Memento is an international business with its roots in motorsport as founder and CEO Barry Gough spent ten years working in Formula 1 before setting up the company. Gough’s ambition was to forge closer links between fans and their favourite sports. Memento thus gives fans the chance to own a part of sporting history with some authentic memorabilia – often race-used items acquired from teams, such as a driver’s suit, a wheel rim or a helmet. A unique holographic watermark guarantees the item’s authenticity.

24 Hours of Le Mans fans the world over will be delighted to hear that the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and Memento have now joined forces to launch a dedicated shop and auction website for spring 2021. “We’ve always been great Le Mans 24 Hours fans. The opportunity arose when the ACO and its rights holder IMG spotted our work with the Formula One World Championship and its teams, with the launch of the F1 Authentics auction website. We met earlier this year and the outcome is the agreement we have now signed,” Barry Gough explains.

"Protect these souvenirs"

Memento will now be approaching 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers and teams – past and present – to find out which items from their collection they are willing to hand over to their fans. Memento will also be working with the ACO to unearth any treasures tucked away in its collections that would be better off with race fans. “That will be no mean feat because the race’s history goes back more than 90 years! Together with the ACO, our aim is to protect these souvenirs for the long run. When we launch the online store, we hope to offer something for every fan and every budget. We plan to hold online auctions for the rarest items,” Gough continues.

For motorsport enthusiasts, this is a wonderful opportunity to get their hands on some 24 Hours of Le Mans memorabilia. “We enjoy talking to our clients because they love motorsport as passionately as we do.” Passion is just one of the values that the ACO and Memento share, along with a keen sense of competition and a commitment to sustainable development, as Gough explains: “We aim to ensure nothing is lost. Items used at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, such as wheels or exhausts, are not thrown out with the waste. Instead they are redesigned or upcycled to take pride of place in our clients’ homes.”

The agreement between the ACO and Memento has been designed for the long term. “As long as people love Le Mans and like what we offer, we’ll be here,” states Gough. In 2023, the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be celebrating its centenary – what better opportunity for this new alliance?