24h Le Mans
From Scrutineering to the chequered flag, the M24 – Motorsport Museum immerses visitors in a magical experience at the heart of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, including F1 legends and era-defining innovations that have shaped racing history.
Upon entering the M24 – Motorsport Museum, visitors are taken on an authentic, "24-hour" adventure!
First on the agenda is Scrutineering, the legendary curtain-raiser to the main event the following weekend. These technical and administrative checks have traditionally been open to the public in the Le Mans city centre for fans to feel even closer to the race.
The second exhibition room is dedicated to the start. At precisely 16:00, competitors take off for a full 24 hours of intense racing. Visitors get to feel the critical instant adrenaline courses through the veins of drivers from every era. The start of the race is an extraordinary spectacle, as stunning as it is nerve-wracking, whether executed as a Le Mans-style start or a rolling one. This room aims to convey the full power of that very moment.
Note: Don't miss the exhibition dedicated to the Bollée family.
Then, darkness begins to fall, ushering in a truly unique stretch of the race that sees drivers begin to feel the weight of fatigue after the opening hours.
Around the circuit, it's time for fans to grab a bite and take in the entertainment and festivities. Since its inception in 1923, drivers and spectators alike are mesmerized by the allure of nighttime at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The M24 – Motorsport Museum offers the opportunity to experience all the emotions inherent in this unforgettable atmosphere, thanks to an extensive technological set-up and a masterful interplay of light and darkness.
Certain mechanics are in their element at night when competitors typically encounter their first troubles. As such, the next exhibition room is dedicated to the behind-the-scenes of pit lane and technologies in use. Thanks to the M24 workshop, visitors can appreciate and understand this all-important dimension of endurance racing. The workshop is also an opportunity to look back at major innovations tested at the always forward-thinking 24 Hours.
Next, the waving of the chequered flag and podium celebrations on Sunday at 16:00. The final room in this section of the museum is dedicated to making it over that line, and the mere seconds it has taken to change the destiny of thousands of competitors since 1923.
All of the above is accompanied by an extensive array of other features, like an interactive circuit and a materials library to allow visitors to touch replicas of steering wheels, gloves and many other items that are typically inaccessible.
The remainder of the visit opens into the new addition, a must-see exhibit at the M24 — Motorport Museum. Bathed in natural light, this space focuses on the multifaceted history of motorsport with the IndyCar and Can-Am championships taking center stage to represent the U.S.
Lastly, the spotlight transitions to Formula 1. A jaw-dropping variety of models, dating from the 1950s to present day, fill this immense 2,300 m² hall. The first F1 drivers' championship dates back to 1950 and has since crowned countless racing giants. From the very beginning, the discipline has given a home to ingenious minds capable of creating ever-faster single-seaters, and only the top expert teams have prevailed, such as Ferrari, Lotus, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz and Williams.
Legends have made their mark on this championship, and many among them — Fernando Alonso, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, and Phil Hill for example — have taken the start in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well. This is the reason Formula 1 holds a prominent position at the very heart of the M24 — Motorsport Museum.
The immenseley popular rally and rally-raiding also have their place in this exquisite setting as well as two life-size dioramas (one dedicated to Formula 1, the other to endurance racing), so the impact of these disciplines and atmosphere of those eras can be appreciated down to the very last detail.
The M24 – Motorsport Museum will open its doors to the public on Thursday 28 May.
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