24 Hours of Le Mans: Understanding the new Hyperpole format

Unlike previous years, the new Hyperpole format for the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be observed this Thursday, with a total of three separate qualifying sessions for each category.

Published 11/06/2025 à 18:50

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Understanding the new format of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Hyperpole

As in previous years, the Hyperpole contenders will be announced this Wednesday. This time, instead of a single session bringing together all three competing categories, two half-hour sessions will be held. The first will be for LM P2 and LMGT3 competitors, and the second will be for Hypercars. After the first half-hour, the top twelve in LM P2 and LMGT3 will qualify for the following day's Hyperpole sessions, while the top 15 Hypercars will meet the same fate in the second session. Grid positions from thirteenth place (in LM P2 and LMGT3) and sixteenth place (in Hypercar) will then be determined.

On Thursday, four qualifying sessions will be organized. The distribution of categories will be the same as on Wednesday, with first of all a Hyperpole 1 for the twelve best competitors in LM P2 and LMGT3. After twenty minutes, the eight best in each category will compete in Hyperpole 2, which will last fifteen minutes, and which will determine the first four lines of the LM P2 and LMGT3 grids.

Then it's back to the Hypercars, with twenty minutes of Hyperpole 1, followed by fifteen minutes in Hyperpole 2, this time with the ten best prototypes in the premier class. The fastest driver in H2 will therefore take pole position for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and it is his team's car that will start at the front during the great classic at Le Mans. A way to put even more importance on this crucial part of the week, and to separate the different categories in order to allow everyone to get the most out of their Hypercar machine, without risking being hindered by a car in a lower category.