Lynk & Co: The First Chinese Manufacturer at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

Lynk & Co could write a new chapter in the history of motorsport by setting out to conquer the classic race at Le Mans.

The idea would have seemed far-fetched just a few years ago, yet the prospect of Lynk & Co becoming the first officially engaged Chinese manufacturer at the 24 Hours of Le Mans has never been more credible. Just a week after Yann Ehrlacher secured victory in the TCR World Tour, the World Cup of touring cars, the Geely group brand announced its withdrawal from competition. The end of an era… and perhaps the beginning of a much larger ambition.

Since 2019, Lynk & Co has established itself as one of the major players on the circuits, racking up three Drivers’ titles and four Manufacturers’ titles, with prominent names like Andy Priaulx, Yvan Muller, and Yann Ehrlacher. However, the discipline has lost some of its luster, its media exposure waning year after year. In a market where image matters as much as results, the Chinese manufacturer could no longer ignore the unmatched aura of the world’s greatest race.

Competition as a Mirror of the Global Automotive Industry

While Lynk & Co prepares for its transformation, the parent company Geely will take over in TCR starting in 2026. The Chinese group, already linked to Renault and owner of Volvo and Polestar, will field a Geely Preface TCR, heavily inspired by the expertise accumulated around the Lynk & Co 03.

However, eyes are now turned elsewhere. Lynk & Co is exploring new horizons, and rumors are swirling about an entry into Hypercar as early as 2028. If confirmed, this presence would mark a historic first. No Chinese manufacturer has yet fielded a factory car at Le Mans.

That said, China has not remained invisible. The Hong Kong team KCMG won the LMP2 category in 2015, Jackie Chan DC Racing made a mark in the WEC during the 2010s, and driver Cheng Congfu was a pioneer, being the first Chinese to compete at Le Mans in 2008. The latest sign: Yann Ehrlacher, a key figure for Lynk & Co in TCR, will start in LMP2 in the Asian Le Mans Series.

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• 22/11/2025 19:18

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In this context, the arrival of a Chinese manufacturer in endurance racing is no longer a question of if, but when. And as days go by, the answer seems to lean toward Lynk & Co… unless BYD or SAIC beat them to it!

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