The leading car and other safety cars are mean racing machines and the figureheads of Race Control at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They are part of the family of official cars which manufacturers have sought to supply ever since the inaugural edition in 1923. This feature looks back at some of the cars – and drivers – that have fulfilled this key role.

24H Le Mans

24 Heures du Mans

Team Peugeot TotalEnergies has recruited Doriane Pin as a development driver on the Peugeot 9X8 Hypercar, the French outfit has announced.

Doriane Pin, fresh from her 2025 F1 Academy&nbsp;success, has been enrolled as a development driver for Team Peugeot TotalEnergies. She will therefore take part in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship Rookie Test in Bahrain in November. Pin will bring her vibrant energy and her precise, adaptable approach to driving to the team&rsquo;s technical programme.

This new role adds yet another string to her already solid bow in endurance that includes a class win at the 24 Hours of Spa. In 2023, she competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Centenary&nbsp;at the wheel of an Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 prototype fielded by Prema Racing. 
As a development driver, Pin will complete several simulator sessions to familiarise herself with the Peugeot 9X8 and work in close collaboration with the engineer teams.

&ldquo;Joining Team Peugeot TotalEnergies as a development driver is a great source of pride for me,&rdquo; she enthused. &ldquo;Being able to contribute to the development of the PEUGEOT 9X8 represents a real opportunity. My goal is to learn as much as possible, fully integrate into the team, and bring my commitment and perspective to help contribute to the success of the project. It&rsquo;s a big step toward my goals, and I&rsquo;m determined to make the most of it with the ambition of becoming an official driver.&quot;

Emmanuel Esnault, Team Peugeot TotalEnergies team principal, added: &ldquo;We are thrilled to welcome Doriane to the Peugeot Sport family. Doriane&rsquo;s track record and dynamic approach make her a fantastic addition to our development programme. We&rsquo;re looking forward to the new perspectives she will bring as we continue refining the 9X8 and we are eager to see her get behind the wheel during the FIA WEC Rookie Test in Bahrain this November.&rdquo;

Doriane Pin named Team Peugeot TotalEnergies development driver

As a winning driver, visionary car builder and successful racing team boss, Carroll Shelby left an indelible mark on the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  His unique heritage lives on today through an exclusive collection of garments and leather goods. A tribute to one of the most charismatic figures in motorsport.

Carroll Shelby enjoyed a successful, multifaceted career at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, including his 1959 victory with Aston Martin and the period of domination with Ford in the mid-sixties. To celebrate this outstanding heritage, a collection of quality garments and leather goods have been designed for fans eager to sport a fragment of the Texan&rsquo;s history at the French endurance classic.

<h2>Carroll Shelby, a life devoted to speed</h2>

Born on 11 January 1923 in Leesburg, Texas, Shelby was hardly predestined to become one of the greatest figures in world motorsport. After serving as a US Air Force instructor and test pilot in the Second World War, he made his living from rearing chickens before discovering motor racing in MGs.

Shelby&rsquo;s Le Mans story is a unique trilogy, the first part of which sees him behind the wheel. He made his Le Mans 24 Hours d&eacute;but in 1954, teaming up with Paul Fr&egrave;re in an Aston Martin DB3S entered by David Brown&nbsp;on behalf of the British manufacturer. Their race came to a premature end, but the Texan returned five years later to make history.

On 21 June 1959, Shelby scooped the honours with British driver Roy Salvadori at the wheel of the iconic Aston Martin DBR1. This victory is still Aston Martin&rsquo;s only outright Le Mans win. His slender frame and striped dungarees became a familiar sight in the pits, while team manager Reg Parnell directed operations with a megaphone.

<h2>From driver to manufacturer: the making of an icon</h2>

A few months after this success, Shelby hung up his driver&rsquo;s helmet to embark on a new venture when he founded Shelby-American Inc.

With a chassis supplied by the British manufacturer AC Cars and an engine from the Ford Motor Company, he created one of the sixties&rsquo; most spectacular sports cars: the legendary AC Cobra, also known as the Shelby Cobra. The car quickly became one of Ferrari&rsquo;s most formidable rivals on the GT scene.

The most notable model of all was the spectacular Shelby Daytona Coup&eacute; &ndash; also known as the AC Cobra Daytona &ndash; designed by Peter Brock, that beat the Ferraris and&nbsp;Jaguar E-Types at their own game. Dan Gurney and Bob Bondurant achieved a stunning fourth place in the overall classification at the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans, edging out the iconic Ferrari 250 GTO in the GT rankings.

<h2>The man behind Ford&rsquo;s Le Mans victories</h2>

The third part of Shelby&rsquo;s Le Mans trilogy began when Henry Ford II entrusted him with the mammoth task of beating Ferrari in the French endurance classic.

The Texan took charge of the racing programme of the legendary Ford GT40 and orchestrated one of the most celebrated successes in the history of the event. In 1966, Ford clinched a historic 1-2-3 with Chris Amon and Bruce McLaren declared winners ahead of Dennis Hulme and Ken Miles. The third step of the podium was taken by the Ford GT40 Mk II fielded by the Holman &amp; Moody team and driven by Ronnie Bucknum and Richard Hutcherson.

Twelve months later, AJ Foyt and Dan Gurney broke the 5,000-kilometre barrier for the first time in winning the 1967 edition.

This storybook confrontation was later portrayed in the 2019 James Mangold movie Ford v Ferrari, in which Hollywood superstar Matt Damon played the role of Carroll Shelby.

<h2>A leather collection to perpetuate the legend</h2>

The Carroll Shelby collection celebrates the heritage of this larger-than-life character and pays tribute to the energy, talent and passion that were the hallmark of the Texan&rsquo;s career.

The collection includes canvas jackets and genuine lambskin leather bags that are soft, comfortable and hard-wearing. Each item features details inspired by Shelby&rsquo;s career, skilfully integrated into the manufacturing process.

This collection reflects the character, elegance and competitive spirit of Shelby, the motorsport pioneer.

&gt;&gt;&gt; <a href="https://boutique.lemans.org/en/231-carroll-shelby" target="_blank">See the Carroll Shelby collection</a> &lt;&lt;&lt;

Carroll Shelby was a warm, enthusiastic visionary who left an indelible mark on Le Mans legend. Fans can now keep his spirit alive with this elegant new collection.

Carroll Shelby – a trilogy that forged a place in Le Mans legend

At this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans (10-14 June), the ACO will be saluting three eminent motorsport personalities.

<h2>Sarah Bovy, Grand Marshal of the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans</h2>

Internationally renowned driver Sarah Bovy will have the honour of setting the pace for the 62 cars on the grid during the starting procedure on Saturday 10 June, shortly before 16:00.

A symbol of modern-day endurance racing, the Belgian driver competed at the very highest level with the Iron Dames team. Renowned for her GT driving skills, she made her mark on the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans by demonstrating remarkable speed and consistency. In addition to her wealth of experience, Sarah is strongly commited to the future of endurance. This, combined with her love of racing and communicative energy makes her the ideal Grand Marshal for the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans.

<h2>David Clark, Spirit of Le Mans 2026</h2>

The Spirit of Le Mans trophy pays tribute to the women and men who uphold the values of endurance racing: involvement, commitment, togetherness and sporting endeavour. This year&rsquo;s recipient is David Clark.

A serial entrepreneur with a passion for motorsport, David joined Sam Hignett at the helm of JOTA more than 15 years ago. Sam and David form a dynamic partnership spearheading the progress of the JOTA Group. London-based David has had a lifelong involvement in both the motorsport and historic car business providing him with an incredible network within both industries.

In his former role as Director of McLaren Cars, David was responsible for selling and marketing the iconic F1 road car project. The highlight of their motorsport programme was winning both Le Mans and the BPR championship in 1995; the perfect preparation for his leadership role at one of the WEC&rsquo;s most successful private teams.&nbsp;

Driven by the desire to not only create a best-in-class racing team but also maintain a thriving and happy team dynamic at Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, David recognises the importance of attracting and retaining the very best talent.

<h2>Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Sausset, Guest of Honor</h2>

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of his historic feat, Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Sausset is guest of honor this year. In 2016, the French driver made history as the first quadruple amputee to start (and finish!) the world&rsquo;s greatest endurance race in a specially adapted prototype. His courage and determination produced one of the most inspiring moments in the history of the race, and remain a motivating force well beyond motorsport circles. Ten years on, Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric still demonstrates the qualities omnipresent at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: boldness, drive, and passion. 
 
Every year, in partnership with the ACO, the driver organises a charity event called &ldquo;La Piste aux Etoiles&rdquo;, raising funds to improve conditions for people with disabilities at a local hospital and contributing to a handisport project run by the Institut du Cerveau and Telmah.&nbsp;Last November, the event raised &euro;140,000.

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l&#39;Ouest: &quot;The 24 Hours of Le Mans is more than a race. It&rsquo;s a story of people, passion, purpose and pushing limits. Thanks to Sarah Bovy, David Clark and Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Sausset, the 94th running of the race trains the spotlight on three remarkable people, who, each in their own way, illustrate the spirit of Le Mans. They demonstrate the rich diversity of our discipline, reminding us that endurance racing is above all about people and that our vitality underpins our sport.&quot;

Sarah Bovy, David Clark and Frédéric Sausset in the spotlight at the 94th edition

2026 will mark the 11th edition of the first Road To Le Mans race held at the Circuit des 24 Heures in June 2016, with this year’s event attracting a maximum 58 car grid for the first ever 180-minute race on the full 13.6km Circuit des 24 Heures.

With 26 entries in LMP3, 15 in LMP3 Pro/Am and 17 in GT3, the grid for the 2026 Road To Le Mans includes all 45 full season Michelin Le Mans Cup entries, with an additional 13 race-by-race entries to bring the grid up to full capacity.

The LMP3 field will feature 25 entries for silver and gold drivers, with 2025 winners 23Events Racing and CLX Motorsport each entering a pair of Ligier JS P325-Toyotas. CLX Motorsport has won Road To Le Mans four times, three as COOL Racing and one as CLX Motorsport, with 2023 race winner David Droux competing for the Swiss team in the no97 Ligier.&nbsp; The other 2023 RTLM winner Matt Bell will race the no4 Nielsen Racing Duqueine.

23 of the 26 entries will be competing for championship points, while the two race by race entries, no36 Ajith Redant Racing and no45 Rinaldi Racing will be racing for chance of becoming the first LMP3 team to win a 3-hour Road To Le Mans race.

ANS Motorsport, Brutal Fish Campos Motorsport, Forestier Racing by VPS and R-ace GP will each enter a pair of cars, with the later entering a pair of Duqueine D09s and the other three teams a pair of Ligier JS P325s.

2021 and 2023 winners Nielsen Racing will enter a single Duqueine in the LMP3 category, as will BWT Muecke Motorsport and Steller Motorsport. Vector Sport RLR, High Class Racing, Trajectus Motorsport, Bretton Racing, Inter Europol Competition, M Racing, Team Virage and More Motorsport will all enter a single Ligier JS P325 in the LMP3 class, bringing the total to 25 entries.

<h2>15 Cars for LMP3 Pro/Am</h2>

2025 winners Rinaldi Racing and DKR Engineering are back to defend their hard won LMP3 Pro/Am trophies. Four-time Road To Le Mans winners DKR Engineering are entering a single Ligier for 2025 winner Anti Rammo. After winning with Norma in 2017 and 2019, Duqueine in 2020 and Ginetta in 2025, the Luxembourg flagged team is looking to make RTLM history by winning a fifth Road To Le Mans crown with a fourth different LMP3 manufacturer in 2026.

Rinaldi Racing will enter a pair of Ligier JS P325s, with 2025 race 1 winners Stefan Aust and Felipe Fernandez-Laser back in the no71 car.

2022 RTLM winners Racing Spirit of L&eacute;man will field a single Ligier, with Oskar Kristensen, the nephew of nine time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, driving for the French team.

Tamil Cinema A-Lister Ajith Kumar will also make his RTLM debut in the no16 Ajith Redant by Virage Ligier-Toyota.

The other Michelin Le Mans Cup regulars, P4 Racing, Inter Europol Competition, High Class Racing, GG Classics, Bretton Racing and reigning LMP3 Pro/Am champions Motorsport98 will all enter a Ligier JS P325. The fifteen strong class is completed by race-by-race entries from Team Virage, Ultimate, CLX Motorsport and M Racing.

<h2>17 entries for GT3</h2>

The GT3 grid will feature six different manufacturers - Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche. Ferrari has won seven of the nineteen previous RTLMs, with Aston Martin three and BMW, Porsche and Mercedes-AMG two each.

2025 winners Getspeed return with an unchanged line up of Steve Jans and Anthony Bartone in the no14 Mercedes AMG.&nbsp; 2024 GT3 winner David Cleto Fumanelli will racing with team winners Kessel Racing in the no17 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, the Swiss team also fielding a second Ferrari for the 2026 season.

2016 and 2018 GT3 winners AF Corse will enter four Ferrari 296s, while 2024 RTLM winners Blackthorn will be entering a pair of Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evos.

Two more Aston Martin Vantages will be seen on the grid, with Code Racing Development and Racing Spirit of L&eacute;man entering one car each.

2023 double race winners Team WRT are back on the grid with the only BMW entry in the field. Spanish team Biogas Motorsport are entering a single Ferrari 296, while High Class Racing and Dinamic GT will each be entering a single Porsche 911.

McLaren is the only manufacturer in the field that hasn&rsquo;t won a Road To Le Mans race, and the grid will feature two 720 GT3Evos, the first run by SMC Motorsport and the second entered by United Autosports, which brings the GT3 grid up to 17 cars.

<h2>ABOUT THE ROAD TO LE MANS</h2>

2026 will be the first ever 3-hour Road To Le Mans race, a change from the previous two single 60-minute races held last season.&nbsp;

The championship points awarded will be different from previous seasons. Last year the winner of each race received 15 points, with 9 for second and 7 for third. This year the winners of each category will receive 38 points, 27 for second, 23 for third, 18-15-12-9-6-3 and 2 points for 10th place. The holder of pole position will continue to receive an additional championship point. Only full season entries are eligible for championship points.

Qualifying for the Road To Le Mans race will be held on Thursday 11 June and will be a single 60-minute session to determine the grid, starting at 10h15.&nbsp;

The race will be held on Friday 12 June, with the start at 10h00, one day before the start of the 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It will be streamed LIVE on <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/fiawec-endurance-racing-but-not-as-you-know-it-60395" target="_blank">the new FIAWEC+ app</a>.

<a href="https://www.fiawec.com/umbrella_media/2026-mlmc-rtlm-provisional-entry-list-v1-69c257384fff2055784217.pdf" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for the entry list for the 2026 Road To Le Mans, Round 3 of the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup.

58 Entries for the first 3 Hour Road To Le Mans in June

24 Hours of Le Mans 2018

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24H LE MANS

Safety Cars: Leading the way at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (Feature)

Related News

Doriane Pin named Team Peugeot TotalEnergies development driver

Carroll Shelby – a trilogy that forged a place in Le Mans legend

Sarah Bovy, David Clark and Frédéric Sausset in the spotlight at the 94th edition

58 Entries for the first 3 Hour Road To Le Mans in June

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