How Aston Martin, Porsche, McLaren and AMG approach Le Mans 2025

Aston Martin, Porsche, McLaren and Mercedes-AMG bring unique strategies to Le Mans 2025. Compare their goals, entries and challenges at this iconic race.

The 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans isn't just another endurance race — it’s a high-stakes clash of philosophies between four major manufacturers: Aston Martin, Porsche, McLaren, and Mercedes-AMG, each approaching the legendary circuit with a different strategy, history, and set of expectations.

Aston Martin: return to top-tier glory

For Aston Martin, this year’s race marks a symbolic and sporting return to the top class — 66 years after its only overall victory in 1959. The Valkyrie AMR-LMH, developed with The Heart of Racing (THOR), stands out as the only road-derived hypercar in the field. Pilots such as Marco Sørensen and Harry Tincknell headline an ambitious two-car effort (007 and 009).

Though still early in development, the Valkyrie program has made visible progress in both WEC and IMSA. The target in Le Mans is modest but significant: complete the race and, ideally, score points. With every lap, the team refines its systems and builds experience toward future competitiveness.

Porsche: chasing a 20th crown

Porsche enters Le Mans with a singular mission — to capture its 20th overall win at the French classic. Backed by the powerful Porsche Penske Motorsport operation, three factory Porsche 963s are fielded, with top drivers including Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, and reigning Formula E champion Pascal Wehrlein.

Porsche’s strength lies not only in numbers but in infrastructure. Partners like Ansys, NetApp, Mobil 1, and PUMA supply data, simulation, and durability. Despite a qualifying setback with one car disqualified, Porsche remains one of the strongest contenders in an ultra-competitive Hypercar grid.

McLaren: legacy meets GT3 focus

Returning to Le Mans in 2024, McLaren builds on that momentum in 2025 by celebrating the 30th anniversary of its 1995 win — a debut victory still revered today. This year, however, the brand competes in LMGT3, not Hypercar, fielding two GT3 EVOs with United Autosports.

Cars 59 and 95 — driven by Grégoire Saucy, Marino Sato, and others — seek class points and continued GT3 presence. McLaren’s return to top-class racing is scheduled for 2027, but in the meantime, LMGT3 serves as a proving ground for the brand’s endurance ambitions.

Mercedes-AMG: a test of endurance beyond Le Mans

Rather than focus solely on Le Mans, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport has chosen an extraordinary path: contesting three 24-hour races on three consecutive weekends — Le Mans, Nürburgring, and Spa.

Drivers Maxime Martin and Luca Stolz tackle all three events without pause. While AMG’s Le Mans entry (with Iron Lynx) is in LMGT3, their Nürburgring and Spa efforts compete for overall victory. The brand's approach emphasizes resilience and resource management rather than all-out victory. It’s a logistical and human endurance test as much as a race — a philosophy rooted in consistency, not glory.