With nine manufacturers potentially lining up on the 2026 Hypercar grid - plus Ford and McLaren developing their cars for the longer-term future - the World Endurance Championship driver market has never been more active.
However, some teams have chosen to hold back amid lingering doubts over Porsche's future participation, which remains unresolved. Should it step away, a number of top-class drivers could suddenly become available.
While we wait for clarity, and despite the uncertainty, here's an early look at how the 2026 WEC Hypercar grid might shape up.
Porsche
As The Race revealed, Porsche Penske Motorsport is not yet in a position to confirm its 2026 entry. At the time of writing, nothing has been decided.
Whatever happens, Michael Christensen is unlikely to remain with Porsche next season. That would open the door for someone in the #5 car alongside Julien Andlauer, likely one of Porsche's IMSA drivers: Mathieu Jaminet, Matt Campbell, Nick Tandy or Felipe Nasr.
The vacant IMSA seat would then go to 23-year-old Laurin Heinrich, the 2024 IMSA GTD Pro champion. Beyond that, no major changes are expected, with most of the current drivers contracted through at least the end of 2026.
Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor should stay in the #6. Would Campbell again join them for the long distance races? Given the trio's performances this year, it would be surprising if it was otherwise.
But again, everything hinges on Porsche's final decision about its WEC future.
Toyota
At Toyota, loyalty comes first. Sébastien Buemi - part of the team since 2012 - remains the prime example. While changes are expected in the coming years, this will not be the case for 2026.
Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries will continue together for a third straight season in the #7 GR010 Hybrid, while Buemi, Ryo Hirakawa and Brendon Hartley will embark on a fourth season as team-mates in the #8.
Cadillac
Cadillac Team Jota has yet to finalise its full 2026 line-up. Alex Lynn, Norman Nato, Will Stevens, Earl Bamber and Sébastien Bourdais are confirmed, but the squad needs a replacement for Jenson Button in the #38.
The collapse of the Mick Schumacher/Cadillac F1 deal has also undermined his chances of a Hypercar seat, unless the American manufacturer swallows its pride.
Two names in contention are Callum Ilott and Jack Aitken. Ilott raced for Jota in 2024 before switching back to IndyCar, while Aitken is already tied to Cadillac, competing with Action Express Racing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
BMW
Although the M Hybrid V8 is still chasing its first WEC win, despite a podium finish this season (at Imola), BMW's struggles haven't been driver-related. It boasts one of the deepest pools of talent on the grid and there is no reason to change.
As a reminder, Dries Vanthoor is teaming up with former Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen and Raffaele Marciello in the #15 car, while the #20 car is driven by Sheldon van der Linde, Robin Frijns, and Rene Rast.
As in 2025, several BMW drivers are expected to do a double IMSA and WEC programme next year, especially since WEC squad WRT will replace Rahal Letterman Lanigan as BMW's works team in the United States.
Frijns may be one of them, having stepped away from Formula E for 2025-26.
Alpine
As The Race revealed, Antonio Felix da Costa will join Jules Gounon, Frédéric Makowiecki and Charles Milesi at Alpine.
Although the team feared losing Schumacher, the failure of negotiations between the German driver and Cadillac's F1 arm over a reserve role that would have also meant a WEC race deal gives Alpine an opportunity to try to keep him.
That still leaves two more seats to fill. Victor Martins, currently in Formula 2 and an ex-member of the Alpine Academy, is a strong candidate. Beyond that, much depends on Porsche's situation. Ferdinand Habsburg staying on remains an option, but it is unlikely.
Ferrari
Why change a winning formula? Ferrari, coming off three consecutive Le Mans 24 Hours victories and on the verge of its first manufacturers' title since 1972, appears set to stick with the same line-up.
While there were minor doubts around James Calado and Robert Kubica, no changes are expected for 2026. It's a shame for Ferrari GT star Alessio Rovera, who clearly deserves his chance.
So next year we should see the same trios as this year: Antonio Fuoco / Miguel Molina / Nicklas Nielsen, Calado / Antonio Giovinazzi / Alessandro Pier Guidi, and Kubica / Phil Hanson / Yifei Ye.
Peugeot
Peugeot has already confirmed two new arrivals: Nick Cassidy and Théo Pourchaire, the Frenchman stepping up from reserve duties. Loïc Duval, Malthe Jakobsen and Jean-Éric Vergne stay at least one more year, with Paul di Resta also set to renew.
Two arrivals mean two departures. Mikkel Jensen and Stoffel Vandoorne would have decided to move on. Vandoorne may yet resurface with Genesis Magma Racing, though nothing is finalised. So surprises are still possible.
Aston Martin
Copy and paste? In its debut season, the Valkyrie has shown flashes of promise but remains a work in progress. The drivers are not in question, and stability is expected.
Tom Gamble has proven his worth and should continue alongside Harry Tincknell, Alex Riberas and Marco Sørensen. Roman de Angelis and Ross Gunn will likely combine IMSA campaigns with WEC long distance races.
Genesis
The sole new Hypercar entrant in 2026, Genesis Magma Racing moved early to sign André Lotterer and Pipo Derani, who have been instrumental in cockpit design and simulator selection. They were joined this week at Portimao for the first GMR-001 30-hour endurance test by Mathys Jaubert and Aston Martin F1 sim driver Daniel Juncadella.
But team principal Cyril Abiteboul favours two-driver crews rather than trios. Therefore, Jaubert and Juncadella are expected to be these famous third drivers and should only be called upon for a selection of races, at least the Qatar 1812km, Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours, Le Mans 24 Hours, and Bahrain 8 Hours.
Paul-Loup Chatin (currently with Alpine) is expected to be one of the four full-season drivers. Vandoorne is also lined up, but his contract would not have been signed yet.
The Belgian is also aiming to stay in Formula E after parting with previous team MSG, which is transforming from Maserati branding to representing Citroen. It shouldn't be a problem for Vandoorne in 2026 if he can get a new Formula E seat, but it could be for the following season - Genesis Magma Racing does not want to have drivers committed to a dual WEC/Formula E programme.
McLaren
McLaren's Dallara-based LMDh should turn its first laps in early 2026, and the team will soon need development drivers.
Speaking during the European Le Mans Series' Silverstone 4 Hours broadcast, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown offered hints.
"We want experience for sure, but youth and experience," he said.
"We have a couple of drivers signed that we haven't announced yet, and we are close on the others. I think we are going to go with a formula of two drivers in each car and a third for Le Mans, Qatar and maybe reserve."
The Race understands the two drivers already signed are Danish: Jensen, set to leave Peugeot, and 21-year-old Jakobsen, who will still compete with Peugeot in 2026 before moving to McLaren. Jakobsen recently claimed his maiden WEC podium at the Lone Star Le Mans at Austin.
McLaren is also eyeing two other high-profile names: Schumacher and Campbell, who is under contract with Porsche until the end of 2026.
Ford
First and foremost, Ford Racing has to finalise its racing team even though arrival is scheduled for the 2027 season. So for now, other priorities take precedence over driver signings.
Nevertheless, WEC Hypercar programme manager Dan Sayers undoubtedly already has a shortlist, though it's too early to reveal names. But competition for talent is fierce, so Ford cannot afford to delay and needs to sign drivers soon.
With the goal of debuting in the 2027 WEC opener, Ford and Oreca will need the American LMDh to be on track next summer.
