
and it all fell apart with that horrible suspension failure when they're battling with Interuropole
late in the race. It's not quite as strong of a lineup. Last year, they had Frank Pereira, didn't they,
from Lamborghini's factory Rostrof on Brightly. Louis Rousset, I think, still got a bit to prove,
but this is a lineup that came straight out the gates, won a Barcelona as a trio in Ilemesse,
didn't go so well for them, didn't finish at Paul Ricard. But yeah, I mean, I could see a world in
which this is on the podium and fighting for victory. I think Masson and Gray are such a great
one to punch. Gray continues to improve all the time. He is a real real talent and I'm delighted
that he found a way back into the championship. Could just have easily been a falling off.
Yeah, he's in that kind of bubble where he's changing driver ranking and it was going to be
tricky for him to get a seat. But he is exceptional and he's kind of come out of nowhere to being
somebody that you look to as an exciting driver in P2. And yeah, Esteban Masson is as good as any
pro in this field and it feels like he is knocking on the door, doesn't it, of a hypercar seat
100% with the likes of Toyota. So this is another opportunity for him to get some silverware and
make it clear that he deserves a space in the top class.
So 29, the 30 car from Decayne team, they didn't make it to the race last year, did they? They
were not selected. But they're back this year with a very new look squad in his Richard Vashour,
Dorian Pan and Julian Anlau. Dorian, I believe the only female driver in a prototype this year.
Yes. Yes. So Dorian, Julian and Richard, what do we think about that, Steven? Dorian
is quick in a prototype, no doubt at all about it. Julian Anlauer,
world class. Wow. Yeah. What a driver to princes. It's an interesting one, this for a couple of
reasons. One is Decayne leads the championship in Elon Musk, but not in LNP2. They lead in LNP2
Pro-Am, where it's Georgia Roder in the bronze chair. So it's a switcher class for that car and
for Dorian and Richard. And it's also a big change for Decayne this year because they're now run by
RSGP. So there's a technical partnership between RSGP, a title winning, a hugely successful single
seat team, running that P2 effort. And they look great. They look better for it. It looks like a
really strong team. And that's a car for me. I could see fighting for the win. I'd be pretty
confident that that's going to be up there. It does seem, doesn't it, as if that's a squad that is
beginning to position itself for the inevitable reset we're going to see at the pecking order
in LNP2 with new cars in 2028. Got a number of quite high profile single seated teams that have
been dipping into prototype racing and RSGP are one of them. And they're already winning in P3.
Wouldn't be a tall surprise to see a car under their own banner at some point.
And we mentioned that Dorian, she's the second Peugeot hypercar development driver after Alex Quinn
in this field. So again, she's clearly got her eye on hypercar. Peugeot clearly got their eye on her
for being a potential driver in the future for their hypercar team as things progress. So again,
another driver that has a, you know, has the package around them and a team around them that
is going to give them a platform to show what they can do. I'm really excited to see Dorian
Pan in this race. And for sure, after some success in single seaters F3 and F2, he's beginning to
make his way a little early yet maybe to see the best of him, but that won't be long coming.
No, no, don't expect that. So I think he's been really strong so far this year. It's just been
a really nice effort. It's going to be different, different field that they're racing against what
they normally would in Prim in the LMS. But yeah, I have expectations for Ducan. I think this is a
good chance for them to make some, make some waves. Three more to come. First of those is the 37 CLX
Motorsports. This is the team from Switzerland, previously known as the Cool Racing Squad.
It is Ian Aguilera, young Mexican driver, Adrienne Clomineal and Theo Jensen, both the
latter drivers, Adrienne from France and Theo Jensen, yet another Dane coming into endurance racing.
Those two from the very successful conveyor belt of talent from CLX via success in LMP3.
And weren't they amazing last year? They were amazing. I mean, Aguilera, I think, is going to be
rapid. Theo Jensen is going to be rapid and, oddly enough, Adrienne Clomineal is going to be rapid.
So, but somehow, somehow, it's not quite been clicking for them.
No, it's not. But I think that's in part because the field in the LMS is so strong.
And, you know, we can't expect, you know, the likes of Theo Jensen and Adrienne Clomineal to jump
straight from a P3 car to a P2 car racing in a field and an environment where they're up against
drivers who've been racing the same car for years and getting every ounce of pace
out of it. They can. It's, you can't expect them to be immediately winning races. I mean, it can happen.
We've seen it, you know, like some Matisha O'Bear showing what you can do immediately getting in
one of those cars. But they've just been going steadily about it. And I think it's probably too
early to expect this car to be a podium contender. I wouldn't expect that at this point. But this is
a learning year for those two in particular, I think, if they come back next year and they continue
on this journey with CLX next year, could be the year that we're talking about them being up there
and, you know, fighting for a big result. We've certainly seen, as the three of them, Theo Jensen
and Annie in Aquilera put in some actually very good performances, some really quick performances.
It's going to be interesting to see how they're going to adapt their natural. It's a big week,
isn't it? And they're all 19 years old. They're all teenagers. And they don't, what they don't have,
as much as they've got talent individually, they don't have, which I think you always need.
Each of them are 19. Yeah, they're all 19. It's a teenage car. So put the three of those ages
together and they're about half your age. 57 and I'm 62. That makes me feel extremely old.
I know, but what they may lack is an experienced driver in that, in a car with them.
I'm not the guy. To help them through, you most certainly are not around.
To help them through what is going to be a really taxing week. So, but it's going to be fun to see
them work together and work their way through it because it is a journey, isn't it? In most
moments, you turn up for scrutiny and to the moment that race finishes, it's an odyssey,
isn't it? And for free teenagers, and what an experience, they're going to be some of
you lads on tour, really, isn't it? Imagine on the post race party could be something.
Okay, let's move on to the final pair. They're both from the same team. In cerebral competition,
the 43 car for Tom Dilman, Kubitski Mikoski and Nitya Ellily and the 343 from Meshad Dijera,
Bijoy Garg and the usual LMS two driver lineup joined here by Niko Mula.
Right, first things first, let's talk about the racing bakers. One of the two cars with a
ARC car. Yeah, that's the 43. Leverie.
Outstanding record of the last three seasons. Two wins and a second place in three years.
Putting the market down to say, yeah, super teams, yeah, we're one of those.
All sorts of stuff going on in the background and hopefully you'll get to read some of that
on DSC before we get to the mon to do with InteruPaul and their future.
Before this race, this racing season started, I'd have said to you, this is all about the 43 car.
Dilman, I think is excellent. Kubitski Mikoski knows how to race these cars at these events,
round and round and round. Knows the job he's got to do, does it to perfection.
Is able to get stuck in when he has to, but knows that his job is to keep out of trouble,
and keep the consistency and the pace up. Nitya Ellily, world class.
That's out. He has factory quality and has proved it.
And here's an angle we've not touched on yet. It's in the same applies with Ota,
same applies with Rengar van der Zander and same, obviously applies with Nitya Ellily.
They're all from the Acura GTP camp. That program is going away. This is a chance for them to show
the other factories in this field. This is what we've got. We want to drive in your hypercar.
So the point is about to make is that's the car of the two that before this season, I'd have said,
yep, that's their A2. That's the one. And then you see what's been going on with what is here
called the 343 team, Ressha Desjardins and Bijoy Garg. Bijoy has won at Le Mans with United Auto
Sports. Coming into this season, I'm not afraid to say, either said, I don't think that pair,
as a two driver squad has got any chance at all in the European Le Mans series. And they're out there
and absolutely in the mix in the first two races this season. Really impressive. I mean,
Bijoy has made a big, big step forward. Ressha Desjardins, we already knew, was properly rapid
over a single lap, but somehow he hasn't really quite worked for him. The way that this team is
running that as a two driver effort has been truly one of the surprises of the season. Nico Mulla
coming back into LMP2 for this race from Formula R after his sojourn at Peugeot.
As a driver of very high quality.
I think the answer is that for me, the 43 is probably just the better of the two.
It would not be a surprise to me to see both those cars contest at podium.
I have me neither. And the remarkable stat. And I have to keep reminding myself this from the
New York Poles. They've had crazy success at Le Mans the last three years. And I've gone a long way
improving that that win in 2023 was there was no fluke there. They are they are a force we
reckoned with. And, you know, they are one of the top teams in this formula. But they've won more
races at Le Mans than they have in the LMS LMP2. They've won one race in the LMS LMP2.
But and two times at Le Mans. It's ridiculous. If all you watched was Le Mans, you'd assume
that into Europe, all would dominate in everyone in the LMS. But they just seem to finish second,
third, second, very highly consistent in the LMS. Two years ago, we have both cars. Absolutely
brilliant. People like Tia Pusher, I pour them and they were in the mix every single race, every
single race in the European Le Mans series. And didn't win it. Yeah. Well, there was a Dilman
Shmahovsky and Yellow Lee in 2025, the year they won them on, they finished second in all but one
of the LMS racing, they have won the finished 10th, finished second in the championship. But,
yeah, an amazing team. And when we come to in a moment doing our Pusher is going to be in your
top three, this is so hard, isn't it? This is so hard. I mean, you could you could do two of your
top three being the two into your Pol cars. And I think you'd be a well, I'm going to go
for it first this time. And I'm going to say for my top three, and good God, this is difficult.
Because I feel as if there's five of those cars that you can be taking a punt
that could make it there. I'm going to go for the 22 United car. United seem to have got their head
back around strategy again. First time in a couple of years, finally they seem to have nailed it back
in. I'm going to go for the 29 fresh tier racing by Panes car. I am so tempted by the Dacain team
efforts. But I'm going to say the 43 into your Pol car, Dilman, Shbikowski, Yellow Lee. So 43,
29, 22. And I'm going to go for United to win it.
Okay. Okay. And Mark of how competitive this class is. And by the way, that's not the same car as I
said, when we were asked for a press release that by now will be all over the internet for the
predictions for the 23 hours of TV. And that's not the car that I said would win it. I've changed my
mind. Heads and your bets. I'm going to go the nine proton. The 43 and the 30. So the 43 into your
Pol the 30 Dacain. I'm going to say the nine proton wins. Wow. No pressure here on us.
I just something about that effort.
Fresh read is listening to this down. Oh, no.
A few keeps it steady that Ota carry King double act could be a sight to say they are both
you know what they are both potential breakthrough drivers. Yeah. And then I'm going to go second
being the 43 and the 30 Dacain getting on the podium. It's a bewitchingly close P2 and P2 Pro
Am. He wouldn't surprise me if the top three featured none of the cars mentioned. I completely
agree. I think that's that's what I love so much about this is that you know, we've seen time and
time again in LMP to at Le Mans just somebody that the one I remember vividly was a massive
turnaround for James Allen, who'd been struggling to unlock his own potential came to them on
what seems like five or six years ago and just blew everybody away, made a mistake at the end
of the race. But until that point was mesmerically quick. That's kind of what is going on with that
car. And it wasn't what's going on with that car. It was James Allen having finally understood
how to get the best out of that package. And that race and frankly, since then,
he's been a guy that you have to watch the same for the likes of Oli Gray, the same for the likes of
your young for new to we've seen it happening time and time again, but that car rewards a
particular style. It's quite an analog race car. And once somebody with talent gets to understand
what's required, my God, they're fun to watch. And I said fair number of them. You talked about
Harry King. You talked to like Kaki Ota. We talked about Alex Quinn, you know, you name it, there
are probably 10, 15, 20 drivers there. That if you are if you know what you're looking for,
and you're able to stand trackside and a challengingly quick part of the circuit,
you're going to wait for that car to come by lap after lap just to take in exactly what skill is
being shown at that point. It's the hypercar waiting room Grand Prix. And I love it. There's so many
names in there that if there's a single moment where hypercars not delivering an LMGT3 and not
delivering the goods, you know that the cameras are going to cut to an LMP2 battle and it's going
to be awesome. So yeah, really, far really looking forward to LMP2. I hope it gets the airtime it
deserves during the race. I hope so. I mean, we'll be certainly encouraging our production team to be
looking for where the big battles are. There's going to be big battles in P2, no doubt whatsoever
about it. It's going to be a crowded track, remember. And part of the big problem is we've got four
classes and we're struggling to tell you who we think is going to be the top three. I think we
could equally struggle if it was top five or even the top 10 per class, apart from LMP2 per arm,
because there's only nine of them. That's awesome, Graham. So that's LMP2 and LMP2 per arm. It's
LeMond is just around the corner. Yeah, just the packing and the other stressful stuff to go.
Am I wrapping this one or are you wrapping it? You wrap it, Graham. I'll take it home. Thanks to
Stephen Kilby. Thanks as well, of course, back over the pond to Marshall Pro-Whip for the platform
Marshall Pro-Whip podcast, the Week in Sports Cars. This has been LMP2 and LMP2 pro ham, our preview
for the 94th 24 hours of LeMond. Remember, too, to our shows covering both the LMGT3 and, of course,
the hypercar classes. Have a listen in before your watch party or indeed on your run down to the
great race itself. He's been Stephen Kilby, the editor of Daily Sports Car and the Sports Car
Racing Correspondent for Racer across the United States. I'm Graham Goodwin. I'm the editor-in-chief
for Daily Sports Car and you can watch and listen to our outputs as part of the LeMond TV
efforts on the app and on the broadcast partners we've got through Race Weekend into Race Day
Proper. With thanks, of course, to the Justice Brothers and Toronto Motorsports.com. That's our
show for this year. We will be with you with all sorts of audio and video content during Race Week.
Watch for news and features and, of course, the race reporting on Daily Sports Car and Racer
with our full team there. For now, though, that's enough for this week. We will talk to you in Race
Week from LeMond.
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