As part of the spectator entertainment programme prior to the start of the 78th Le Mans 24 Hours, ten high-tech cars are due to complete two laps of the French circuit before going on display in the paddock.

The timetable of the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours listed the staging of the ‘GP ELEC’ race that was initially scheduled to take place in Levallois-Perret, near Paris, on June 5-6.

Although that competition won’t now happen, 10 avant-garde cars will perform two parade laps round the full-length circuit at Le Mans starting at 12:10 on Saturday, June 12. Some of these machines have already made a name for themselves in the world of motor sport, including the Porsche GT-R Hybrid and the biogas-fuelled VW Scirocco which were seen at the recent Nürburgring 24 Hours, in Germany, as well as the all-electric TESLA which contested the Rallye Monte-Carlo des Véhicules à Energie Alternative earlier in the year.

Spectators will also be treated to a close-up view of a Peugeot RCZ Hybrid4, a Ferrari 599XX HPDC Electronique, a Mazda RX8 Hydrogen, a BMW Hydrogen, an Audi e-Tron, an electric SECMA F16 and an electric Trophée Andros ice-racing car.

These cars will apparently be driven by established drivers, so perhaps we will see a number of Peugeot, Audi, Porsche, BMW or Ferrari stars at their wheel…

24 Hours of Le Mans