British racing drivers have a long and successful history at the Le Mans 24 Hours, with 34 Brits winning a total of 45 races over the past century. This puts them ahead of the French, who have 28 drivers and 42 home wins. However, when looking at the list since 1923, British winners become an elite group, especially those with multiple wins.
One group of drivers who could potentially add to the British tally is Jenson Button, Will Stevens, Callum Ilott, and Phil Hanson. All four drivers share two things in common: they have yet to win an overall Le Mans title, and they all drive for British privateer team Jota. Jota operates a pair of Porsche 963s and recently scored its first overall win at the Spa 6 Hours. While luck played a role in their victory, the competitive nature of the Hypercar field requires opportunism.
Stevens, a former Formula 1 driver, has established himself as one of the best endurance racers in the world. Ilott is currently transitioning from Indycar to endurance racing and shares the #12 entry with Frenchman Norman Nato. Hanson represents a new generation of drivers who have focused on sports cars from a young age. Button, the 2009 F1 world champion, is also part of Jota’s lineup and aims to add a Le Mans win to his impressive career. They will be competing against tough competition but have a chance to secure victory.
Another contender is Nick Tandy, who has proven himself as a reliable driver within the Penske-run Porsche works team. While Tandy has spent most of his career in GT cars, he won Le Mans in 2015 in a Porsche LMP1 prototype. Now partnered with Mathieu Jaminet and Felipe Nasr in Penske’s #4 963, Tandy is in a strong position to challenge for another victory.
James Calado, the second Brit to win Le Mans for Ferrari, will also be vying for a second consecutive win this year. Calado shares the #51 entry with fellow 2023 winners Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovinazzi. Ferrari has a strong chance of being competitive once again.
James Cottingham is taking a unique path to Le Mans. Most drivers transition to historic racing later in their careers, but Cottingham has done it in reverse. After a successful historic racing career, he decided to try modern GT racing and finished as a runner-up in the British GT Championship last year. Now part of United Autosports’ full WEC lineup, Cottingham will be driving a McLaren in the new LMGT3 class. While a class win may be a long shot, Cottingham’s experience and determination make him one to watch.
In conclusion, British racing drivers have a strong presence at the Le Mans 24 Hours and have achieved great success over the years. Jenson Button, Will Stevens, Callum Ilott, Phil Hanson, Nick Tandy, James Calado, and James Cottingham are all potential contenders for victory this year. With their skills and competitive teams, they have a chance to add to the British legacy at Le Mans.