LE MANS, France – The 87th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will feature 62 entries, the biggest field in event history.
The Automobile Club de l’Ouest announced the expansion of the grid – which previously features 60 cars – Tuesday. The expansion of the grid was made possible after officials determined they could add two garages to Circuit de la Sarthe.
“In February, the selection committee faced a harder task than it has in many years,” said Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. “There were 75 applications – all of a high standard – and it was particularly difficult to choose 60, only 60 of them should I say. We quickly came to the conclusion that we had to find a way of accepting additional competitors, and our crews confirmed the feasibility of adding two garages to pit lane. We knuckled down and are overjoyed to be able to accept 62 entrants for the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s a record number and a sign that this race is as popular as ever.”
Since 2016, a maximum of 60 garages accommodated the teams. The last two entrants invited to join the grid are two LMP2 outfits from the reserve list. They are the High Class Racing No. 20 ORECA-Gibson and the United Autosports No. 32 Ligier JSP 217-Gibson.
Two temporary garages will be set up next to the first ones, towards the entrance of pit lane. The garages will be in place on 24 Hours of Le Mans test day on June 2 until the end of the race on June 16.
The complete 24 Hours of Le Mans entry list can be viewed here.