Fans of auto racing will be turning their attention this weekend to the 85th edition of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. For those who haven’t yet had occasion to take it in in person, it remains one of those special events you must attend at least once in your life.
In the meantime, those not able to make it to France this weekend can check out this overview of the big automotive names that will be present on the starting line of the endurance event, which gets underway on Saturday at 3 pm (local time):
Aston Martin
The British automaker is taking part in the LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am classes with its famous V8 Vantage.
BMW
BMW’s M2, our Sport Coupe of the Year for 2017, will serve as the official safety car at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Chevrolet
Not surprisingly, the Chevrolet brand will be represented by the Corvette (C7.R and Z06) at this year’s race, with two teams entered in the LM GTE Pro class and another in the LM GTE Am class.
Ferrari
Italian manufacturer Ferrari will once again be heavily represented at Le Mans this year. No fewer than 11 different teams, most of them in the LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am classes, will be piloting a Ferrari 488 GTE.
Ford
Drivers train long and hard for endurance races like this one. See the members of the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team prepare to drive the Ford GT in the LM GTE Pro class. During the race itself, Ford Performance will take you close to the action via four cameras installed in the car and others checking in on the goings-on in the pits.
Porsche
The legendary German automaker is back in force with its 919 Hybrid to defend its title in the LM P1 class. Join Marc Lieb for a blistering lap in the following 360-degree video. Porsche will also have several 911 RSRs competing in the LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am classes.
Toyota
The Toyota Gazoo Racing team competes alongside Porsche in the top class (LM P1). Its TS050 Hybrid, recently on display at the Montreal Auto Show, is a redoubtable, formidable machine. Check out this video showing its performance at last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans: