Preview: Lone Star Le Mans

Text: Rick Kiewiet Images: WEC, Rick Kiewiet

The FIA World Endurance Championship heads to Texas for the 6 Hours of Circuit of The Americas, better known as Lone Star Le Mans. With the Hypercar championship still wide open and LMGT3 proving to be fiercely competitive, the American round promises another unpredictable contest in front of one of the series’ most passionate crowds.

A year ago: Le Mans winners' maiden WEC victory

Last year’s Lone Star Le Mans delivered another twist in a season defined by variety. The #83 AF Corse Ferrari claimed its breakthrough victory at Circuit of The Americas, the first for Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman and Yifei Ye in Hypercar. It proved to be a landmark result: not only did it continue 2024’s run of six different winners in six races, but it also laid the foundation for the same car’s triumph at Le Mans this year. In LMGT3, Heart of Racing enjoyed a perfect homecoming, guiding the #27 Aston Martin to its maiden WEC win.

Driver Change at Toyota

Toyota arrives in Texas without one of its regulars, as Mike Conway sits out with a collarbone injury. In his place, José María López makes his return to the #7 GR010 Hybrid alongside Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries. The Argentine had been slated to race in the #87 Lexus LMGT3, but with his promotion Hawksworth steps into the Lexus seat for Akkodis ASP. The situation mirrors last year’s Le Mans, when the same shuffle was required after Conway’s cycling accident.

Hypercar BoP

Balance of Performance adjustments for Austin are subtle but noteworthy. Cadillac, fresh from its 1–2 in São Paulo, faces the steepest penalty with a 19 kg weight increase and reduced power at lower speeds. Porsche too has been handed more ballast and the largest cut in first-stage power, making the 963 the third-heaviest Hypercar on the grid. BMW and Alpine also see trimmed power, while Ferrari and Peugeot lose a fraction at higher speeds. Toyota’s changes are minimal, the GR010 running close to its Brazilian specification. Only the Aston Martin Valkyrie escapes without any alteration.

LMGT3 BoP

Changes in the GT3 field are a bit more evident, with BMW and Ford the biggest beneficiaries. The M4 GT3 Evo sheds no less than 26 kg, while the Mustang is 17 kg lighter, giving both a sizeable boost in what has already been a competitive class. Corvette and McLaren also enjoy smaller breaks, while Ferrari and Aston Martin are slightly heavier for Austin. The Akkodis ASP Lexus, unchanged in specification, still carries the burden of success ballast after its recent win, making it one of the heaviest cars on the grid.