Not sure how many Clippers will be tuning in this year - it doesn't look like a vintage 24 - but here's a mini preview for what it's worth.
LMP1
Toyota will win - their car is still the fastest, can run longer on a stint and is faster to refuel when it does pit. Hopefully, now that Alonso has got his win and the championship is all but his as well, the #7 and #8 cars will be allowed to fight. Of the others, the blue and red SMP cars (now featuring F1 flop Stoffel Vandoorne in #11) are fast while the paintball-splattered Rebellions appear fragile. Expect big gaps to open up.
LMP2
It looks pretty competitive among the leading Orecas. As ever, the speed of the amateur driver in each lineup will go a long way to deciding who wins. The #31 Dragonspeed seems likely to be involved in the action, given the presence of Maldonado and Davidson on the driving strength, while last year's winners, the pretty #36 Alpine, and last year's winners on the road, the orange #26 G-Drive, should be among their closest rivals. Zak Brown is in attendance as part of his sideline job with United Autosport, running two Ligiers - the fact that victory is a distant prospect will be a familiar feeling for the McLaren (F1) and McLaren (Indy) man.
GTE-Pro
Last year for Ford and BMW as works teams, and the GTs are in heritage liveries (a black one, red one, normal one and a Gulf-esque one). At Porsche, the Rothmans and Pink Pig liveries of 2018 are gone, but the #93 & #94 cars are in a (maybe less iconic) Brumos tribute design. As well as Ford and BMW we may also see the last of a traditional Corvette, with the mid-engined successor to the venerable C7R waiting in the wings. The American team celebrate their 20th anniversary this weekend. Aston Martin and Ferrari complete the contenders, and unusually all five look to be on a similar pace going into the race. Changes to the safety car regulations and the introduction of full course yellows should help avoid a repeat of the SC splitting scenario that ruined the race for the class win last year.
GTE-Am
Romantics will be cheering on the #98 Aston - not only because they've come so close to winning this event in the past, but due to the presence of one Mathias Lauda on the driving strength. Elsewhere there are some weird and wonderful liveries, an all-female driving lineup in the #83 Ferrari and a privateer Ford GT for the first time. Win or lose, expect the TV producers to feature actor-cum-Porsche team principal Patrick Dempsey heavily.
