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This year the ACO celebrates its 120 anniversary! While the organisation is naturally linked to the automobile (hence the name), its founders never overlooked other popular modes of transport. In the early 1900s, the ACO's first secretary general Georges Durand championed the cause of road travellers, including motorcycle owners, and over time, two-wheelers have played a pivotal role in the legacy of Le Mans.

The story began as early as 1912 with the first motorcycle races held in the area, followed by the Union Motocycliste de France&nbsp;Grand&nbsp;Prix&nbsp;(UMF) held at&nbsp;Le Mans. However, the long circuit (measuring slightly more than&nbsp;17 km) consisted primarily of the lengthy Mulsanne Straight, which at that&nbsp;time stretched from the Pontlieue Hairpin to the Mulsanne Corner.&nbsp;The route chosen for the first 24-Hour Endurance Grand Prix was not suited to&nbsp;motorcycles or small engine vehicles. Although the ACO had previously fielded 500cc bikes on the full circuit for the Crit&eacute;rium International de Vitesse, the opening of a new complex in 1966 changed everything: <a href="https://www.lemans.org/en/news/aco/the-aco-s-120th-anniversary-a-new-circuit-60593" target="_blank">the shorter Bugatti was perfect for motorcyclists</a>.

<h2>a Breath of fresh air</h2>

Le Mans was finally&nbsp;capable of&nbsp;hosting other major races throughout the year.&nbsp;Formula 1 showed&nbsp;immediate interest, albeit for&nbsp;a single event: the 1967 Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship.&nbsp;Then in&nbsp;1969, the French Moto&nbsp;Grand Prix returned to Le Mans for the first time since&nbsp;1929, but with greater resources, and above all, a who&#39;s who of racing legends. Fans were thrilled to welcome the likes of&nbsp;&Aacute;ngel Nieto, Santiago Herrero and&nbsp;Giacomo Agostini. The French MotoGP, now managed by Claude Michy&rsquo;s company PHA,&nbsp;has become a staple of the MotoGP calendar, attracting more than&nbsp;310,000 spectators annually. In total, the Bugatti circuit has hosted global stars for&nbsp;38 events and continuously since 2000.

Two-wheeler endurance racing has existed for more than a century. In 1922, Eug&egrave;ne Mauve created the renowned&nbsp;Bol d&rsquo;Or, the first 24-hour race&nbsp;held in&nbsp;France (reserved for small engine cars and motorcycles). After years hosted by&nbsp;Saint-Germain-en-Laye then&nbsp;Linas-Montlh&eacute;ry, the Bol&nbsp;headed to Le&nbsp;Mans and the Bugatti circuit&nbsp;in 1971, three years after the battleground was&nbsp;prepared for&nbsp;the Le Mans 1000 km.

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The race&rsquo;s success grew, largely due to&nbsp;the rising popularity of Japanese motorcycles. At the time, Europe was just discovering marques&nbsp;like Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki&nbsp;and Suzuki&nbsp;who&nbsp;were combining&nbsp;innovative engines, exemplary reliability&nbsp;and eye-catching design. Their&nbsp;massive wave of appeal swept through France just as the social climate was fuelling the trend. In the wake of May 1968, a spirit of freedom and liberation was driving the younger generation&nbsp;who saw the motorcycle as a way to assert themselves and&nbsp;even&nbsp;rebel. The Bol d&rsquo;Or at Le Mans proved to be&nbsp;the perfect embodiment of that golden age.

<h2>The&nbsp;24H&nbsp;Motos is more than just a race</h2>

Keen to organise its own event, the ACO&nbsp;ramped up efforts in 1978. In partnership with &quot;Moto Journal&quot;, it&nbsp;launched the 24H&nbsp;Motos to replace&nbsp;the Bol d&rsquo;Or in the region. The name was a direct reference to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the race&nbsp;enjoyed&nbsp;instantaneous&nbsp;success.&nbsp;Japanese manufacturers dominated, but with many French teams on the starting grid, it&nbsp;gave fans the chance to cheer on&nbsp;homegrown heroes&nbsp;such as Christian L&eacute;on, Jean-Claude Chemarin, Alex Viera, Gr&eacute;gory Leblanc and Vincent Philippe, among others.

Racing fans are some of the most loyal on the planet. If you have a Suzuki in your garage, you back the SERT (Suzuki Endurance Racing Team)&nbsp;established in 1981 and based out of&nbsp;Le Mans. If you prefer Yamaha, you now support YART formerly&nbsp;GMT94. Each Japanese marque is firmly established in the landscape, and the French team running the operation, often the same one for decades, becomes a sort of institution linked to the manufacturer. The same applies to private&nbsp;teams who return year after year. National Motos Honda, for instance, has competed in 48 of the 49 runnings held to date.

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The race is and was a celebration dedicated to motorcyclists. The Bol d&rsquo;Or continues its legacy&nbsp;at Le Castellet with parallel&nbsp;success. Both classics figured on the championship season calendar along with&nbsp;the&nbsp;24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and&nbsp;8 Hours of Suzuka.&nbsp;This remains the case today in&nbsp;the FIM Endurance World Championship (<a href="https://www.fimewc.com/" target="_blank">FIM EWC</a>)&nbsp;with&nbsp;the only&nbsp;difference being that riders&nbsp;compete in the Belgian Ardennes for eight hours rather than 24 now.

<a href="https://www.24h-motos.com/en/news/yart-yamaha-official-ewc-team-wins-the-2026-24-heures-motos-60516" target="_blank">The&nbsp;24H&nbsp;Motos</a> traditionally opens the endurance racing season, attracting more than&nbsp;70,000 fans every year. Thanks to it and the 24H&nbsp;Camions (launched in&nbsp;1981), the Bugatti circuit has played a pivotal&nbsp;role in&nbsp;bolstering the Automobile Club de l&rsquo;Ouest into becoming an impactful and&nbsp;multifaceted organisation.

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The ACO turns 120: ​​how motorcycles became part of the legend

In 2027, the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be welcoming McLaren Racing to the Hypercar class. In addition, McLaren Trophy Europe will one of the curtain raisers, making Le Mans race week a celebration of the British marque.

A spectacular field of McLaren racing cars is set to gather next year at the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans, with rounds three and four of McLaren Trophy Europe on the billing as support races for the 95th running of France&rsquo;s endurance classic. These fixtures are scheduled before the main event, which sees two <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/in-2027-mclaren-return-to-le-mans-to-pick-up-where-they-left-off-60760">McLaren MCL-HY Hypercars</a> compete in the top class, in addition to the McLaren GT3 EVOs fielded in LMGT3.

<h2>Le Mans, the ultimate playground for a McLaren get-together</h2>

McLaren Trophy Europe at Le Mans weaves a thread, making the special occasion a celebration of history and future. The 2027 support races will allow drivers from McLaren Trophy America to compete as guest entries, alongside teams running current McLaren GT3 EVO and GT4-spec customer racing cars. The multi-class format will make the event the largest gathering of McLaren GT racing cars ever assembled in competition.

Nick Collins, CEO, McLaren Automotive: &ldquo;To have McLaren Trophy Europe racing at Le Mans in 2027, the year we make <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/mclaren-mcl-hy-a-name-with-a-hint-of-promise-for-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-60533">our debut in the Hypercar class</a>, will make the event incredibly special. The fact that it will also be an invitational race for our GT3 and GT4 clients, as well as open to our McLaren Trophy America competitors, will mark this out as a true celebration of McLaren. What better place than Le Mans &ndash; part of our Triple Crown legacy &ndash; to recognise this.&rdquo;

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l&rsquo;Ouest: &ldquo;Welcoming McLaren Trophy Europe to Le Mans in 2027 will add another strong dimension to what is already shaping up to be a very special edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. McLaren is part of the history of our race, and its return to the top class with the MCL-HY is a powerful symbol of the momentum currently driving endurance racing. Bringing together Hypercar, GT3, GT4 and McLaren Trophy competitors during the same week will create a unique celebration for the brand, its customers and the fans. Le Mans has always been a place where heritage and the future meet, and this announcement perfectly reflects that spirit.&rdquo;

The 95th 24 Hours Of Le Mans will be more than a race. It is already set to be a culmination of racing joy, with McLaren treating its fans to its full spectrum of race cars, from GT to highly-developed prototype.

McLaren Trophy Europe to be a support fixture at next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans

Following the cancellation of Purple Disco Machine’s upcoming dates due to health reasons, Le Mans Classic Legend is adjusting its musical lineup for Friday, July 3.

The event is pleased to welcome Polo &amp; Pan, a leading figure in the French electronic music scene, who will perform at this year&rsquo;s event.

Polo &amp; Pan are timeless. The Parisian duo of Paul Armand-Delille (Polo) and Alexandre Grynszpan (Pan) make music that flicks like frames through Golden Era Hollywood films, delivered with a deft French touch that playfully imbues house, disco, and electro in service one of the most compelling acts in dance music right now.

While tracks like &lsquo;Canop&eacute;e&rsquo; and &lsquo;Dorothy&rsquo; are now essential playing for any rooftop or beachside party no matter your latitude, Polo &amp; Pan&rsquo;s live performances bring their music to life with a sparkling vibrancy. One look around the dancefloor&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s sold-out US tours or major festival performances&mdash;and you&rsquo;ll see smiles, pretenses dropped, and earnest joy on the faces around you. That, more than their cultured heritage, global appeal, or history of underground hits, might be the Polo &amp; Pan&rsquo;s most remarkable quality. As is the case for many iconoclasts, It may have taken some time for the world-at-large to catch Polo &amp; Pan&rsquo;s creative drift, but now we are all very much along for the voyage.

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This announcement further strengthens a lineup designed to make Le Mans Classic Legend one of the summer&rsquo;s must-attend events at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans Circuit!

Informations &amp; ticketing: <a href="https://www.lemansclassic.com/en/ticketing/" target="_blank">www.lemansclassic.com</a>

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Polo and Pan joins the Le Mans Classic Lineup

We’ve crunched the numbers for you! Here are the statistics of the 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, won by the Toyota Gazoo Racing #7 Toyota TR010 Hybrid.

<h2>1963 marshals &ndash; put safety first</h2>

They were ready and waiting before the engines even started. The 1,963 track marshals posted around the 13.626-kilometre 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit ensured the security of the 186 drivers who took part in the race.

Throughout the day, and night, in the sunshine and in the darkness, these women and men are the trackside eyes and arms of Race Control. Their presence is vital.

<h2>29,446 overtakes &ndash; keep attacking</h2>

This year&rsquo;s race included 29,446 overtakes. And 101 of those passes enabled a competitor to take the overall lead. The remainder illustrates the exceptionally dense traffic generated by the cohabitation of 62 LMGT3s and prototypes on the track.

At Le Mans, every lap involves juggling speed with track conditions and traffic.

<h2>1,849 pit stops &ndash; employ the best tactics</h2>

Replace four tyres. Fill the fuel tank. Adjust a setting. Change drivers. In total, the 62 teams made 1,849 <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/pit-stop-tactics-a-major-factor-at-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-60740">pit stops</a> in 24 hours.

Behind the number are thousands of millimetre-perfect actions. Seconds gained or lost can be the difference between winning and losing.

<h2>2 safety car interventions &ndash; proceed with caution</h2>

The safety cars were deployed twice during the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans. In all, the race was run under safety car conditions for 2 hours, 16 minutes and 24 seconds.

Race neutralisation is an integral part of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It sometimes reshuffles the cards by closing gaps between cars, sparking new battles when the course is declared green. The pecking order is never set in stone, even after several hours.

<h2>4 Slow Zones &ndash; decrease the pace</h2>

Slow zones keep everyone safe while a specific portion of the circuit is being cleared, usually of debris.

There were four this year, totalling 20 minutes and 50 seconds. A trifle. However, team engineers and strategists see these periods as windows of opportunity, or potential traps. Either way, slow zones can be game changers.

<h2>8 Full Course Yellows &ndash; remain in control</h2>

Eight full course yellow procedures were called during the race, affecting racing for 32 minutes.

During a full course yellow, competitors must keep to a speed limit on the whole circuit. This safety measure requires concentration and discipline, even when adrenaline is in full flow.

<h2>177 laps &ndash; Push boundaries</h2>

Even when tiredness sets in, drivers continue, lap after lap, with the same degree of precision. 
This year, Will Stevens, driver of the #12 Cadillac V-Series.R entered by Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA spent most time at the wheel. The British driver completed 177 laps in the Hypercar. That&rsquo;s 2,400 kilometres driving at very high speed.

His performance is the perfect illustration of the physical and mental demands of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Maxime Martin on the other hand, was only able to complete ten laps of the Iron Lynx #61 Mercedes-AMG before a suspension failure ended its race. That&rsquo;s also a familiar scenario at Le Mans. Sometimes, the 24 hours are cut short by a mechanical failure, despite months of preparation.

<h2>Every number tells a story</h2>

The classification table shows winners and points attributed. Statistics tell the real story.

The 29,446 overtakes, 1,849 pit stops and the 1,963 marshals convey the true scale of this one-of-a-kind event. Drivers, mechanics, engineers, officials, marshals and spectators all contribute to the legend of Le Mans. This race is a tale of speed, stamina, superb teamwork and strong feelings.

24 Heures du Mans 2026 - OFFICIAL AFTERMOVIE

L'aftermovie officiel des 24 Heures du Mans 2026

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans more post-race number crunching

Le Mans Classic Legend and Artcurial Motorcars are pleased to announce their partnership to organize the official auction for the 2026 edition, which will take place on Friday, July 3, at 5 p.m. at the heart of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Circuit.

A long-standing partner of the world&rsquo;s premier automotive events, Artcurial Motorcars marks its return to Le Mans with a selection of 71 lots. Bringing together more than a century of automotive history, this auction will showcase iconic models, several of which played a direct role in the legend of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Among the highlights are a 1966 factory-spec Porsche 906 Carrera 6, an Alpine A450B that competed in the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans, a Mirage M3 Spyder that won at Imola with Jacky Ickx, a Duckhams LM&mdash;Gordon Murray&rsquo;s first design&mdash;and an authentic Lotus Type 78, the first Formula 1 car in history to feature ground effect.

For more than twenty years, Le Mans Classic has established itself as one of the world&rsquo;s largest gatherings dedicated to historic automobiles. Co-organized by Peter Auto and the Automobile Club de l&rsquo;Ouest, the event celebrates the unique legacy of the 24 Hours of Le Mans by bringing together the cars that have shaped the history of endurance racing.

In addition to this official auction, Artcurial Motorcars will also hold an online auction from July 2 to 8, 2026. Displayed in the Rotonde at the Parc des Expositions throughout the event, this selection of some sixty automobiles will span more than 125 years of automotive history. Nearly 90% of the lots will be offered without a reserve price, providing an opportunity to acquire a classic car under particularly attractive conditions.

Through this partnership, Le Mans Classic Legend and Artcurial Motorcars share a common ambition: to celebrate automotive history, preserve our heritage, and offer enthusiasts from around the world a unique experience, bringing them closer to the Le Mans legend.

Informations et sales catalog : 
<a href="https://www.artcurial.com/en/sales/6604" target="_blank">Le Mans Classic Legend - Official Auction</a>

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Le Mans Classic Legend : discover the lots of the Artcurial Motorcars auction

With just three months to go before the 41st edition of the 24 Heures Camions (26-27 September 2026), the French FFSA Truck Racing Championship is delivering increasingly thrilling suspense. At the Nogaro Truck Grand Prix, the third round of the season, Thomas Robineau made a major statement by significantly reducing his deficit to championship leader Téo Calvet. A rivalry that promises spectacular action at France’s biggest truck racing event.

After three of the six rounds of the 2026 French FFSA Truck Racing Championship, the title battle is more open than ever. Thanks to an outstanding performance at this weekend&rsquo;s Nogaro Truck Grand Prix, Thomas Robineau has reignited the fight against T&eacute;o Calvet, the three-time defending winner of the 24 Heures Camions. As the championship enters its second half, all eyes are already turning towards the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans, which will host the 41st edition of the 24 Heures Camions on 26 and 27 September.

<h2>Thomas Robineau Fully Revives the Championship Fight at Nogaro</h2>

This weekend marked a turning point in the 2026 French FFSA Truck Racing Championship season. At the Nogaro circuit, Thomas Robineau (MAN #75) delivered a top-class performance by winning the Nogaro Truck Grand Prix Sporting Challenge ahead of T&eacute;o Calvet (Freightliner #20) and Ivan Rodrigues (MAN #94).

With two race victories in Races 1 and 3, a second-place finish in Race 4 and remarkable consistency throughout the weekend, the Team Robineau driver reduced the gap in the overall championship standings to just six points behind T&eacute;o Calvet. A perfect result for a driver aiming to secure another national title.

This collective success also enabled Team Robineau to win the weekend&rsquo;s Teams Challenge, confirming the growing strength of the Sarthe-based squad.

Spectators enjoyed four fiercely contested races, with T&eacute;o Calvet also taking victories in Races 2 and 4. Rapha&euml;l Sousa, Jonathan Andr&eacute;, Ivan Rodrigues and Anthony Robineau also shone by securing podium finishes.

<h2>T&eacute;o Calvet vs Thomas Robineau: A Blockbuster Showdown Expected at Le Mans</h2>

Despite his rival&rsquo;s comeback, T&eacute;o Calvet remains at the top of the championship standings and continues to be the benchmark of the French truck racing scene. This year, the Team Buggyra Racing&nbsp;driver will be aiming for a historic achievement: winning the 24 Heures Camions for a fourth consecutive time.

Standing in his way is Thomas Robineau, who will enjoy a significant advantage: racing on home soil. The Sarthe native knows the Bugatti Circuit inside out and will be able to count on strong support from the local crowd. Already a winner of the event in 2011, 2013 and 2018, he is also targeting a fourth victory at the prestigious race.

Before heading to Le Mans, the competitors will meet again on 4 and 5 July for the Magny-Cours Truck Grand Prix. Another crucial round that could further reshape the championship battle before the Sarthe showdown.

<h2>A High-Calibre Field for the 2026 24 Heures Camions</h2>

While the fight for victory naturally grabs the headlines, many other drivers are capable of upsetting the favourites and delivering first-class entertainment for the 24 Heures Camions crowd.

Lionel Montagne (Renault Trucks #40), Rapha&euml;l Sousa (Freightliner #21), Jonathan Andr&eacute; (MAN&nbsp;#44), Yorick Montagne (Renault Trucks #24), Ivan Rodrigues (MAN&nbsp;#94), Jos&eacute; Sousa (Freightliner #22) and Aur&eacute;lien Hergott (DAF #10) are among the competitors to keep a close eye on.

The depth of talent on the grid helps make the 24 Heures Camions one of Europe&rsquo;s most spectacular truck racing events, combining the power of racing trucks with thrilling on-track battles.

<h2>Take Advantage of the Early Bird Offer and Book Your Tickets</h2>

<a href="https://ticket.24h-camions.com/content?lang=en" target="_blank">Ticket sales</a> for the 41st edition of the 24 Heures Camions are now open. Until 30 June 2026, spectators can benefit from the early bird rate of &euro;45 instead of &euro;53.

As every year, admission is free for children under 16 accompanied by an adult holding a valid ticket. With races from the French FFSA Truck Racing Championship, the FIA European Truck Racing Championship (ETRC) and the British Truck Racing Championship (BTRC), along with entertainment, two decorated truck parades and the unique atmosphere of the Bugatti Circuit, all the ingredients are in place for an exceptional weekend with family, friends or fellow motorsport enthusiasts.

The Calvet-Robineau Duel Heats Up Ahead of the 2026 24 Heures Camions

NEWS ACO

News

Genesis Magma Racing made its 24 Hours of Le Mans debut at the 94th edition of the world’s biggest endurance race, taking on round three of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship with two GMR-001 Hypercars.

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History, energy, and 8.4 miles to go head-to-head with the world's best drivers: that is what the 24 Hours of Le Mans is all about. Proton Competition’s #77 and #88 Ford Mustang LMGT3s waged a fierce battle, day and night, in the LMGT3 class.

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