Le Mans' class of 2021 is ready to roar

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The 89th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours gets underway today at the Circuit de la Sarthe, where the field came together on Tuesday for the traditional group photo.

This year's event will mark the beginning of a new era for the endurance classic, as the Hypercar class takes over from LMP1 as the top category in the World Endurance Championship.

Toyota is aiming to uphold its three-year hegemony at Le Mans, but the Japanese manufacturer will have two worthy rivals to contend with at the head of the field: American entrant Glickenhaus, whose 007 LMH machine topped the test day times last weekend, and Alpine's single entry A480-Gibson.

But as usual, there will be fierce battles up and down the field across all classes involving a diverse set of manufacturers.

The 24-hour race will kick off on Saturday at 4:00pm local time (3:00pm BST), with Ferrari chairman John Elkann waving the French flag.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.