The Automobile Club de l’Ouest has always valued human endeavour, a philosophy conveyed across the globe by its legendary endurance race. Manufacturers from countries such as Italy, Great Britian, Germany, Japan, the USA and France come to the 24 Hours of Le Mans to put their expertise and their technologies to the test. Their performance boosts their sales and underpins their reputation. Yet at the heart of all the action, there are people and the founders of the 24 Hours wanted to celebrate their accomplishments. Drivers, team managers, engineers, mechanics, race organisers and even artists have become the heroes of this incredible adventure, each making their own contribution to the ACO’s goal of universal mobility.

You enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum via the Hall of Heroes, where the spotlight is immediately trained on the people who have made Le Mans. There are far too many of them for us to list here but let’s look at a few of the names that have marked almost a century’s racing history.

Georges Durand, General Secretary of the ACO, and Charles Faroux, an Ecole Polytechique graduate and journalist, came up with the bold idea for a new kind of competition: the Grand Prix d’Endurance, which would last 24 hours and take place in Le Mans. The 24 Hours of Le Mans soon gained international status and drew a group of rich motoring enthusiasts to the Le Mans race track, where the car maker Bentley would enjoy its golden age. They were, of course, the Bentley Boys. Later, Luigi Chinetti brought glory for Alfa Romeo, offering them two great victories in 1932 and 1934. The Italian-American driver then went down in Le Mans history when the race returned after the 10-year wartime hiatus. Before the French president, who had come to the race to honour the ACO, Chinetti raced for more than 21 hours to take the first win for an emerging automotive marque: Ferrari.

Then we have the manager of the 1950s Jaguar Cars racing team, "Lofty" England. He played an extraordinary role in an age dominated by these British cars equipped with revolutionary disc brakes. Another leading figure, Enzo Ferrari  never actually came to Le Mans, as he generally stayed away from race tracks, yet his thoughts on the 24 Hours couldn’t be clearer: “The 24 Hours of Le Mans have made a huge contribution to the epic history and the technical side of motor racing and for Scuderia Ferrari, the race endorses the marque’s position alongside other carmakers. Le Mans is the race of truth.” Ferrari’s domination was compromised by the ambitious racing programme of Henry Ford II and his “full budget”. The rivalry between Ford and Ferrari even inspired the recent blockbuster, “Le Mans 66”.

However, Hollywood first came to the 24 Hours in 1970 when Steve McQueen made a movie about motor racing. He chose La Sarthe as the backdrop for his film simply entitled “Le Mans”. The 1970s were marked by Matra and Jean Luc Lagardère, with three of Henri Pescarolo’s four fabulous wins. Pescarolo drove alongside Jacky Ickx, the driver who demanded an end to the famous Le Mans-style start. Ickx also long held the record for the most Le Mans wins with six victories, only beaten by Danish driver Tom Kristensen, who went on to triumph nine times in all.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans provides the ideal arena for exploits of every kind. It is thanks to the people that have upheld this spirit that the race has become one of the landmarks of French sporting heritage and one of the world’s finest races. The 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum pays tribute to them all. 

At the Museum, the ACO tells the epic tale of motoring in La Sarthe and the success of its legendary international race through 140 select vehicles. Bentley, Ferrari, Jaguar, Ford, Porsche, Matra, Audi, Peugeot, Toyota... iconic models illustrating the greatest names of motorsport take visitors through almost a century of history at the world’s greatest endurance race.  Temporary exhibitions add a topical note to the permanent displays which can be extended with a visit of the world-famous Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans.

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