New Qualifying Format for the Le Mans 24 Hours 2025

The 2025 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will feature a revamped qualifying format that will change how starting positions are set for this endurance event. The Automobile Club de l'Ouest, organizer of the race, has announced that these changes aim to provide greater clarity by separating the categories during qualifying, especially given the growing number of high-level competitors in the Hypercar class.

Qualifying, which previously consisted of a single one-hour session with all participants on track, will now be divided into exclusive sessions for each class. The Hypercar, LMP2, and LMGT3 categories will have separate sessions to determine who advances to the Hyperpole, the final phase where the most critical grid positions are decided.

The process will begin on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, when the LMP2 and LMGT3 cars take to the track for 30 minutes to determine which 12 cars from each class will advance to the next phase. Subsequently, the Hypercars will have their own session, where the fastest 15 will secure their place in the Hyperpole.

On Thursday, June 12, the Hyperpole will be divided into two parts, H1 and H2, for each category. In the first phase, called H1, the LMGT3 and LMP2 cars will compete for 20 minutes to reduce the group to the eight fastest cars, which will advance to H2, a short 15-minute session where the final grid positions will be determined. The Hypercars will also have their own H1 session to narrow the group down to ten vehicles, which will then compete for pole position in H2.

The new format promises a more structured qualifying process, reducing traffic and on-track incidents that previously arose from having all categories competing simultaneously. The organizers aim to maximize competitiveness and allow each team to showcase their performance without interference from other vehicle types.