Henceforth, Le Mans Classic will be held annually and alternate between two complementary formats: Le Mans Classic Heritage and Le Mans Classic Legend.

Le Mans Classic Legend from 2026

From 2026, Le Mans Classic Legend will replay the contemporary history of endurance, featuring cars entered between 1976 and 2015. This edition will host five grids illustrating the main technical and aesthetic evolutions that have transformed the discipline:

• Grid 6 – The Turbo Era (1976–1982): Highlighting the massive influx of turbocharged Le Mans prototypes – a period marked by technical innovation and a boom in performance.
• Grid 7 – Group C Racing (1983–1993): The Group C era saw the greatest manufacturers – including Porsche, Jaguar, Mercedes and Toyota – and independent teams wage a battle against a backdrop of spectacular performance and technical creativity. These legendary prototypes wrote some of the finest pages in 24 Hours of Le Mans and World Endurance Championship history (Peugeot 905 Evo, Porsche 962C, Mercedes-Benz C11, etc.).
• Grid  8 – Endurance Racing Legends 1 (1994–2000): Bringing together the prototypes and GTs that marked the rebirth of endurance in the 1990s with the resurgence of prestigious makes and pioneering aerodynamics (Ferrari F40 LM, McLaren F1 GTR, Porsche 911 GT1, etc.).
• Grid  9 – Endurance Racing Legends 2 (2001–2010): The natural continuation of the previous grid, with a technological escalation through to 2005 for prototypes and 2010 for GTs (Chrysler Viper GTS-R, Audi R8 LMP, Bentley Speed 8, etc.).
• Grid 10 – Legend of Le Mans (2006–2015): Featuring the emblematic GTEs and LMP prototypes that competed in major international championships such as the WEC, IMSA, ELMS and ILMS, and especially the greatest endurance contests such as the 24-hours races of Le Mans and Daytona. These models strike a chord with younger racegoers and are etched in the collective memory of the noughties.

The programme will be rounded out by three support races, including the GT3 Revival Series with 40-to-50-minute sessions providing spectacular on-track entertainment.

Devised for a new generation of fans, Le Mans Classic Legend is an event to which children bring their parents to admire the cars of their youth. Clubs will also be honoured with special sessions set aside for astounding youngtimers. Of course, live music and a host of activities and entertainment will be staged during the event.

Le Mans Classic Heritage from 2027

Le Mans Classic Heritage will transport spectators back to the golden age of endurance in a tribute to the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1923 to 1975. Authenticity is the name of the game! The event will capture the mood, setting and style of bygone days and create a truly vintage racing atmosphere.

Five grids will reflect some of the glorious periods witnessed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1923 and 1975 through a selection of emblematic cars that marked the history of endurance:

• Grid 1 – Origins (1923–1939): pre-war models that were true endurance pioneers. Some of the cars are over 90 years old and have unsynchronised gearboxes and rear brakes only. And yet they reach speeds exceeding 160 kph on the Mulsanne Straight! Their presence revives the spirit of the early years of Le Mans and tells the tales of heroic feats when the race was a challenge for plucky amateurs.

• Grid 2 – Le Mans Reborn (1949–1956): a tribute to the renaissance of the 24 Hours of Le Mans after the Second World War. It brings together iconic cars that marked the golden age of endurance in the 1950s, when the elegance of the silhouette rivalled with mechanical audacity in models such as the Jaguar XK, Jaguar C-Type, Austin Healey, DB HBR and Triumph TR2.

• Grid 3 – Sixties 1 (1957–1961): This grid, at the crossroads of the fifties and sixties, showcases the first “modern” GTs and prototypes that competed in the greatest endurance races. It features models that shaped the history of the world championship: Ferrari 250 GT SWB, Porsche 718 RSK, DB HBR5, Maserati Tipo 61 “Birdcage”, etc.

• Grid 4 – Sixties 2 (1962–1966): This grid gives pride of place to the GTs and sports cars of the decade during a period of transition marked by significant technical progress. Spectators will have the chance to admire legends such as the Ford GT40, the Porsche 911 2.0L, the Ferrari 250 LM and 275 GTB/4, the Jaguar E-Type, etc. Ford’s first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was the beginning of the legendary face-off with Ferrari, immortalised in James Mangold’s popular movie Ford v Ferrari (aka Le Mans ’66 ).

• Grid 5 – Classic Endurance (1967–1975): this grid features the giants of the three-way battle between Ford, Ferrari and Porsche, finely tuned 3-litre prototypes and Group 5 GTs.  These powerful yet elegant machines embody the innovation and technical excesses of the time. The cast of V8, V12 and flat-twelve engines will roar once again like an echo of bygone times. A grid that will revive the intense golden days of international endurance racing.

Exceptional thematic support races will also be held.

Historic Racing by Peter Auto rebranded as Le Mans Classic Series

Since 2010, the Historic Racing by Peter Auto series has showcased the history of touring cars and endurance, from the 1950s to the 2010s, at Europe’s finest racing venues such as Spa-Francorchamps (Spa Classic), Le Castellet (Dix Mille Tours), Dijon-Prenois (Grand Prix de l’Âge d’Or), Imola (Imola Classic) and Estoril (Estoril Classic).

From 2026, the Historic Racing series will be renamed Le Mans Classic Series. By capitalising on the worldwide renown of Le Mans, these competitions will enjoy a greater impact among fans, sponsors and the media.

Like the contemporary series, participants in the Le Mans Classic Series who can field an eligible model will receive preferential treatment when applying to appear at Le Mans Classic Legend or Heritage, the highlight of the year in La Sarthe.

This will thus build a bridge between the work accomplished all year round and the preparation of a major event like Le Mans Classic, placing it at the pinnacle of historic races. It will also provide an opportunity to promote our drivers and teams and strengthen our attachment to the living history of racing.