The second two-hour free practice session for the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans has concluded at the Circuit de la Sarthe, providing teams with another valuable opportunity to prepare for the world’s most famous endurance race.
The session took place in stable weather conditions, with an air temperature of 12°C and track temperatures remaining below 30°C throughout the evening.
Compared to the afternoon session, temperatures dropped further, forcing teams and drivers to adapt to conditions that are expected to be more representative of those encountered during much of the race itself. Night practice plays a crucial role in Le Mans preparation, allowing competitors to evaluate car behaviour in cooler temperatures and reduced visibility.
Over the course of the two-hour session, there were no major interruptions, enabling teams across the Hypercar, LMGT3 and LMP2 categories to complete their planned programmes without significant disruption.
Much of the focus was placed on gathering race-configuration data, tyre management and understanding how the cars behave under the unique night-time conditions of the Circuit de la Sarthe.
Hypercar FP2 results: Toyota sets the pace
Topping the Hypercar category was the No. 7 Toyota, which recorded a fastest lap of 3:26.096.
Second place went to the No. 83 Ferrari AF Corse entry, which stopped the clock at 3:26.316, just 0.220 seconds behind the leading Toyota. Completing the top three was the Cadillac from the WTR team. The American prototype finished only 0.291 seconds off the pace after posting a best time of 3:26.387.
The close gaps at the front suggest that the battle for overall honours remains wide open, with several manufacturers showing competitive pace as preparations continue.
LMGT3 FP2 results: BMW leads the way
The LMGT3 category also completed its second free practice session, once again demonstrating why it is regarded as one of the most competitive classes in the entire field.
As is often the case in GT racing, the margins were extremely small, with numerous crews separated by only a few tenths of a second. The tight competition leaves many questions unanswered ahead of the next sessions.
At the top of the standings was the BMW entered by Team WRT, which set a fastest lap of 3:55.132. Second place went to the No. 61 Iron Lynx Mercedes, which finished 0.356 seconds behind the leader with a lap time of 3:55.488.
Completing the provisional top three was the Manthey Porsche, thanks to a best lap of 3:55.532.
LMP2 FP2 results: Forestier Racing leads the prototypes
The LMP2 category continues to deliver extremely close competition, with many teams covered by only a handful of tenths after the opening hours of track activity.
Forestier Racing ended the session at the top of the class with a fastest time of 3:33.645. Second place went to the No. 4 CrowdStrike Oreca, which finished 1.320 seconds behind the leader after setting a lap of 3:34.965.
The AF Corse Oreca completed the top three positions in the highly competitive prototype category. With the field remaining tightly packed, the coming sessions will be crucial in determining the true pecking order ahead of qualifying.
Attention turns to qualifying
The next on-track activity will see all competitors participate in the first qualifying session, which will determine the 15 fastest crews in each category that advance to Thursday evening’s Hyperpole 1 session.
After qualifying, teams and drivers will return to the circuit for another free practice session scheduled to begin at 22:00 local time. That outing will be particularly important as teams continue preparing their cars for the demanding night-time conditions that play such a decisive role during the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
With Toyota leading the Hypercar field, Ferrari showing encouraging pace through the No. 83 entry and Cadillac remaining firmly in contention, the fight for overall victory is already shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent years.
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