On 12 October 1492, Christopher Colombus landed in the Bahamas and discovered America, having set course for the East Indies (South-east Asia). He therefore referred to the natives as “Indians”. In 1954, Masten Gregory won the Nassau Trophy at the inaugural Bahamas Speed Week.

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Malthe Jakobsen confirmed his status as one of the FIA World Endurance Championship’s brightest rising stars at Spa-Francorchamps today, producing a scintillating lap to secure Peugeot’s maiden pole position in the series.

Earlier on in the Hypercar qualifying session, that kind of result had looked far less likely, when the 22-year-old Dane spun at high speed on his &lsquo;out&rsquo; lap from the pits, fortunately avoiding any impact but obliging him to return to the box for a fresh set of tyres.

Atoning for his error, Jakobsen subsequently soared to the top of the timesheets in the ten-minute Hyperpole shootout behind the wheel of the #94 Team Peugeot TotalEnergies 9X8 Hypercar that he shares with fellow young gun Th&eacute;o Pourchaire and former FIA World Endurance Champion, Lo&iuml;c Duval.

The result represented the first pole for &lsquo;The Lions&rsquo; in any international endurance racing series in 15 years and first in world championship competition since 1992.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the best feeling to drive this track on low fuel and new tyres, and I&rsquo;m very happy for the team,&rdquo; enthused Jakobsen, after pipping Cadillac&rsquo;s Will Stevens to the prime spot by a scant 0.043 seconds. &ldquo;This is a great boost for everybody in terms of motivation to keep working hard. It really shows that even though we&rsquo;ve had a challenging past couple of years, everything is possible and you should never, ever give up.&rdquo;

At the other end of the order, Imola winner Toyota struggled for speed in 12th and 16th positions in the 17-strong Hypercar field, with only one of defending world champion Ferrari&rsquo;s 499P prototypes advancing to the top ten as Antonio Fuoco bagged eighth on the grid.

In LMGT3, Akkodis ASP Team&rsquo;s Lexus RC F achieved its third FIA WEC pole 12 months on from its first, in the hands of impressive rookie racer, Hadrien David.

The TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps &ndash; round two of the 2026 campaign &ndash; will get underway at 14:00 CEST tomorrow (Saturday, 9 May).

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Peugeot on pole in Belgium as Jakobsen stuns at Spa

The 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans taking place on 13–14 June promises magnificent racing. The world’s greatest carmakers place their machines in the hands of the most skilful drivers, and all share the desire to add their name to the roll of honour. The third round of the FIA World Endurance Championship is likely to be hotly disputed. Today, Wednesday 6 May, is publication day for the list of 186 drivers taking part.

<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/2026-entry-d8ef2oz" target="_parent">DISCOVER THE ENTRY LIST</a></h2>

An intense battle in Hypercar 
&nbsp; 
Introduced in 2022, the Hypercar class has treated the 24 Hours of Le Mans crowd to some thrilling racing so far. Once again, the race is set to be a close run. Eight carmakers fielding a total of 18 prototypes are in contention for overall victory. Each team can boast experienced drivers. The line-up comprises 17 past winners in the Hypercar class alone. Every one of the nine Ferrari AF Corse drivers has already triumphed at Le Mans, among them Robert Kubica, Antonio Fuoco and Antonio Giovinazzi.. 
&nbsp; 
Maiden Le Mans for Genesis 
&nbsp; 
This year&rsquo;s newcomer is South Korean manufacturer Genesis, with the GMR-001-Hypercar. The team has enlisted the help of three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Andr&eacute; Lotterer, a popular driver among endurance fans. Lotterer shares the wheel of the #17 with Luis Felipe Derani and Mathys Jaubert, while Mathieu Jaminet, Paul-Loup&nbsp;Chatin and Daniel Juncadella take the helm of the #19 sister car. Genesis may be new to Le Mans, but its drivers total 41 starts between them and are likely to cause a sensation! 
&nbsp; 
Stiff competition in LMP2 
&nbsp; 
The last time there was more than a lap between the first two LMP2 cars at the finish was in 2019! Judging by this year&rsquo;s grid, that record is not about to be broken. Last year&rsquo;s winners Inter Europol Competition should not be disregarded this year. However, K&eacute;vin Estre, who won Hyperpole two years ago, will be looking to drive TDS Racing to victory. Two-time Le Mans winner (2010 and 2016) Romain Dumas is back with his own team RD Limited after a three-year hiatus. 
&nbsp; 
Well-known names 
&nbsp; 
The line-up is full of familiar names. This year, no less than seven drivers have a father who was a Formula One driver: Kevin Magnussen (BMW M Team WRT), son of Jan, Jules Gounon (Alpine Endurance Team), son of Jean-Marc, Enzo Trulli (Algarve Pro Racing), son of Jarno, Louis Del&eacute;traz (AO by TF), son of Jean-Denis, Giuliano Alesi (Team Qatar by Iron Lynx), son of Jean, Lorenzo Patrese (Kessel Racing), son of Riccardo, and Eduardo Barrichello (Heart of Racing Team), son of Rubens. Most of the sons have already taken part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 
&nbsp; 
25 cars in LMGT3 
 
LMGT3 is in the limelight this year. The class is composed of an impressive 25 cars representing nine carmakers. Jos&eacute; Mar&iacute;a L&oacute;pez who won the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans takes the wheel of the #87 Lexus RC F LMGT3 &ndash; Akkodis ASP Team. So far this season, three different carmakers have mounted the podium, which indicates the high level of talent in the class. Porsche has won the last two 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMGT3 but the competition remains wide open. 
&nbsp; 
Women in the spotlight 
&nbsp; 
This year&rsquo;s driver line-up includes two women. Doriane Pin has a seat in LMP2 with Duqueine Team. The &ldquo;Pocket Rocket&rdquo;&nbsp;currently Development Driver with the Mercedes-AMG Formula One team is well-known for her speed. Lilou Wadoux will be driving the #150 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo fielded by Richard Mille AF Corse in LMGT3. Former Iron Dames team member Sarah Bovy is the first woman to be appointed Grand Marshal of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Bovy can boast magnificent victories in ELMS and WEC races, and is widely acknowledged for her work on raising the profiles of women in motor racing. 
&nbsp; 
See you at 4 p.m on Saturday 13 June for the Start of the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans!

The 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans driver line-up

The idea for M24 blossomed in 2022, when the ACO, represented by Pierre Fillon, and the company Richard Mille formed a joint venture named MACO. A huge building project began, involving the renovation of the existing site and an extension designed by architect Frédéric Audevard. One of the main challenges was to complete the work in less than a year, in time for the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans.

<h2>Renewal and extension: a colossal undertaking</h2>

M24 is composed of two parts: the initial building dating from 1961, which has been entirely renovated, and the extension designed by Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Audevard, which brings the new exhibition area to a total of 8,600 m&sup2;.

The extension required a wide array of experts to work side by side in harmony. The 24 Hours of Le Mans museum remained open to the public until the end of the 2025 Le Mans Classic in early July and M24 is scheduled to open before the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Philippe Moran&ccedil;ais and the company CMB oversaw the project. No less than 14 different trades and 23 companies &ndash; most of them located in the region &ndash; were involved in the project destined to contribute to the local economy.

<h4>Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Audevard / Architect, Audevard Architecture</h4>

&ldquo;M24 boasts a strong architectural character, inspired by the aerodynamics, speed and adrenaline at play in motor racing, and in particular the prototypes on the grid of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Continuous strokes and taught shapes resemble racing lines. Inside, the flow of visitors advances smoothly, like the air around a race car. Not only does this building house high-performance objects, it embodies them.

Precisely managed natural light accompanies visitors throughout the museum, illuminating the exhibits cleanly and effectively. Technology is replaced by an immersive scenography, where architecture combines with content to heighten emotions.

M24 meets the strictest environmental standards. The project includes a green roof designed to manage varying amounts of rainwater thanks to harvesting and drainage. The building materials &ndash; such as aluminium, which is lightweight, durable and recyclable &ndash; were selected for sustainability and responsibility.

Respectful of its environment, M24 establishes a dialogue with the surrounding landscape. This approach is in line with the Automobile Club de l&rsquo;Ouest&rsquo;s ambitious CSR strategy, a vision where architectural innovation, environmental responsibility and sporting heritage come together.&rdquo;

<h2>Immersive museography</h2>

The Immersers, a scenography company based in Nantes, have orchestrated the collections with a type of museography new to the automotive world with the goal of drawing visitors into the narrative. Rapha&euml;l Daguet and his team take immersion seriously. They don&rsquo;t design museum tours, they take visitors into another world.

<h4>Rapha&euml;l Daguet / Scenographer, The Immersers</h4>

&quot;In 2021, the ACO and Richard Mille asked us to help them design M24 &ndash; Museum of motorsport. We took on the collective project in true entrepreneurial spirit, embracing both the opportunities and the risks involved. Each party had its own vision: the ACO which saw Le Mans turn a craft into an industry and then an art form; Richard Mille, who always seeks the very best setting to show off a jewel; Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Audevard, who designed the setting &ndash; the place, the volumes, the functionality; and us, The Immersers, whose role was to articulate the pieces, and bring the place to life. Our method is a narrative one. We draft and present a story that takes visitors on a journey through time, using technology as a means, not an end. To tell a story, you first need to gather people around a narrator. We are a collective of designers and architects who create spellbinding experiences.

In that sense, M24 is a journey. The cars displayed pay us the honour of stopping by to give us a glimpse of their lives as champions. We meet their drivers, their mechanics &ndash; our fellow enthusiasts. The narration takes place over a weekend, between 1923 and 2026 and relates the history of racing and of the race. Visitors wander between eras, from the scrutineering sessions in the city, when the 24 Hours of Le Mans encounters the public, to the finish, taking in all the landmark moments along the way.

The dual temporality creates the immersion. Visitors live the legend. The journey includes a materials library inviting us to touch steering wheels and firesuits. Other immersive moments include the life-size diorama depicting actual scenes, and the nighttime experience, which uses technology to travel between decades. 
The introspective experience takes place in a specially-designed room, flanked by three gigantic (30 m x 6 m) abstract murals inspired by Pierre Soulages, suggesting that race cars have become works of art.

M24 is probably the most theatrical of automotive museums. Of course, it is difficult to imagine displaying such huge works. A car is very different from a painting. We set out to create time capsules, excerpts of life &ndash; with drivers, teams and fans &ndash; to generate emotion, feelings, and a true sense of history. We are proud to have given ourselves the means to achieve that ambitious goal.&quot;

M24 – Museum of Motorsport: ambitious architecture and museography

M24 will open its doors at 10 a.m. on 28 May 2026. The new museum located at the main entrance to the Le Mans circuit harbours hundreds of magnificent tales of racing, plunging visitors into the world of motorsport.

Keeping a legend alive involves important restoration work. The Bentley 3 Litre, the car that covered the longest distance at the second 24 Hours of Le Mans is the oldest winner of the race still around to tell the tale! An automotive masterpiece, the car is currently being restored by Vintage Bentley in the United Kingdom and will soon take pride of place at M24.

<h2>The tale of the Bentley 3 Litre</h2>

The 24 Hours of Le Mans was an international event from the outset. In 1924, Briton Frank Clement and Canadian John Duff entered a specially-prepared Bentley 3 Litre. The nailbiting race was marked by a head-to-head between Bentley and Lorraine-Dietrich, and marred by sabotage: a part was hammered into one of the Bentley&rsquo;s rear wheels to prevent its removal. Despite losing half an hour in the garage in vain attempts to change the wheel, Bentley won the race. The incredible victory cemented the event&rsquo;s popularity in the United Kingdom and beyond, and sparked the formation of the group later known as the <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-of-le-mans-centenary-1924-1930-the-one-of-a-kind-bentley-boys-56863">Bentley Boys</a>. The actual Le Mans-winning 1924 Bentley 3 Litre, complete with its original engine, chassis, radiator and axle, will soon be on display at M24.

<h2>A huge project</h2>

Such a gem deserves to be displayed at its best. So, before becoming one of the star pieces in the M24 collection, a renovation was in order. In 2023, the Bentley 3 Litre made the trip from Brooklands to Le Mans to celebrate the centenary of the race. The decision to conduct the restoration was taken on that occasion. Such an undertaking required thorough investigation. The chassis and the mechanics have been overhauled, and the bodywork, which was damaged, has been rebuilt.

William Medcalf of the Vintage Bentley workshop: &ldquo;We have restored several classic Bentleys of historic importance, so we were delighted when Fabrice Bourrigaud, ACO director of Culture &amp; Heritage asked us to examine John Duff&rsquo;s 1924 Le-Mans winning #8 Bentley 3 Litre (XT1606). For the very first time, 100 years of family history and official archives were scrutinised, casting new light on urban legends. We renovated the car to the exact state in which it appeared on the 1924 24 Hours of Le Mans starting grid, with all its imperfections and last-minute additions. The result is fascinating and questions the established narrative of Bentley&rsquo;s racing beginnings. The award-winning team at Vintage Bentley, based in West Sussex, UK, is very proud of its finished work.&rdquo;

The difficulty resided in obtaining the necessary records to piece together the past. A huge amount of research was conducted to ensure that all the car&#39;s parts were genuine. A former officer was hired to trace all the owners of the car and collect information on John F.Duff and Frank Clement. All sorts of documents turned up: including the original ownership papers and lost photos. Thanks to the precious finds, the renovators were able to establish that the bodywork was not that of 1924. It was therefore rebuilt in aluminium, to achieve the goal of restoring the car to its original state. The wood panelling and leatherwork were also reproduced &ndash; a massive project in itself! In all, Vintage Bentley spent some 3,700 hours on the renovation. Not content with being a backdrop for masterpieces, M24 &ndash; Museum of Motorsport breathes new life into them.

<a href="https://www.lemans.org/en/news/aco/the-m24-motor-sport-museum-ticketing-is-now-open-60514" target="_blank">The museum ticket office is open for bookings now.</a>&nbsp;

Treasures of M24: the 1924 Bentley 3 Litre, restored glory

From 1954 to 1966, many professional drivers headed to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, to take part in the late-season event. With cooler weather beginning to take hold in Europe and the north of the American continent, the tropical Bahamian climate proved to be an attractive proposition to many, including Masten Gregory, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1965 with Jochen Rindt (pictured right), in a Ferrari 250&nbsp;LM fielded by NART (North American Racing Team).

24H LE MANS

Photo of the Day – Masten Gregory wins the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans

Related News

Peugeot on pole in Belgium as Jakobsen stuns at Spa

The 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans driver line-up

M24 – Museum of Motorsport: ambitious architecture and museography

Treasures of M24: the 1924 Bentley 3 Litre, restored glory

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