One of the most eagerly awaited tweaks to the FIA WEC in 2026 is actually the debut of a support race series.
Launched for the 2026 season by Peter Auto, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, and Le Mans Endurance Management, the new Legends of Le Mans grid will bring together LMP1, LMP2 and LMGTE cars from the 2000’s to 2020’s, a period that has left a lasting mark on the history of motorsport.
True icons of modern endurance racing, these cars will make their grand return to the world’s tracks, as a curtain-raiser of three WEC races (Imola, Spa and Bahrain), and at the now annual Le Mans Classic – Legend Edition, in July.
“These cars are already part of history,” explains Marc Ouayoun, Managing Director of Peter Auto. “To see them back on track at the start of today’s biggest endurance championship is to offer a unique experience to drivers and spectators and to link the past, present and future of endurance racing.”
Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest adds: “The Legend of Le Mans’s prototype and cars embody the very DNA of our discipline: technologically daring, a passion for driving and respect for a heritage.
“This line-up will prolong the magic of the years 2000-2020 by paying tribute to a generation of cars as powerful as they are unforgettable, on legendary circuits on the fringes of the FIA World Endurance Championship.”
The reason for the fan enthusiasm in the fallout of the initial reveal for the incoming series is clear. The cars will be the stars, with LMP1, LMP2 and GTE machinery and a maximum grid of no fewer than 34 cars.
Chiara Viani-Pericchi, who has been entrusted with building the series by Peter Auto, is encouraged by the progress made in the build up to its inaugural race weekend.
It’s been a whirlwind start for Viani-Pericchi, a relatively recent arrival at Peter Auto after spells with Masters Historic Racing and in motorsports and classic car logistics.
“Well we are very, very busy indeed at the moment, in particular in finalising the regulations,” she tells DSC.
“I’ve been here for just over a month and it’s been a wild, but exciting few weeks.”
Her start in the sport came with an invitation to, oddly enough, a Peter Auto-run event, the Dix Mille Tour at Paul Ricard where a family-friend was running one of his collection of historic cars that Viani-Pericchi, as a youngster, spent many hours watching in renovation.
“I was there with our friend and he knew I had a particular love of E-Type Jaguars and at the meeting I was completely smitten with one of the low drag cars,” she reflects.
“I realised immediately that I loved the atmosphere and the spirit of historic racing, everyone is serious about competition but it’s all done with an amazing amount of mutual respect for each other, and, of course for the machinery!
“The spirit of the owners and teams is infectious, and the spirit in particular of the people involved with these very special endurance cars is something very special.”
The shape of the new series is already well known, with LMP1 cars from 2006 to 2012, LMP2 from 2006 to 2015 and GTEs from 2011 to 2020. But the actual entry list is something that Viani-Pericchi and the Peter Auto team are keeping close to their chests for just a little while longer.
There are, though, known to be a few entry slots still available in all three classes. Some early adopters have decided to delay their entries until 2027 as the scale of preparation for racing for some cars became perhaps too challenging to ensure a full season entry in 2026.
“Entries are very strong, we are pretty much full with the LMP1s and LMP2s though I am still able to talk to those with relevant cars, we have a few slots still available,” adds Viani-Pericchi.
A change in the original structure is set to see a maximum of 14 cars apiece in the two LMP classes with GTE capped at six cars, though that could evolve in the coming years.
There are though a few clues as to what to expect, with LMP1s from Peugeot, Pescarolo OAK and Lola amongst the cars already confirmed in a field already locked in at double figures.
LMP2 too is already into double figures with cars from Oreca, Porsche, Ligier, Gibson and Lola amongst those already entered.
GTE has been a slightly harder sell it seems. To increase interest the original timeframe for eligibility was recently extended to 2020 allowing the most recent iterations of Porsche 911 RSR and the Ferrari 488.
However, a number of cars are promised from at least three different marques – including one that few will expect.
“We expect interest from GTE to pick up once the car owners see how the series looks both on and off track, these are very valuable and expensive cars and, of course, we have to show that we are good stewards of that here,” Viani-Pericchi points out.
Expect too to see a number of familiar names on the entry list as drivers too, though with the proviso that the series is a solidly non-pro affair.
Two elements of the competition are already established, with partnerships signed with Michelin for the tyres for all cars, TotalEnergies Elf for fuel and Richard Mille as the series sponsor. With a nod towards safety there will be tyre warmers allowed in the paddock (but not in pit lane), a sensible precaution for cars always designed for such preparation.
Tellingly, the discussions in preparing the format and regulations for the new series have involved not only car owners but the major teams involved in prepping the cars.
“We want to ensure that the focus is on the enjoyment of the race meetings as well as the competition and, of course, safety,” Viani-Pericchi explains.
“To do that we need to ensure that everyone has the time to do what is needed between sessions, that we are not putting together a package that sees the mechanics overstretched and that everyone is rushing between on-track activity. In historic racing the quality of the experience is absolutely everything, and that applies across the board. I believe we can achieve that here.”
All in all things are coming together very quickly, and in a week or two’s time we should start to see and hear much more of the specifics, including the name of the ambassador for the series, a very well-known figure in motorsports from that period.
Legends of Le Mans is coming, and you are going to want to see it!
