The Le Mans race is part of a series called the World Endurance Championship, which has run two races this year. At the first one, the 6 Hours of Silverstone race, in England, in April, Porsche finished on the podium, in third place. It finished fourth in the second race, at Spa, Belgium, in May.
Although Porsche has been absent from the highest level in Le Mans since 1998, when it last won the overall title, it has remained present in the lower categories of the race. It has supported teams running its GT class cars.
Its team at the top level this year is a mix of experienced and less experienced drivers, with the notable hiring of Mark Webber, the winner of nine Formula One Grand Prix races in a career that ended at the Red Bull team last season.