Banbury-based squad has been ever-present at Le Mans since 2002
As the 24 Hours of Le Mans returns this June, Prodrive will mark a significant milestone: its 25th consecutive appearance at the world’s most demanding endurance race.
Over a quarter of a century, the Banbury-based engineering and motorsport group has played a continuous role in the evolving story of Le Mans. Working in partnership with leading manufacturers, Prodrive has engineered, built and raced cars across both prototype and GT categories, including Ferrari programmes in the early 2000s and, more recently, a long-term collaboration with Aston Martin.
From the V12-powered GT1 era through to today’s GT3 racing landscape, that presence has been defined by six class wins and, beyond headline moments, consistent competitive performance. Across 25 uninterrupted entries, Prodrive-built cars have covered 346,958 kilometres of racing at Le Mans, equivalent to over 8.5 times around the world.
In that time, the race itself has changed significantly. Regulations have shifted, technologies have advanced, and manufacturers have come and gone. Yet for Prodrive, the core challenge has remained the same: to design, prepare and run cars capable of sustaining front-running performance over 24 hours at the limit.
The scale of that effort is reflected not only in distance, but in people. Across 25 consecutive races, Prodrive has worked alongside over 70 drivers and competed against over 400 teams, with each year presenting a new set of variables to wrestle.
« Le Mans has always meant something deeply personal to me », said Prodrive Chairman, David Richards. « It’s a race that captured my imagination from a young age, so to see Prodrive reach its 25th consecutive entry is incredibly special. A real testament to the passion and dedication of the people who have made that journey possible. »
As the 25th consecutive running approaches, the focus remains firmly forward. Le Mans continues to set the benchmark for endurance racing and, for Prodrive, the objective is unchanged: to support its partners with the engineering capability, operational discipline and experience required to compete at the highest level.
« What makes Le Mans so extraordinary is that, despite all the change, the essence of the challenge never fades. It still demands everything of you, » Richards added. « That’s what continues to inspire us, and why, even after 25 years, the desire to come back and compete remains as strong as ever. »
The depth of that experience can be measured in people as well as results. Race Team Operations Director Paul ‘Drez’ Diggins and Race Team Manager Simon Edwards have played a role in all 24 of Prodrive’s previous Le Mans campaigns, giving the team a thread of continuity that runs through multiple generations of cars and competition.
Liam Clogger,