Automakers have already started prepping for the 2023 season of the greatest motorsport in the world, the Le Mans. Racing fans, let's unite as we take a look at some of the cars we should watch closely at the 2023 Le Mans. We will be seeing some new hypercars from companies such as Cadillac, Porsche, and BMW just no name a few. We also have a few surprises in the lineup that are sure to excite racing fans across the globe!
10 Ferrari 499P
Most racing fans are sure to be excited about Ferrari's new 499P Hypercar. This is a major move for a company that - while having run through a few small shops here and there - hasn't won the Le Mans since 1965. That could all change in 2023 with the release of its new badass 499P, which is sure to give the other companies and their hypercars a run for their money!
9 Peugeot 9X8
Peugeot has officially unveiled its latest masterpiece - the 9X8 Hypercar, and it has been confirmed that the car is now ready to race. It made its first debut at the Six Hours of Monza in July 2022 (the fourth round of the World Endurance Championship) and is expected to be a strong contender at Le Mans in 2023. We might have seen it this year at the 2022 Le Mans, but Peugeot decided to halt the launch of the 9X8 to "ensure reliability before homologation".
8 NASCAR Chevrolet Camaro
Exciting news for NASCAR fans who might not have much interest in the Le Mans thus far, but that's about to change! A Chevrolet Camaro, built by Hendrick Motorsports with support from General Motors, is set to race at the Le Mans in 2023 - a historical repeat for NASCAR that hasn't taken on the Le Mans since the 70s. The car will be in its own class and is sure to be interesting to watch as the driver takes on the grueling endurance race as a flagship for NASCAR fans. Does this show a new future as a new class for the sport? Only time will tell!
7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid
Toyota has dominated the Le Mans since 2018, and it has, hands down, the car that others will have to compete against in the 2023 season. While a new lineup of hypercars has made its way onto the track for the Le Mans, Toyota will be giving them one helluva run for their money in its GR010 Hybrid. However, it is important to note that outright speed is now regulated in the Hypercar class which means that you can expect lap times to be approximately ten seconds slower when compared to the outgoing LMP1 class. Toyota Gazoo Racing remains confident, however, and says that the new GR010 Hybrid is sure to take the lead in the LMH class, making for its potential fourth straight victory at Le Mans.
6 Cadillac Project GTP Hypercar
Cadillac hasn't raced in Le Mans since the early 2000s, and back then, it wasn't a very strong competitor. However, recently that has all begun to change - Cadillac has become a serious force to be reckoned with in IMSA racing. It has won the 24 Hours Of Daytona from 2017 to 2020 - a pretty impressive feat to say the least. Now, Cadillac will be debuting its new hypercar for the LMDH class in the Spring of 2023.
5 Glickenhaus SCG 007 Hypercar
Here we have the American underdog - a small company and its 007 car that has struggled to compete with other hypercars at the 24-Hour Le Mans. The Glickenhaus SCG 007 Hypercar was placed last in its class in 2022, but that didn't stop Jim Glickenhaus from beaming with pride as he watched his car come in fourth place overall at the race. He and his team will be revamping the car, and while it's not expected to win the race, it will surely be a fan favorite that will get a lot of cheers from the crowd as it represents the stars-n-stripes of the U.S.A.
4 Porsche 963
Porsche’s Le Mans program will now be a joint project as they shake hands with the Team Penske racing outfit. They will now have Porsche hybrid racing in both the IMSA and WEC classes with this being expected to run for several years. This is very exciting news for Porsche fans, especially with the return of its rival - Audi - which will make the race even more fun to watch! That is, of course, if Audi's recent pause in development doesn't cancel its plans to race. We're still waiting for an official announcement on that at the time of writing.
3 The Iron Dames' Porsche GTE
Here we have another team that, win or lose, has a huge fanbase that will be cheering them on. The Iron Dames - an all-female driving crew - are expected to get behind the wheel of a new Porsche GTE class car (thanks to Lynx and Proton teaming up) that is sure to be another fan favorite. The Iron Dames has been making history one race at a time, like when Sarah Bovy, at the wheel of the #83 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo, won in the LMGTE class at the 4 Hours of Portimão in 2022. She is the first woman to achieve this feat in European Le Mans Series history! All the female racers on the team did their part in the race and are expected to thrill the audience once again in the 2023 Le Mans.
2 Corvette GTE
Another fan favorite that represents American engineering and refuses to quit - the Corvette racing team is always a big hit with the crowd and a beast on the track. Corvette Racing claims that it is “exploring all the different paths” regarding the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship - at least that's what General Motors sports car racing program manager Laura Wontrop Klauser has said so far. The team might even decide to break into the GTE-Am class!
1 BMW M Hybrid V8
Yet another hypercar everyone is excited to see and will be a strong competitor against the dominant Toyotas is the BMW M Hybrid V8. With its sleek design and impressive specs, it is certain to grab viewers' attention as it represents Germany during the 24-Hour Le Mans. Very exciting stuff!