Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), was in attendance as ACO President Pierre Fillon unveiled the project at the Rétromobile show alongside Richard Mille, ACO Culture & Heritage Director Fabrice Bourrigaud and Frédéric Audevard, the M24 architect.

M24 is a response to two facts: our heritage is absolutely unique, and today’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. –Pierre Fillon
 

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 – 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’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. – Richard Mille
 

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’s press conference. 

The scenography born from the imagination of Raphaël Daguet takes visitors on an immersive two-stage tour:

•               firstly, a space devoted to the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Endurance, the backbone of the story;

•               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 “into the race”. 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. – Richard Mille

Architecture to stir emotion

The work of Frédéric Audevard combines tradition and innovation. The extension design is influenced by the motor car – aluminium, sleek lines and visitor flows inspired by racing aerodynamics – 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. – 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 – such as the 1986 Dakar rally-winning Porsche 959 borrowed from the Porsche Museum – 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’s leading cultural and tourist attractions.

With its modular facilities, fully equipped rooms and luminous spaces, M24 is also set to become Le Mans’ 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’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. – Richard Mille

With M24, the ACO and its partners are creating something unique – a museum that harnesses legacy and innovation, heritage and emotion, the past and the future of motorsport. 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. 

Their involvement illustrates the cultural scope of M24 and the project’s ability to bring together motorsport’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.