'The race is going to be epic this year' - Tom Kristensen previews 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 24 Hours of Le Mans weekend is underway with Free Practices having taken place, meaning the drivers and teams will have a feel for the circuit. Tom Kristensen, Eurosport motorsport expert and record nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans champion previews the 100th edition of the race in 2023 Ad Who are your 24 hours of Le Mans race favourites this year? Le Mans 24hrLe Mans 24 for 24 — The Attributes4 HOURS AGO The race is going to be epic this year. There's no doubt so many teams are heading up and have been already for years now, having talked around the boardrooms of coming to Le Mans.

And all the teams have experience at Le Mans, they have just been competing at an earlier time. Or they have been competing in a GT class or let's say a lower class, slower cars. But they are all coming in with great expectations.

The favourite, I mean I'm not trying to be boring at all, but Toyota have won the first three races of the championship. The tough circuit in Sebring, my favourite race in many ways. And they won in Portimao.

And then in Spa. So the favourite, yes. There has been an adjustment in balance of performance – BOP.

That means that the Toyota has to carry a bit more weight. So, it's like 37 kilos more. I don't want to be too detailed, but a bit more weight to Toyota and minimal more weight to Ferrari, and nearly nothing for Porsche.

But the status quo with the other teams including Peugeot, Cadillac too who should not be underestimated. So that means that there is no doubt going into Le Mans that the speed is going to be more even. Probably it will not be Toyota which is the fastest car but I would still call them the favourites due to the initial experience of being in the running the last 11 or 12 years in the highest