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Despite gathering storm clouds, and the threat of rain, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has stayed dry for the first 12 hours of the race. The drivers now face the long night with almost 12 hours of running in the dark.

The 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans has begun with 59 cars taking the start of the 88th edition of the world’s greatest endurance race.

The provisional 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship calendar* announced today is aimed at offering the WEC’s manufacturers, teams and partners exposure in key regions while recognising the global economic challenges linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Peugeot Sport has confirmed its commitment to the Le Mans Hypercar category, the incoming the top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The French manufacturer’s programme is set to commence in 2022.

The first ever Hyperpole session has been used to decide the formation of the grid for tomorrow’s start of the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans, Round 7 of the 2019/20 FIA World Endurance Championship. Toyota, Porsche, United Autosports and Luzich Racing all celebrate claiming the top spot in each of the four classes and an extra world championship point.

The fourth and final free practice session saw the no1 Rebellion Racing R13 out in front ahead of the no7 Toyota by 0.498s. The Rebellions best time of 3m21.132 compared to the Toyota's 3m21.630, with the no 3 Rebellion in third and the no8 Toyota in 4th overall.

In the first of two qualifying sessions the two Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 Hybrids continued to dominate as they have in Free Practice, with the no7 Toyota finished the 45-minute session at the top of the list of 59 cars. In LMGTE Pro the two Aston Martin Racing Vantages also posted the top two times in the session, with the no95 Vantage coming out on top. The top six cars in each class will now go forward to tomorrow's Hyperpole where the pole position holders in the four classes will be decided for the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The first practice session for the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans, Round 7 of the 2019/20 FIA World Endurance Championship, saw the no8 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 Hybrid head the timing screens with the no97 Aston Martin Racing Vantage leading the LMGTE Pro category.

This weekend, two all-female crews will line up for the world’s most famous endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans (19-20 September). Six FIA Women in Motorsport Commission-supported drivers - competing with the Richard Mille Racing Team and Iron Lynx in the Iron Dames project - have secured coveted places on the 60-car grid for the 88th edition of the race, the first time since the mid-1970s that more than one female crew has been on the start line.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans winner’s trophy is one the most sought-after awards in motor sport and a special achievement for those who have stood on the top step of the podium. Three of the leading FIA WEC drivers, including two FIA world champions, spoke about what makes Le Mans special for them.