In the early 1960s, Ferrari dominated without equal at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Between 1958 and 1965, only one win escaped it to the benefit of Aston Martin, who scored its only win at Le Mans in 1959. The reign particularly bothered one man overseas. A man whose name, just like that of Enzo Ferrari, is highly relevant in the history of the automobile: Henry Ford.

24H Le Mans

24 Heures du Mans

A combination of raw horsepower and aerial ballet. A rare encounter between Ferrari and the Frecce Tricolori develops as much speed and adrenaline on the tarmac as in the air. An ethereal moment at the crossroads of two exceptional worlds.

A few weeks before the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship begins with the 8 Hours of Imola (18-19 April 2026), the Ferrari-AF Corse squad experienced a moment suspended in time. The legendary Ferrari&ndash;AF Corse team met up with Italy&rsquo;s national aerobatic team, the Frecce Tricolori, at the Rivolto air base. An encounter between two figures of Italian excellence united by a single obsession: to drive back the boundaries of performance.

<h2>An encounter between two worlds with the same quest for perfection</h2>

On 26 February, the Ferrari 499P hypercar showed off its taut lines alongside the slender silhouette of the Italian Air Force&rsquo;s Aermacchi MB-339. Two machines, two different playgrounds, but with a shared profile: precision, rigour and audacity.

On the ground, James Calado proceeded along the runway in the #51 499P under the watchful gaze of Miguel Molina who helped coordinate operations. In the air, the Frecce Tricolori displayed their high-speed choreography, producing figures with slide-rule accuracy. 
The excitement reached a crescendo when the aircraft and the hypercar appeared to engage in dialogue as they moved in formation. A rare communion between the sky and the tarmac where every action counts, where every trajectory tells its own story.

<h2>The Ferrari-AF Corse squad takes off</h2>

The aim of the exercise, however, was not just to put on a show. It was also a fascinating experience.

Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovinazzi swapped their hypercar&rsquo;s cockpit for that of the MB-339. An immersion into another world of velocity, where points of reference are very different but where the demands are the same.

In a military aircraft, sensations are raw and immediate. The Ferrari drivers, used to the long straights of the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans, sampled another, three-dimensional form of adrenaline. 
A rare, almost intimate moment that offers a reminder that every performance conceals a unique passion: mastering a machine and feeling each vibration, each variation, each fraction of a second.

<h2>Continuing to make history</h2>

This encounter goes beyond the simple scope of an event. It incarnates the vision of a brand that continually reinvents itself while remaining loyal to its very essence.

As the 2026 FIA WEC season approaches and, with it, the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans (10-14 June), Ferrari portrays its ambition more than ever. The objective for the 499P, winner of the last three editions of the French endurance classic, is clear: to continue making history. And what greater inspiration could there be than to share this quest with other masters of precision and excellence?

Whether it be on the ground or in the air, Ferrari and the Frecce Tricolori have reminded us of an obvious fact: performance is never just about speed. Emotion, synchronisation and passion all have a part to play.

When track meets air | The Ferrari Hypercar team and the Frecce Tricolori

Quand la piste rencontre l'air : L'équipe Ferrari Hypercar et les Frecce Tricolori

Ferrari and Frecce Tricolori: Italian style and elegance on the track and in the air

This year’s Le Mans Classic (2-5 July) promises to be an exceptional vintage. The published provisional entry list points to a stunning card packed with iconic prototypes and legendary GTs.

Five historic grids will take turns racing around the full Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans throughout 24 hours of vintage action. With each grid representing an emblematic era from the annals of endurance, spectators will get a chance to see how the discipline has evolved technologically and aesthetically. 
They will be able to admire cars that left their mark on 24 Hours of Le Mans history from the 1960s to the turn of the century, in the hands of gentlemen drivers and enthusiasts from all over the world.

<h2>Iconic models already announced</h2>

The provisional entry list features legendary models that have written some of the discipline&rsquo;s greatest stories:

<ul>
	<li>Peugeot 908</li>
	<li>McLaren F1 GTR</li>
	<li>Porsche 962</li>
	<li>Ferrari 512 BBLM</li>
</ul>

These emblematic cars exemplify several decades of innovation and sporting rivalry. Their presence guarantees a treat for the eyes and ears, in keeping with the founding principle of Le Mans Classic.

&gt;&gt;&gt; <a href="https://files.peterauto.fr/share/9VIBOGD0ezkZ351SghfY" target="_blank">Provisional entry list</a> &lt;&lt;&lt;

<h2>Four support races</h2>

Four support races will make their first appearance at Le Mans Classic this year:

<ul>
	<li>GT3 Revival Series</li>
	<li>HSR NASCAR Classic by Goodyear</li>
	<li>Berlinetta Challenge</li>
	<li>Porsche Classic Cup</li>
</ul>

These categories will bring extra diversity to the racetrack, with more modern cars and models seen in iconic championships, broadening the historic spectrum of the event even further.

The 13th Le Mans Classic will celebrate the legacy and passion of the 24 Hours of Le Mans more than ever before. You can book your tickets now on the <a href="https://www.lemansclassic.com/en/ticketing/" target="_blank">official website</a>.

2026 Le Mans Classic – Provisional entry list revealed

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

Henry Ford made the decision to cross the ocean to challege the Italian marque in Europe. And not just anywhere...on Ferrari&#39;s favourite playing field: the 24 Hours of Le Mans! A look back at a stunning story that led to victory. Before three other consecutive wins...

	The RK Motors Charlotte company, experts in the restoration and sale of vintage and collection cars, set about to restore the Ford GT 40 chassis #P1046 that New Zealanders Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon brought to victory in 1966 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A huge project worthy of the exploit achieved by a car now considered an icon in the U.S.

	Part One

	<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IOXiJI_HILQ?feature=oembed" width="480"></iframe>

	&nbsp;

	Text: C&eacute;cile Bonardel / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

	Video: YouTube - RK Motors Charlotte&nbsp;

24H LE MANS

The 1966 Ford GT 40's incredible story at Le Mans (video) - Part 1

Related News

Ferrari and Frecce Tricolori: Italian style and elegance on the track and in the air

2026 Le Mans Classic – Provisional entry list revealed

Doriane Pin named Team Peugeot TotalEnergies development driver

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

Major Partner

PREMIUM partners

OFFICIAL partners