Five things to watch at Lone Star Le Mans as the WEC returns to Austin

WEC title fight resumes at COTA

After a near-two-month summer break, the World Endurance Championship returns this weekend for Lone Star Le Mans, the opening round of the second half of the season. With four races scheduled in just over two months, the championship now enters a phase where every mistake will carry greater weight. A full event guide is available in our Lone Star Le Mans preview.

Porsche has traditionally been the benchmark at the Circuit of The Americas, but its departure from the Hypercar class has opened the fight for victory in Texas. Here are five key storylines to follow.

Toyota and BMW lead the Hypercar battle

Toyota and BMW arrive level at the top of the drivers’ standings, with their leading crews tied at the halfway point. Both manufacturers introduced sizeable prototype updates over the winter and have won all four races so far between them.

Their relative strength in Austin will depend on the Balance of Performance, which is no longer publicly disclosed. Toyota will be determined to show that its non-points finish in São Paulo was an exception after victories at Imola and Le Mans. The manufacturer is still seeking its first Austin win across eight WEC visits in the LMP1 and Hypercar eras.

BMW, meanwhile, is enjoying its strongest WEC run. First, second and first-place finishes in the last three events make it the most in-form Hypercar manufacturer heading into Texas.

Ferrari needs a response

Ferrari has yet to win a Hypercar race this season, a stark contrast to last year’s four consecutive victories in the opening half. Austin offers a clear opportunity to change that record: when the WEC returned to COTA in 2024, Ferrari locked out the front row and finished first and third. Last year, the 499P again led qualifying before taking second in the race.

A major result would revive the #51 crew of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi, who sit 18 points from the championship lead. Ferrari also has fewer chances to recover ground after the bonus-point Qatar and Bahrain races were replaced by six-hour events in Barcelona and Monza.

Cadillac and Sargeant carry home interest

Cadillac has yet to score a home-soil podium at Sebring or Austin since entering Hypercar competition in 2023. Its factory Jota squad showed strong pace in São Paulo by locking out the front row, though it ultimately finished third and fourth. Ricky Taylor’s arrival as a substitute for the injured Alex Lynn adds another potential boost.

Logan Sargeant also returns to Austin, the circuit where he scored his first and only Formula 1 points finish. Now racing Ford machinery through Proton in LMGT3, he arrives after a season-best fifth place in Brazil alongside Stefano Gattuso and Giammarco Levorato.

Corvette faces a ballast challenge

Corvette leads the LMGT3 standings after a strong season for TF Sport’s Z06 GT3.R, including victory at Le Mans. Success ballast may make another win difficult, but big points remain vital with Manthey Porsche showing consistent form. Texas-born Ben Keating will also continue his pursuit of a first WEC victory on home soil.