The future M24 – Motorsport Museum is a ground-breaking architectural project set to harness the transmission of a legacy with innovation and environmentally friendly concepts. At the crossroads of the heritage arising from the world’s greatest endurance race, contemporary environmental demands and local appeal, the new cultural facility aims to become a reference point in the word of motorsport.

Located at the entrance to the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans,&nbsp;M24 is preparing to write the next chapter of a story that began over 60 years ago. In 1961, the then president of the Automobile Club de l&rsquo;Ouest, Jean-Marie Leli&egrave;vre, helped create a museum dedicated to motorsport. The facility was overhauled in 1991 under the aegis of the Sarthe Council before the ACO took over the management of the museum 16 years later to showcase its outstanding heritage more effectively.

The M24 project came to life in 2022 when the collaboration between the ACO and Richard Mille resulted in the founding of a dedicated company, MACO. The project&rsquo;s purpose is clear: to create a resolutely modern, immersive museum to tell the story of motorsport in the broadest sense, with the 24 Hours of Le Mans the natural main theme.

<h2>Architecture inspired by aerodynamics and speed</h2>

The work of Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Audevard, the M24 project boasts a strong architectural identity directly inspired by the world of motor racing. &ldquo;M24 is a true architectural work of art that directly resonates with the world of motor racing,&rdquo; he explains.

Tight lines, smooth volumes, and a sensation of movement, the building evokes the aerodynamics of prototypes racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The visitor traffic flow indoors is designed as an air stream that glides around the car&rsquo;s body. The architecture becomes a natural extension of automotive performance. The generous natural light is controlled to accompany the visitor throughout their tour, while technology brings an added dimension to the immersive scenography.

<h2>An ecoresponsible museum in tune with its environment</h2>

M24 has been designed from the outset with sustainability in mind to meet stringent environmental demands. &ldquo;We opted for a green roof for intelligent rainwater management and in-situ infiltration. We have also chosen sustainable, ecoresponsible materials such as aluminium, which is light, durable and recyclable,&rdquo; the architect added.

M24 is mindful of its location. The unity between architecture and landscape is evident. A responsible approach that is perfectly aligned with the ambitious CSR strategy followed by the ACO since 2021.

<h2>A project with strong local roots that is open to all</h2>

For current ACO president Pierre Fillon, M24 goes far beyond the scope of a traditional cultural venue. &ldquo;M24 is fully part of our global CSR approach. From the outset, the aim has been to create a sober, sustainable, environmentally friendly facility,&rdquo; he says.

Responsibility extends also to the project&rsquo;s economic and societal aspects. No fewer than 23 firms have been called upon, with the majority based in Sarthe. A deliberate choice designed to highlight local skills and irrigate the area&rsquo;s economy. &ldquo;M24 plays an essential societal role as it&rsquo;s not just a museum for car buffs,&rdquo;&nbsp;Fillon continues. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s also planned to be a major cultural venue that will be open to all. It will add to the attractiveness of Le Mans while creating a bond. It will allow us to pass on our common legacy to future generations. M24 is a project that harnesses valuable heritage, economic and human elements.&rdquo;

With an 8,600 m&sup2; surface area dedicated to showcasing a unique heritage, M24 &ndash; Motorsport Museum is the culmination of more than half a century of museum culture supported by the ACO. Deeply rooted in an iconic territory, M24 promises to feature firmly on the bucket list of many people, especially racing fans, who have already noted the opening date of 28 May 2026 in their diary.

<h4>M24 in three key figures</h4>

<ul>
	<li>6,000 m&sup2; of renovated museum</li>
	<li>A 4,000 m&sup2; extension</li>
	<li>Around 50,000 m&sup2; of excavated soil</li>
</ul>

M24 – Motorsport Museum: racing inspiration behind responsible architecture

The grid for the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup is the largest ever, with 45 cars across the three classes for the six round series that takes in six of Europe’s most iconic circuits and is firmly established as the proving ground for the Endurance stars of tomorrow.

There are 24 LMP3, 11 LMP3 Pro/Am and 10 GT3 entries, with the three championship winning teams and five of the six driver champions returning to defend their titles.

The international grid will see 30 different teams running the 45 entries, with the teams and drivers representing 24 different nations from all around the world.

<h2>LMP3: 24 Cars for 2026</h2>

With 24 entries, the LMP3 category for Silver and Gold rated driver pairings is the largest of the three classes and features some of the best young professional drivers looking to make their way up the endurance racing ladder.

2025 LMP3 Team Champions R-ace GP will be fielding a pair of Duqueine D09-Toyotas to defend their title with Singapore&rsquo;s Danial Frost and New Zealander Zack Scoular being named as the lead drivers in the no85 and no86 cars respectively.

2025 LMP3 Vice Champions Forestier Racing by VPS also return with a two-car line up, with Denmark&rsquo;s Sebastian Kirch Bach in the no29 Ligier JS P325-Toyota and Lucas Fecury in the no 92 car, who is currently racing with the team in the Asian Le Mans Series.

2024 Driver&rsquo;s champion David Droux also returns to the MLMC with CLX Motorsport. Last year&rsquo;s teammate Cedric Oltramare will also be rejoining the team, and the 2025 Barcelona race winners are ready for the challenge ahead in 2026. CLX Motorsport will also run a second car for Alexander Jacoby and Kevin Rabin.

2023 Team Champions Team Virage have entered a pair of Ligier-Toyotas for the 2026 season, with 2021 Champions Nielsen Racing switching from Adess to Duqueine and 2025 LMP3 Driver&rsquo;s Champion Hadrien David joining the British team for the 2026 season.

Road To Le Mans winners 23Events Racing will run a pair of Ligiers in LMP3 this season, with former Ligier European Series Vice Champion Natan Bihel racing in the sole M Racing Ligier.

MLMC regulars ANS Motorsport, High Class Racing, Inter Europol Competition, Bretton Racing and More Motorsport all return with LMP3 entries. RLR MSport have teamed up with fellow British team Vector Sport to form Vector Sport RLR and another British team Steller Motorsport, makes a welcome return to the series.

There are three teams making their MLMC debuts this season. German team BWT Muecke Motorsport will run a Duqueine-Toyota for Mattis Pluschkell and Maksymillian Angelard. Spain&rsquo;s Brutal Fish Campos Racing and French team Trajectus Motorsport both join the grid, with the former runner a pair of Ligiers and the latter a single car.

<h2>LMP3 Pro/Am: 11 Cars Entered for Full Season</h2>

The 11 strong LMP3 Pro/Am grid is made up of ten Ligier and one Duqueine.

2025 Champions Motorsport 98 return with driver champions Eric De Doncker and Gillian Henrion back to defend the title they won in dramatic fashion in Portugal in October last year.

Rinaldi Racing narrowly missed out on clinching the title in 2025 and the German team are back with two cars to try and secure the crown this year. Driver&rsquo;s Vice Champion Steve Parrow will drive the no68 Ligier alongside Mikkel Pedersen, while the racing winning crew of Stefan Aust and Felipe Fernandez-Laser will once again be in action in the no71 car.

2022 LMP3 Champions Racing Spirit of L&eacute;man will field a single entry for Oskar Kristensen and Christian Gisy. Former champions Nielsen Racing will also enter the sole Duqueine D09 in the LMP3 Pro/Am category, with Matthew Bell being named as the lead driver.

P4 Racing, Inter Europol Competition, GG Classics, High Class Racing and Bretton Racing will all return to the series with a single entry once again.

There is one new team that will make their MLMC debut this season and that is Belgian team Ajith Redant Racing. The driver crew will consist of former Indian F1 racer Narain Karthikeyan and his Tamil Cinema actor teammate Ajith Kumar. The Indian duo is currently competing in the Asian Le Mans Series, where there has been massive interest in Ajith Kumar&rsquo;s race programme, ahead of their move to Europe to take on the challenge of the Michelin le Mans Cup.

<h2>GT3: 10 Cars for 2026</h2>

The GT3 grid will see the return of the 2025 champions, with Alessandro Cozzi and Eliseo Donno racing for a second season for AF Corse, with the Italian team looking to secure their third GT3 Team title in a row.

AF Corse will also run a second Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo for American Rey Acosta III and his Italian teammate Marco Bonanomi.

Two-time GT3 Team champions Kessel Racing will also field a pair of Ferrari 296 GT3 Evos, with 2025 Vice Champion David Cleto Fumanelli being joined by Lorenzo Ferdinando Innocenti in the no17 car.

2025 race winners Code Racing Development return with one of the three Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3s that will be on the grid this season, with former GT3 champions Racing Spirit of L&eacute;man and British team Blackthorn fielding the other two.

Spanish team Biogas Motorsport will also enter a Ferrari 296 GT3, with Marc Carol Ybarra once again driving for the team.

There are two new teams to the MLMC GT3 field this year, with Italian team Dinamic GT running the only Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo in the field for Loek Hartog and Reinhold Gerhard Krahn, while Spanish team SMC Motorsport will run a McLaren 720S GT3 Evo for Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer and Gonzalo De Andres Martin.

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l&rsquo;Ouest:&nbsp;&ldquo;With 45 cars on the grid, the Michelin Le Mans Cup reaches a historic milestone and reaffirms its pivotal role in the endurance racing ecosystem. This record underscores the teams&rsquo; trust and the appeal of a championship that has truly become a springboard to the highest level. It promises exceptionally competitive fields, hard-fought races, and a season more intense than ever for both drivers and fans.&rdquo;

Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Lequien, Le Mans Endurance Management (LMEM) CEO:&nbsp;&ldquo;It is great to witness an exceptional assembly of teams and drivers for the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup, with more entries than ever before. We would like to extend a warm welcome to the new teams who will be making their debut in Barcelona and to say thank you to the teams who are returning for their continued support for the series. With a great line-up in both the Michelin Le Mans Cup and the European Le Mans Series, the 2026 season promises to be exciting. We look forward to welcoming all of you this year.&rdquo;

<a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/doc-prod/vRtbKcLp6hnsUhpqpLOTmJ8I.pdf" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for the provisional entry list for the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup.

Michelin Le Mans Cup reveals largest ever full season grid for season 11

Rétromobile is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary (28 January to 1 February 2026). As usual, cars from the 24 Hours of Le Mans figure prominently at the Paris show. We’ve picked out nine models you’ll be able to see there.

Aside the ex-Hertz Team JOTA Porsche 963&nbsp;and the 1957 Maserati 250F V12&nbsp;displayed on the M24 &ndash; Museum of Motorsport stand, other cars that have raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans are waiting to be admired. Strap yourself in for a virtual tour of Pavilion 7.3 at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre!

As is befitting, we begin our visit with a 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning hypercar: the #51 Ferrari 499P of Ferrari AF Corse. This is the car in which Alessandro Pier Guidi,&nbsp;James Calado&nbsp;and Antonio Giovinazzi scooped the 2025 FIA Hypercar World Endurance Drivers&#39; Championship. It can be viewed on the stand of celebrated watchmaker Richard Mille. A 1970 Ferrari 512 S&nbsp;and a 1972 312 PB&nbsp;are among the models surrounding the hypercar.

A wonderful surprise is in store for visitors to the JMB Classic stand: the BMW V12 Le Mans. This LMP1 competed in the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by Hans-Joachim Stuck,&nbsp;Steve Soper&nbsp;and Tom Kristensen. This 66th running of the French endurance classic was the second appearance in the race of the man who went on to win a record nine times. 
The BMW V12 Le Mans had been put together in Didcot (UK) by a select group of 34 specialists employed by BMW Motorsport&nbsp;and Williams Motorsport. The six-litre engine, derived from the V12 that triumphed in 1995, was however built in Munich. Team Rafanelli ran the two cars in 1998. The #1 BMW V12 LM was forced to retire after three hours of the race due to vibration in the front and rear axles.

&nbsp;

The #1 BMW V12 LM is displayed at R&eacute;tromobile alongside the #7 Peugeot 908 HDI&nbsp;of Team Peugeot Total, driven by Nicolas Minassian,&nbsp;Marc Gen&eacute;&nbsp;and&nbsp;Jacques Villeneuve at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 1997 Formula One world champion was making his Le Mans d&eacute;but that year for the French carmaker who was Audi&rsquo;s chief rival for the second time. Three 908s were entered following an overhaul of the 2007 model, most notably to the car&rsquo;s aerodynamics. The trio of Minassian-Gen&eacute;-Villeneuve finished second on the same lap as the triumphant Audi R10 TDi.

Fans of the McLaren F1 GTR&nbsp;will be able to feast their eyes on not one, but two magnificent models at R&eacute;tromobile 2026! Firstly, there is the #44 entered in 1997 by Team Lark McLaren.&nbsp;Akihiko Nakaya,&nbsp;Gary Ayles&nbsp;and Keiichi Tshuchiya&nbsp;teamed up in this long-tailed F1 GTR. Sadly, it was forced to retire from the race. The car has since been restored and homologated for the road. Registered in the UK, it will shortly be auctioned by RM Sotheby&rsquo;s.

The other McLaren F1 GTR was chassis 025R that also competed in the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans. Entered by Gulf Team Davidoff, the #39 car was driven by Ray Bellm,&nbsp;Andrew Gilbert Scott&nbsp;and&nbsp;Masanori Sekiya who, two years earlier, became the first Japanese driver to win at Le Mans. During the race, the car suffered a water leak that caused the engine to overheat, resulting in a spectacular fire on the Mulsanne Straight. It was sent back to the factory for a complete rebuild.

An LMGT1&nbsp;takes pride of place on the Fiskens Historic Automobiles&nbsp;stand: the #007 Aston Martin DBR9&nbsp;that raced in the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by a trio of GT specialists:&nbsp;Tomas Enge,&nbsp;Darren Turner&nbsp;and Andrea Piccini. The car was entered under the Aston Martin Racing&nbsp;banner that brought together the British carmaker, Prodrive who designed and prepared the DBR9s, and Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Dor, the man behind the Ferrari 550 who got the DBR9 project off the ground. Aston Martin intended to see off the LMGT1 challenge from Corvette Racing, but the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R won the day. The #007 finished second in class and sixth overall.

A few metres away stands the #97 Aston Martin Vantage GTE&nbsp;from the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans. Darren Turner,&nbsp;Stefan M&uuml;cke&nbsp;and Rob Bell shared the wheel of the LMGTE Pro entry with a special &ldquo;art car&rdquo; livery created by Tobias Rehberger. The unique design gave the illusion of movement and speed even when static.&nbsp;&ldquo;My design for the Aston Martin art car is rooted in my interest in distorted perception and related phenomena like auto moving patterns, optical effects, camouflage and visual confusion,&rdquo; explained the German artist. However the art car did not reach the chequered flag. Interestingly, the same chassis (GTE-002) had already been treated to special artwork&nbsp;job in 2013 when Gulf ran a design competition.

Staying in the LMGT1 era, we now step back a few years to 2010 and the Ford GT&nbsp;of Marc VDS Racing Team&nbsp;that sported the number 70. Matech Concepts, a Swiss engineering consultancy, was the private initiative behind Ford&rsquo;s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car was driven by three Le Mans rookies who, nonetheless, had forged plenty of endurance experience at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Unfortunately, Bas Leinders,&nbsp;Markus Palttala&nbsp;and Eric De Doncker did not make the finish line.

Finally, we round off our virtual tour with the #71 Ferrari F458&nbsp;of AF Corse&nbsp;that took part in the 81st 24 Hours of Le Mans (2013). Who recalls that Kamui Kobayashi&nbsp;made his 24 Hours d&eacute;but in the LMGTE Pro class? The Japanese racer who went on to break the lap record at the wheel of the Toyota TS050 Hybrid in 2017 was partnered by two GT specialists in the F458:&nbsp;Toni Vilander&nbsp;and Olivier Beretta. They finished 20th overall and fifth in the LMGTE Pro class.

The R&eacute;tromobile show continues until Sunday 1 February. You can book tickets on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.retromobile.com/en/box-office/buy-my-ticket" target="_blank">official website</a>.

Rétromobile 2026 – check out our selection of nine cars from the 24 Hours of Le Mans

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and Richard Mille have taken the wraps off a major transformation: in May, the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum will become M24 – Museum of Motorsport.

The venue has been completely redesigned as a cultural and emotional experience that tells the story, encapsulates the influence and depicts the future of global motorsport.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the F&eacute;d&eacute;ration Internationale de l&rsquo;Automobile (FIA), was in attendance as ACO President Pierre Fillon unveiled the project at the R&eacute;tromobile show alongside Richard Mille, ACO Culture &amp; Heritage Director Fabrice Bourrigaud and Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Audevard, the M24 architect.

M24 is a response to two facts: our heritage is absolutely unique, and today&rsquo;s visitors expect something different. They no longer come just to see one car after another. They want to understand and feel what it was like. They want to be part of a story. M24 stands at the crossroads between our heritage and our future.&nbsp;&ndash;Pierre Fillon 
&nbsp;

Designed to deliver an experience

M24 has been in gestation since 2022 when the ACO and Richard Mille formed a dedicated company, MACO, with the remit of taking the museum, built in 1961 and redeveloped 30 years later, into a new era.

The newly extended museum aims to become an international benchmark for automotive heritage, enriched by the unique pedigree of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

M24 is underpinned by the strongly held belief that history can only really be passed on through experience. Its purpose is to move from a display case where cars are merely on show to a story that tells us what they are about &ndash; the people involved, the technological challenges, the moments of grace, and the major historical breakthroughs in sport and society.

Le Mans is not just a race. It&rsquo;s a living legend, a unique tale of human and technological endeavour. M24 will not look on the past with nostalgia but with ambition, stimulating communication between our heritage and our future.&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Richard Mille 
&nbsp;

An outstanding legacy brought to life

M24 will be home to one of the richest collections in world motorsport, including iconic cars, unique prototypes, rare objects and precious archives stretching back over a century. Over 120 vehicles will be exhibited alongside remarkable artefacts such as the suit worn by Ayrton Senna, revealed at today&rsquo;s press conference.&nbsp;

The scenography born from the imagination of Rapha&euml;l Daguet takes visitors on an immersive two-stage tour:

&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; firstly, a space devoted to the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Endurance, the backbone of the story;

&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; and, secondly, a space dedicated to other major disciplines: Formula One, rallying, rally-raids, IndyCar and American culture.

Sounds, pictures, interactive features and human accounts whisk the visitor &ldquo;into the race&rdquo;. Each car is an entry point to a different era and adventure: from the 1924 Le Mans-winning Bentley 3 Litre to the 1965 Ford GT40, from the Matra 670B to contemporary Hypercars, from the Ferrari F2002 driven by Michael Schumacher to the Lancia Stratos, icon of the rally world.

The idea is not to amass cars, but to tell stories. To spotlight outstanding pieces in the same way as we exhibit works of art, to arouse emotion, curiosity and awe.&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Richard Mille

 
Architecture to stir emotion

The work of Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Audevard combines tradition and innovation. The extension design is influenced by the motor car &ndash; aluminium, sleek lines and visitor flows inspired by racing aerodynamics &ndash; with a strong focus on natural light to allow the collections to show their true value.

Adopting a responsible mindset from the drawing board, the designer has incorporated a green roof, optimised rainwater management and sustainable materials into the building.

The project has involved 23 mainly local firms to showcase the skills available in the area and make a direct contribution to the Sarthe economy.

M24 is one of the very real embodiments of our CSR approach. This project harnesses valuable heritage, economic and human elements and is deeply rooted in our territory.&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Pierre Fillon

 
A living, perpetually evolving museum

Dust will have no time to settle!

M24 will regularly welcome new pieces, focusing on loans from manufacturers and international institutions &ndash; such as the 1986 Dakar rally-winning Porsche 959 borrowed from the Porsche Museum &ndash; and will host around two temporary exhibitions per year.

M24 expects to attract initially over 300,000 visitors per year and become one of Europe&rsquo;s leading cultural and tourist attractions.

With its modular facilities, fully equipped rooms and luminous spaces, M24 is also set to become Le Mans&rsquo; primary venue for hosting seminars, conferences, training days and bespoke events at the heart of the legendary circuit.

M24 is a place where these stories will live on. It&rsquo;s where a kid can fall in love with a car and maybe decide one day to be an engineer, designer or racing driver. If anyone comes out with their eyes sparkling a bit brighter than when they went in, then M24 will have served its purpose.&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Richard Mille

With M24, the ACO and its partners are creating something unique &ndash; a museum that harnesses legacy and innovation, heritage and emotion, the past and the future of motorsport.&nbsp;This ambition is already shared by partners committed to the project from day one. Four such partners of M24 were announced at the press conference: Rolex, Goodyear, CA Mobility and Michelin.&nbsp;

Their involvement illustrates the cultural scope of M24 and the project&rsquo;s ability to bring together motorsport&rsquo;s most emblematic sponsors around a common vision: to transmit and disseminate the history of motorsport to inspire present and future generations.

We look forward to welcoming you to this exceptional venue on 28 May.

M24 – Motorsport Museum set to open on 28 May 2026

&nbsp;
<div class="donneesIPTC">
	<img alt="" src="/wpphpFichiers/1/1/ressources/Image/actualites/2011/le-mans-series/11_01/2010_01_06_fabien_rosier.jpg" style="width: 650px; height: 435px; " />
	
		Photo : - Fabien Rosier
</div>

	Fabien Rosier will drive the Norma Judd LM P2 for &#39;Extr&ecirc;me Limite&#39; in the Le Mans Series. The &#39;Volant ACO 2006 &#39; is satisfied with his test run carried out under the blue sky of Nogaro.

	Fabien Rosier: &quot;It was to turn a few laps to see if everything went correctly. The car runs pretty well and I saw a big potential in it. I was surprised by its grip, especially in the slow corners, where a prototype is not meant to be comfortable. It is stable, nimble and responds well to my driving style. These few laps were mouthwatering and I can&#39;t wait for the next test session at Vallelunga. There, we will develop the settings of the car, especially at the level of traction control. Although it already seems to have a very good balance, we will try different solutions to gain efficiency. &quot;

	Julien Hergault

	Photo: &#39;Volant ACO&#39; 2006 winner Fabien Rosier will debut in the Le Mans Series this season.

24H LE MANS

Fabien Rosier to drive Norma Judd in LMS

Related News

M24 – Motorsport Museum: racing inspiration behind responsible architecture

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Rétromobile 2026 – check out our selection of nine cars from the 24 Hours of Le Mans

M24 – Motorsport Museum set to open on 28 May 2026

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