24h Le Mans
It’s been a long time coming but here it is! The 9th Le Mans Classic, organised by Peter Auto and the ACO, will take place on 6-8 July. The fabulous classic car event offers a journey through motoring history and promises to be more exciting than ever this year.
You will be able to watch no fewer than 18 races on Saturday and Sunday, plus the daytime and night-time practice sessions starting on Friday. The 500 racing cars are split into six grids according to age. The cars selected to take part all competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1923 and 1981.
For the first four grids, there is a traditional Le Mans-style start, as was the case from 1925 to 1969. The more recent – i.e. the fastest – cars will set off from a rolling start. Ten reserve cars for each grid will also take part in the practice sessions so they are ready to replace any cars that are forced to pull out.
In addition to these iconic line-ups, other races are scheduled for Saturday. Spectators will be transported back to the golden age of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a Group C race. Meanwhile, Porsche will celebrate its 70th anniversary with the Porsche Classic Race Le Mans, a race featuring 70 of its classic models. And 60 Jaguars will line up for the Jaguar Classic Challenge.
A hundred or so children aged 7-12 will be treated to an unforgettable experience early on Saturday afternoon! They will race to complete the fastest lap of the Bugatti Circuit in fuel-powered or electric-engined mini replicas of cars that have competed at Le Mans,.
The prize-giving ceremony for Little Big Mans, as the race is known, will take place on Sunday, after a parade around the Village by the young drivers in their cars.
The Village will host more than 200 stores selling books, antique items and so on, plus a series of historically-themed exhibitions. You can also bop to hits from the sixties there, or try out some vintage games, enjoy some pampering in the “retro beauty” salons, or sit back and take in a movie at the drive-in.
There will also be driver autograph sessions, helicopter flights, old buses and much more! And there is a vast choice of eateries, food trucks, starred restaurants and picnic baskets.
Le Mans Classic also draws an array of international motoring clubs. In fact, more than 100 clubs are expected, representing around 60 marques and exhibiting more than 8,000 cars!
These clubs are the guardians of our automobile heritage and love to entertain spectators at the parades, competitions, picnics and other events.
A key feature of Le Mans Classic is the Artcurial auction, scheduled for Saturday at 14:00. This year, a Ferrari Daytona Group 4, which finished fifth overall at the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans, will be back at Circuit for the Artcurial Motorcars sale. The powerful racing machine is just one of fifteen ever made and boasts an impressive trophy haul. It is estimated at between €6.5-7.5 million.
To attend or take part in the sale, purchase an Artcurial catalogue at the circuit on the day.
Opening hours of the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans: Friday 6 July from 09:00 to 02:00, and from Saturday 7 July 08:00 to Sunday 8 July 18:00.
Dress code: make the most of this opportunity to don vintage costumes from your favourite era!
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