24h Le Mans
From today, we’re bringing the 24 Hours of Le Mans museum directly to your home! Read about a collection of iconic artefacts from the safety of your own surroundings. We begin with the Le Mans 24 Hours Grand Trophy.
The Le Mans 24 Hours Trophy was created in 1993 at the initiative of Jean-Pierre Moreau, Automobile Club de l’Ouest Sporting Director and founder of the Drivers’ Parade two years later. While the trophy is presented to the outright winner every year, it is kept for good by any firm or team that hoists it aloft three years in succession. Audi has achieved the remarkable feat on three occasions. Porsche also scooped three consecutive Le Mans wins in 2015, 2016 and 2017 with the Porsche 919 Hybrid. The trophy is a nod to the triennial cup that was introduced to reward the combined winner of the first three 24-Hour races. It was quickly abandoned in favour of a biennial cup, but that did not stand the test of time either.
The Le Mans 24 Hours Trophy weighs nearly 70 kg and travels the world in an exquisite trunk designed by Louis Vuitton. Every year, during the official ceremony that precedes the race, it is brought to the start line in a vintage car from the current holder’s collection.
For the 90th anniversary of the race in 2013, the ACO replaced the Winged Victory of Samothrace (the Greek sculpture depicting the goddess Nike without head or arms) at the centre by a model of the first Rudge-Whitworth Cup made from a mould of the authentic trophy. The aim was to forge a stronger historical link between the origins of the race and the symbol of the trophy. The trophy is topped by the Le Mans 24 Hours emblem with the logo of the ACO, race creator and organiser, on the base. The winner’s name is engraved on the cup pedestal every year.
Visitors to the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum are invited to have their photograph taken alongside an identical replica of the official trophy.
At the 88th 24 Hours of Le Mans to be staged on 19-20 September 2020, Toyota Gazoo Racing will attempt to win the race for the third year running and therefore keep the trophy permanently.
At the 24 Hours of Le Mans 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.
