LM24, Hour 12: Cadillac running 1-2 at halfway

We’re halfway through the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours, and the race is set up for an intense finale. After all the talk, all the track action and all the build-up, this race hasn’t been another show of force for Ferrari. Instead, it’s been a battle between the JOTA Cadillacs and the No. 8 Toyota, with the No. 20 BMW sprinkled in.

A car outside that group of four winning this one would serve as a real surprise, as the contenders have all shown pace in the day and night, with the Cadillac V-Series.Rs looking particularly strong since sunset on the soft Michelin tires.

On the other side of this coin, it’s been a disappointing race for a number of Hypercar marques that held high expectations. Peugeot has had the most miserable time. Its two 9X8s have struggled for pace all week and are multiple laps down despite fault-free runs.

Aston Martin’s Valkyries, too, have faded and are no longer on the same lap as the No. 38 Cadillac that leads this one after 193 laps. They, too, haven’t had the ponies to feature.

Alpine has its A424s on the lead lap, but they don’t have the edge and haven't since the temperature dropped.

As for Ferrari, there’s a long way to go, and a lot can happen, but the moment the No. 50 entered its garage, it felt as if that was the end of the win streak at this race for the Prancing Horse. The No. 51 is two and a half minutes off the lead and represents the only real chance of silverware left, as the reigning winners in the No. 83 have struggled to keep tabs with the factory cars.

So up front it’s a Cadillac 1-2. The No. 12 leads the No. 38, with Jack Aitken the standout driver so far in the latter, which dropped to second after its 17th stop, a full service and driver change to Seb Bourdais. Louis Deletraz, called up to the race on short notice in the wake of Alex Lynn’s injury, is leading by just 5.6 seconds

The No. 8 Toyota has fallen from third to fourth and half a minute back after the most recent stops, but the car had just completed a triple stint on its mixed set of tires featuring three mediums and a single soft.

BMW’s No. 20 M Hybrid V8 is the only contender left for the leader in the Manufacturers’ World Championship after the No. 15’s incident and subsequent trip to the garage. It is back up to third.

One of the biggest surprises of the race is the Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac in fifth. It’s been a huge improvement from the IMSA stalwart on its second attempt, with the car looking poised to fight for a podium late in the race.

Another pleasant surprise has been Genesis. The GMR-001s have been strong all week, and until the 12th hour were running without any major issues. That was until Paul Loup Chatin pulled off on the run to Indianapolis, struggling for power. After assistance from the marshals and an FCY from race control, thankfully, the Frenchman was able to fire the car and rejoin the race, having only lost two laps. It is now 13th, behind the puncture-delayed sister car.

The other classes haven’t delivered much in the way of major drama or door-banging action. There’s been plenty of shuffling and contenders coming and going in the two LMP2 divisions and LMGT3, but it still feels like they haven’t come alive.

Inter Europol is halfway to scoring a third-class win in four years with its No. 343 ORECA, steered by Nico Muller, who has starred through the night.

The No. 30 Duqueine Team 07 has been rapid throughout but has dropped to second and is gradually losing touch wth the lead car, 47 seconds back. The No. 43 Inter Europol art car is third, making it a provisional double podium, a minute ahead of the Vector Sport car and a further 24 seconds up the road from the Forestier Racing by Panis car.

That car looked to be in the mix for the win early before a spin and an ill-timed safety car dropped it off the lead lap. It’s been a long road back for last year’s runners-up, but they fight on.

LMP2 Pro/Am is led by the Crowdstrike Racing by APR ORECA, which has traded the lead for much of this race with the AO by TF team and TDS.

And finally, Akkodis ASP has established itself as the leader in LMGT3 once again. It’s been a lottery at times in the class at every pit cycle, with many brands in the fight, but the Lexus RC F LMGT3s have perhaps looked the most well-rounded package. Remarkable considering the car’s age and its previous struggles with tire life with the Goodyear medium.

The No. 33 TF Sport Corvette is second, with the No. 74 Kessel Ferrari, representing SRO in the race, third. Other cars that look set to do battle for trophies include the No. 27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin and No. 78 Akkodis ASP Lexus.

There was one retirement confirmed in the hour, with Iron Lynx’s day going from bad to worse in LMGT3. Its No. 79 car has had its garage shutter lowered after an off-track moment at the Ford Chicanes led to engine damage. It joins the No. 61 Iron Lynx AMG, 13 Autosport Corvette and No. 54 Vista AF Corse Ferrari on the list of retirements.

There’s just one AMG left in this one now, the Team Qatar effort, which is 10th in class.

HOUR 12 STANDINGS