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Le Mans Legendes

Historique

A multicoloured BMW 3.0 made a splash at the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car, designed by Alexander Calder and driven by Hervé Poulain failed to reach the finish line, but successfully launched the lineage of BMW Art Cars. Motor racing and art: a winning combination.

Alexander Calder&rsquo;s artwork on the BMW 3.0 CSL sparked a lasting trend that combines creative expression and powerful machinery.

Art auctioneer and ardent motor racing fan Herv&eacute; Poulain had the idea of commissioning an artist to decorate his BMW 3.0 CSL to compete at the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans. He chose Alexander Calder, a Francophile American sculptor who had lived in Paris in the 1920s. The result was a splendidly colourful 3.0 CSL. Response was phenomenal and the Art Car was born.

Developed from the 3.0 CS and the 1971 3.0 CSi, the 3.0 CSL was awarded a special racing homologation in 1972. Crowned European Touring Car Champion in 1973, the car was class winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and subsequent two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. 
Poulain and his teammates Sam Posey and Jean Guichet had to retire from the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans but not before the Calder-Mobil art had made its mark on all who laid eyes on it.

The BMW 3.0 CSL by Calder was the first of a series of 24 Hours of Le Mans BMW Art Cars that saw liveries by such legends as Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella, Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons. The German manufacturer became known and respected for its artistic penchant, with iconic designs celebrating the meeting of speed and creativity.

In a tribute to a half-century of fantastic liveries, this year&rsquo;s R&eacute;tromobile show (28 January to 1 February at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles) will be showcasing the seven 24 Hours of Le Mans BMW Art Cars with the BMW 3.0 CSL Calder in pride of place.

Photo:&nbsp;Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

BMW Art Cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – BMW 3.0 CSL by Calder: the pioneer

Hearts and cars begin racing long before the weekend at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This year, the show begins on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 June with the free practice and qualifying sessions. The Hypercars, LMP2s and LMGT3s get to grips with the track over the two days, offering excellent spectator entertainment as they vie for position ahead of the race. Experience Le Mans as if you were in the driving seat, with a commanding view of the track. Book a grandstand seat to be sure of your place.

At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the practice and qualifying sessions are more than a rehearsal for the big day. They are important in themselves. Pure speed plays a big role in the run-up to the race. You&rsquo;ll be speedier on foot too! Fewer spectators means you can zip around the grounds much quicker than at the weekend. It&rsquo;s the ideal time to try out different vantage points and enjoy all the circuit has to offer. 
Watch as the teams fine-tune their settings and feel the tension mount before the first night session, when the cloak of darkness casts a spell over the track.

<h2>Karting Zone: THE NEED FOR speed</h2>

The Karting bank offers an exceptional view of the Porsche Curves exit and the Karting Curve, where the cars whiz through at incredible speed, pinned to the track thanks to their downforce. 
This demanding section is a great place to admire the Hypercars&rsquo; excellence and the drivers&rsquo; mastership.

<h2>Tertre Rouge: the entrance to the Mulsanne Straight</h2>

Tertre Rouge is an iconic spot. The Corner exit marks the start of the Mulsanne Straight. Prototypes and GT3s exceed 180 kph coming out of this turn as drivers brush the outside kerb to shave off a tenth of a second. 
Here, you are so close to the track, you can feel the thunder of the pace in your stomach as you revel in the precision of the racing line. Pure Le Mans.

<h2>Indianapolis and Arnage: stealth and accuracy</h2>

At this end of the circuit, speed gives way to precision. Arnage Corner, the slowest on the circuit, is taken at 60kph. 
The banked spectator areas offer superb views of the cars as drivers brake. Note the difference between the Hypercars, LMP2s and LMGT3s.

<h2>Alessandro Pier Guidi&rsquo;s opinion of the circuit</h2>

2023 24 Hours of Le Mans winner with the Ferrari-AF Corse #51 Ferrari 499P Alessandro Pier Guidi knows the circuit like the back of his hand. &ldquo;Le Mans is one of the most beautiful circuits and one I&rsquo;m especially fond of, both because we&rsquo;ve achieved extraordinary results in France and because I love high-speed tracks,&rdquo; says the Italian, who also won the LMGTE PRO class in 2019 and 2021.

Indianapolis is his absolute favourite section: &ldquo;You go in at very high speed, just brush the brakes in the first kink, then prepare for the second left-hand turn, where you brake much harder.&rdquo; 
At Arnage you have to keep your wits too: &ldquo;[It] only seems simple &ndash; in reality, it&rsquo;s very tricky, especially on entry, where it&rsquo;s really easy to lock the rear wheels.&rdquo;

The last section is &ldquo;one of the most fun sequences &ndash; several corners in a row where managing tyre grip is vital,&rdquo; before preparing for the Karting esses, &ldquo;where you clip the left-hand kerb slightly and let the car flow to carry speed into Raccordement, keeping it balanced so you can rejoin the start/finish straight and complete the lap.&rdquo; This is a superb vantage point during practice and qualifying.

<h2>Hyperpole, entertainment and the first taste of darkness</h2>

On Thursday 11 June, the pace steps up with the Hyperpole session, which determines the starting grid, not to mention the support races, fan zones and trackside entertainment. The circuit is a hive of activity! 
When darkness falls, the atmosphere changes. Glaring headlights, glowing brake discs and growling engines slice through the night.

<h2>Book now to experience the thrill of Race Week at close quarters</h2>

The practice and qualifying sessions are ideal to get your bearings at the circuit and find the best spot to settle in and watch the action in comfort. 
Don&rsquo;t miss out! Reserve your place to witness the intensity of the FIA World Endurance Championship field as the 24 Hours of Le Mans field gears up for the big day. Head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/tickets">24 Hours of Le Mans ticket office</a>&nbsp;now.

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans: find the best vantage point early in Race Week

Toyota Gazoo Racing has dropped the Gazoo. With the announcement of its rebranding, the Japanese manufacturer introduced the TR010 Hybrid, its new, improved version of the GR010 Hybrid which won the 2021 and 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Toyota has been competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the FIA World Endurance Championship under the Toyota Gazoo Racing banner since 2016. From now on, the team name is simply Toyota Racing. The team is fielding two Toyota TR010 Hybrids in the Hypercar class. The car is an upgrade of the GR010 Hybrid introduced in 2021 and reworked in 2022.

At the time of writing, Toyota Racing has not issued any technical details for the car, but we have spotted a number of changes (see video below). The front of the car has been redesigned, as has the rear wing.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

TR010 HYBRID Unveiling video

Toyota Racing présente la TR010 Hybrid

This is Toyota&rsquo;s answer to the Ferrari 499P which has triumphed at the last three 24 Hours of Le Mans. 
At the wheel, the team has opted for constancy, aligning the same driver crews. Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries stay together in the #7 for the third season running, while S&eacute;bastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa begin their fifth year at the wheel of the #8.

Details are sure to follow soon. In the meantime, take a look at the TR010 Hybrid in the video and photo gallery.

Toyota Racing introduces the TR010 Hybrid Hypercar

Team Peugeot TotalEnergies has announced the crews in the Peugeot 9X8 cockpit for the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans (10-14 June 2026).

The six names had already been announced, and now we know who is teamed with whom and in which car. The French manufacturer was keen to compose two balanced, equally competitive crews. Strategy-wise, Peugeot is aiming for continuity, complementarity and results.

The #94 will be in the hands of Nick Cassidy,&nbsp;Paul Di Resta&nbsp;and Stoffel Vandoorne. And the #93 entrusted to Lo&iuml;c Duval, Malthe Jakobsen and Th&eacute;o Pourchaire.&nbsp;Jean-Eric Vergne&nbsp;and&nbsp;Alex Quinn&nbsp;are the test drivers. 
Both crews have a combination of experience and a healthy track record. Their job now is to bring impetus to the Peugeot campaign. Team Peugeot TotalEnergies finished in seventh place last season, just ahead of Aston Martin.

Olivier Jansonnie, technical director of Team Peugeot TotalEnergies:&nbsp;Lo&iuml;c and Paul are strong pillars of the team and will play a key role in anchoring each crew. Both line-ups offer an excellent balance, combining drivers who are particularly strong at race starts with others who excel in qualifying. This structure has been designed with a long-term perspective in mind, while providing the competitiveness and adaptability required to perform across all race conditions, which is essential given the level of competition in the FIA WEC.

Related story: <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/peugeot-is-2026-the-year-the-dream-comes-true-60178">Peugeot TotalEnergies: is 2026 the year the dream comes true?</a>

Team Peugeot TotalEnergies reveals driver crews

The Le Mans Classic has positioned cameras all around the 13.626 km circuit to capture every second of action. The free livestream is to be produced jointly by B-Side, Peter Auto's partner since 2014, and AMP Visual TV, which has provided video of the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2006.

English-speaking viewers can count on Radio Le Mans commentators Andrew Marriott, Peter Snowdownet and John Hindhaugh to discuss everything that happens on the track this weekend!

Live on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/peterautoofficial">YouTube</a> and at lemansclassic.com:

<ul><li>Saturday 2 July from 11:30 to 15:00 then from 16:00 to 21:00 local time</li>
	<li>Sunday 3 July from 08:20 to 10:50 then from 12:00 to 16:00 local time</li>
</ul>For more info on the Le Mans Classic, go to the <a href="https://www.lemansclassic.com/en/">official website</a>.

24H LE MANS

Le Mans Classic – How to watch the 10th running live this weekend

Related News

BMW Art Cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – BMW 3.0 CSL by Calder: the pioneer

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans: find the best vantage point early in Race Week

Toyota Racing introduces the TR010 Hybrid Hypercar

Team Peugeot TotalEnergies reveals driver crews

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