Nineteen Oreca‑07s, ten of which are entered as Pro‑Am, will contest the LMP2 class at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, a field bolstered by a wave of drivers fresh from Hypercar and GTP programmes.
What is driving the migration of Hypercar talent to LMP2?
Porsche’s withdrawal from the Hypercar category left several factory drivers without a top‑tier seat, prompting a spill‑over into the intermediate class. Simultaneously, IMSA’s GTP ladder continues to produce seasoned prototype racers who view Le Mans as the ultimate endurance challenge, further deepening the LMP2 roster.
Former Hypercar and GTP drivers now on LMP2 machinery
Among the most prominent names, Renger van der Zande (DKR Engineering) returns for his ninth straight Le Mans, bringing two Daytona 24‑Hour victories in a Cadillac and a recent Hypercar fourth place.
Laurin Heinrich debuts with CrowdStrike by APR after a stint in Porsche’s 963, where he logged wins at Daytona and Sebring before a GTP triumph at Laguna Seca.
Kakunoshin Ohta joins Proton Competition on his Le Mans maiden voyage; his résumé includes Super Formula race wins and a Super GT podium, complemented by brief Acura outings in the 2025 IMSA season.
Kevin Estre, a two‑time Le Mans podium finisher in Hypercar and GTE‑Pro winner, partners Mathias Beche and Tobias Lütke in TDS Racing’s Pro‑Am Oreca‑07 entry.
Mikkel Jensen, currently preparing McLaren’s Hypercar debut, will line up alongside Rasmus Lindh and Grégoire Saucy for United Autosports, adding an IMSA LMP2 title and ELMS victories to his résumé.
Julien Andlauer, a Porsche graduate with a GTE‑Am win and a Hypercar sixth place, completes the Duqueine #30 crew with Doriane Pin and Richard Verschoor.
Tom Dillmann returns to defend his LMP2 crown for Inter Europol, joined by Jakub Smiechowski and Nick Yelloly, the latter a recent GTP winner with BMW and Acura.
Nick Yelloly’s LMP2 résumé now includes a Le Mans LMP2 victory, complementing his GTP campaigns in the United States.
Romain Dumas, a two‑time overall Le Mans winner and former Glickenhaus Hypercar driver, heads his self‑run RD Limited entry with Tristan Vautier and Fred Poordad.
Tristan Vautier brings DPi/GTP experience from Action Express and JDC‑Miller, as well as a stint with Vanwall in the 2023 WEC.
Dane Cameron, a three‑time IMSA champion across Cadillac, Acura and Porsche, will race AO by TF alongside tech entrepreneur PJ Hyett and James Allen, after a Pro‑Am Le Mans title last year.
Matthieu Vaxivière, a former Alpine Hypercar driver who placed third overall in 2021, returns with AF Corse’s Pro‑Am outfit, teamed with François Perrodo and Ben Barnicoat.
Nico Müller rejoins Inter Europol after a two‑season spell in Peugeot’s Hypercar, completing a decade‑spanning prototype career that also touched Porsche’s 963.
Pro‑Am entries and their strategic importance
The ten Pro‑Am cars—fielded by DKR Engineering, CrowdStrike by APR, TDS Racing, RD Limited, AO by TF, and AF Corse—mix seasoned veterans with gentleman drivers, a formula that maximises class points while offering manufacturers exposure to upcoming talent.
Veteran influence and the road ahead
Beyond the headline names, the grid also features Mathias Beche (Rebellion/LMP1 pedigree), Ben Hanley (BR Engineering and Ginetta LMP1 experience) and Oliver Jarvis (Audi LMP1 alumnus and 2022 DPi champion). Their presence underscores the depth of prototype expertise converging in LMP2 for 2026.
As the start‑line fills, the blend of Hypercar pedigree, GTP victories and seasoned LMP2 specialists promises a fiercely competitive race, with the class poised to deliver some of the most technically refined action of the weekend.
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