On January 9, 1522, Adriaan Floriszoon was elected Pope under the name Adrien VI and became the last non-Italian Pope until Jean-Paul II and the first, and sole to-date, Dutch Pope. On June 13, 1971, Gijs van Lennep became the first Dutch driver to win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

24H Le Mans

Le Mans Legendes

24 Heures du Mans

Historique

The FIA World Endurance Championship has finalised the new dates for the 2026 edition of the Qatar 1812km and the series’ pre-season Prologue.

The current geopolitical instability in the Middle East obliged the postponement of the Qatari contest, which had been due to launch the 14th campaign of FIA WEC competition later this month.

Following collaborative and constructive discussions with the Qatar Motor &amp; Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), Lusail International Circuit (LIC) and F&eacute;d&eacute;ration Internationale de l&rsquo;Automobile, FIA WEC is pleased to confirm that the event is now set to take place from 22-24 October, making it the penultimate round of the 2026 season.&nbsp;

The safety and security of competitors, personnel and fans remain of the utmost importance to QMMF, LIC, the FIA and the FIA WEC organisation, and all parties will continue to monitor developments across the region.

Racing will get underway with the 6 Hours of Imola in Italy&rsquo;s Emilia-Romagna region on 17-19 April. The iconic Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari will similarly host the traditional Prologue group test on Tuesday, 14 April, allowing competitors to settle into the groove and fine-tune their cars in advance of the race weekend.

Dates confirmed for rescheduled Qatar 1812 Km and FIA WEC Prologue

With a few weeks to go before the Genesis GMR-001’s maiden Hypercar race, the team principal of Genesis Magma Racing shares details of the fast-paced programme, the car’s excellent pedigree and the team’s approach to the race – a mixture of hope and humility. They have clearly defined goals: to learn from their experience, to demonstrate reliability and to lay the foundations for the project to develop further and for Genesis to hold its own against the best endurance racing manufacturers.

What is the team&rsquo;s mindset with less than a month to go before the maiden Hypercar race?

&ldquo;We can&rsquo;t wait. Our plan was to be ready within 500 days, from the announcement of the programme to the first race. Everything is going to plan, but we remain humble and realistic. We&rsquo;re eager to see how it turns out. We&rsquo;re looking forward to going into battle with the other manufacturers. We want to gauge our limits as a team, and see what the car can do, what the engine is capable of and where we need to make progress.&rdquo;

Do you feel you&rsquo;ve achieved your objectives concerning the development of the Genesis GMR-001?

&ldquo;Yes. Although we have yet to see how we measure up to the others. Don&rsquo;t forget that Genesis is a young brand, and a newcomer to motorsport. But still, I think we can be proud of our car and our drivers. We managed a lot in a short time.&rdquo;

What do your drivers think of the Genesis GMR-001&rsquo;s potential at this stage in its development?

&ldquo;We had good feedback from the start. The car has a good pedigree. It&rsquo;s sound and well-balanced. There are no unwelcome surprises at the wheel, and it responds well to new settings. It&rsquo;s remarkably well built. Oreca&rsquo;s experience really shows. We&rsquo;ve done a lot of work on the engine. It&rsquo;s powerful, with plenty of torque. Now we&rsquo;re focusing on the software aspect.&rdquo;

Where do you think you rank in the Hypercar class?

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s difficult to say, as we&rsquo;ve only done private tests so far. We have no comparison points. Our first goal, as a new team, is to be reliable and to adhere to regulations. We must be sure to make no mistakes, and hope our whole package is reliable. That said, once we get over the first learning hurdle, there&rsquo;s no reason we should be completely outpaced by our competitors.&rdquo;

What is your goal for your first 24 Hours of Le Mans?

&ldquo;We&rsquo;re aiming for reliability and a mistake-free run. A two-car finish would be out of this world. The postponement of round one, the Qatar 1812 km, means we&rsquo;ll have fewer races under our belt before the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 8 Hours of Imola and the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps will be even more important in our preparation.&rdquo;

Are you prepared to take strategic risks to make an impression at your maiden 24 Hours of Le Mans?

&ldquo;In such a long race, I&rsquo;m not sure you can play poker. We&rsquo;ll be concentrating on the end of the race. Our engineers are experienced. They&rsquo;ll make the right decisions once they&rsquo;ve weighed up the risks involved. They&rsquo;re not afraid to stick out their necks. We saw so last year when we won three European Le Mans Series races with IDEC Sport. Our number one objective is to learn from our experience and to cross the finish line every time.&rdquo;

You&rsquo;re familiar with Formula One and WRC. What motivates you most about this endurance racing challenge?

&ldquo;As a motor racing fan, it&rsquo;s great to try a third discipline. It&rsquo;s a privilege. I&rsquo;m a fan of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and I&rsquo;m happy and proud to be taking a major Korean manufacturer to the start of the world&rsquo;s greatest endurance race. Another challenge I find interesting is the interaction, the rapport between crews. In endurance racing, the sense of unity is important and I&rsquo;m curious to see how it plays out.&rdquo;

What do you think of Jamie Chadwick&rsquo;s progress in endurance&nbsp;racing?

&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s great. We&rsquo;re staying together this season because Jamie is racing in the European Le Mans Series with IDEC Sport as well as being reserve driver for Genesis Magma Racing. I&rsquo;m also demanding, because we want to go further. We want to give her the means to do even better. Potentially, we are looking at including her in the Hypercar line-up. For Jamie, it would be an achievement, but she has to pass a few milestones first. She knows what&rsquo;s expected of her. It&rsquo;s great to witness her progress at the wheel. She recently tested the GMR-001 and she&rsquo;s already at the same level of performance as she ended last season.&rdquo;

The Sound of the GMR-001 Hypercar

Découvrez le son de la Genesis GMR-001 Hypercar

Cyril Abiteboul (Genesis): “A two-car finish would be out of this world”

On the occasion of Le Mans Classic Legend, which will take place from July 2 to 5, 2026 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit, we are pleased to announce the exceptional presence of Gordon Murray, a visionary engineer and an iconic figure in the automotive history.

After starting his career with the Brabham team, Gordon Murray joined McLaren, contributing to the design of world championship-winning singleseaters in the 1980s and 1990s. His name also remains inextricably linked to the legendary McLaren F1, a revolutionary supercar with a central driving position, whose GTR version won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995.

More recently, through Gordon Murray Automotive, he has specialized in the production of limited-edition supercars, GTs, and hypercars, contemporary incarnation of his vision of the automobile.

<h2>An exceptional parade on the grand circuit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans</h2>

The highlight of this celebration will be an exclusive parade featuring several iconic Gordon Murray designs, which will be driven around the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit:

<ul>
	<li>Le Mans GTR (24 copies)</li>
	<li>McLaren F1 (106 copies)</li>
	<li>F1 - Brabham BT42 and McLaren MP4/5B</li>
	<li>T.33 (100 copies)</li>
	<li>T.50 (100 copies)</li>
	<li>T.50s Niki Lauda (25 copies)</li>
</ul>

Throughout the weekend, the cars participating in this parade will be on display in the heart of the village, offering spectators a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in, the world of Gordon Murray.

<h2>Formula 1 on the grand circuit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans</h2>

The Brabham BT42, first Formula 1 car created entirely by Gordon Murray, marked his debut as a designer in the early 1970s. Competing in the 1973 and 1974 seasons, including for other teams than Brabham, it made a total of 27 Grand Prix starts and achieved two podium finishes, but no victories. It was driven by big names such as G&eacute;rard Larrousse, Lella Lombardi and Carlos Reutemann. Although its record remains modest, the BT42 was a founding step in Gordon Murray&#39;s technical evolution, a precursor to the daring single-seaters that would make the engineer famous.

Alongside it, the McLaren MP4/5B embodies McLaren&#39;s golden age at the turning point of the 1990s. Created under the technical direction of Gordon Murray and designed by Neil Oatley, it is the direct evolution of the legendary MP4/5. A key player in the McLaren-Ferrari duel and, above all, in the Senna-Prost rivalry in 1990, it enabled Ayrton Senna to win his second world title at the end of one of the most competitive seasons in Formula 1 history. In terms of figures, the MP4/5B racked up six wins, 12 pole positions and 5 fastest laps across 16 Grand Prix, as well as securing the constructors&#39; title for McLaren.

Information and ticketing: <a href="https://www.lemansclassic.com/en/" target="_blank">https://www.lemansclassic.com/en/</a>

Gordon Murray, an exceptional guest of honor at Le Mans Classic Legend

After headline acts Jean-Louis Aubert and The Libertines on the Wednesday and Thursday, 24 Hours of Le Mans Race Week  (10-14 June) continues with more major artists announced today.

More big names are to take the stage at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year. Rockers Jean-Louis Aubert, then The Libertines give way to pop-electro and the African music scene as the week progresses. Get ready to dance along to some remarkable performances.

<h2>Friday 12 June:</h2>

From 20:00: Robin Schulz

His pop-electro remixes have earned German musician Robin Schulz international recognition. Thanks to his first hit single, a remix of Waves by Dutch hip-hop artist Mr.Probz, and the follow-up remix of Prayer in C by Lilly Wood and the Prick, he is the most exported German artist of the last decade. With over 20 million albums sold, 8 billion streams and hits in 92 countries, he ranks among the world&rsquo;s most listened-to artists. Having played at huge festivals such as Tomorrowland and the Ultra Music Festival, Schulz is ready to bring his spectacular electro show to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

<h2>Saturday 13 June:</h2>

From 20:00: Magic System

Magic System have been filling the world&rsquo;s dance floors for over 25 years. Their first big hit Premier Gaou introduced the French-speaking public to the Ivorian group of friends. A symbol of the cultural ties between the Ivory Coast and France, Magic System are known for their high-energy performances and positive messages. The year 2024 was an exceptional one for the group when the single Magic in the Air was certified triple diamond in France. This year&rsquo;s jubilant tour is an opportunity to perform old favourites and new tracks. Expect a festive show that communicates togetherness, joy and unity.

From 22:00: Mosimann

A key figure on the European electro scene, Mosimann embodies a generation of multi-talented artists. A DJ, producer, singer and performer, he blends house, melodic techno and electronic pop in powerful, immersive sets. Ranked six times among the world&#39;s top 100 DJs, he performs at the most renowned clubs and festivals, transforming each set into a true live performance. His presence at the 24 Hours of Le Mans promises an electrifying finale to close out Saturday night.

<h2>A week of outstanding performances !</h2>

The 24 Hours of Le Mans Race Week concert bill comprises five headline concerts, scheduled from Wednesday to Saturday. First up, Jean-Louis Aubert, on Wednesday 10 June, followed by the raw, romantic energy of The Libertines on Thursday 11. Robin Schulz is preparing a spectacular electro show for Friday 12. On Race Day, Ivorian group Magic System will have spectators dancing to their exuberant hits before Mosimann takes the stage for an electrifying culmination to the evening. Four gigs, five different styles make up an eclectic, international billing for the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Ready to see the competitors in action? Then book one of the last few Wednesday/Thursday practice and qualifying tickets now to enjoy grandstand viewing, spectator zones and trackside entertainment. Join us on Wednesday for a laidback experience. Smaller crowds means better views, fewer queues and more time to take in everything on offer at the circuit.&nbsp;Get into the Le Mans spirit before the race starts! 
 
Head to&nbsp;<a href="https://ticket.24h-lemans.com">https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/tickets&nbsp;</a>for tickets, from just &euro;23!&nbsp; 
 
For the optimum race experience, book an all-inclusive package with hospitality facility access and an unrivalled view of the track. What can you expect? Excellent quality of service, tasty food and exclusive activities managed by a dedicated team. See <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/hospitality/vip">https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/hospitality/vip</a> for full terms and conditions. 
 
*Price per person for a student or disabled persons ticket on Wednesday (proof of status required). Valid on Tuesday 9 June (14:00&ndash;22:00) and Wednesday 10 June 2026 (09:00&ndash;midnight). Free to under-16s (born after 14 June 2010) accompanied by a paying adult.

Robin Schulz, Magic System and Mosimann complete the XXL line-up for the 94th edition of t

24 Heures du Mans 1971

Eddie Hertzberger became the first Dutch driver to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1935 with his own team in an&nbsp;MG (retired), and it wasn&#39;t until&nbsp;1971 that a Dutch competitor claimed a podium finish. Gijs van Lennep clinched the victory with Helmut Marko in a Porsche 917K by setting the distance&nbsp;record unbeaten until&nbsp;2010. The Dutch driver won once again in 1976 after having finished second in 1974. Jan Lammers is the only fellow countryman of Gijs van Lennep to reach the top step on the&nbsp;podium at Le Mans, in 1988.

Photo (Copryight - Archives/ACO): The #22&nbsp;Porsche 917K that allowed&nbsp;Gijs van Lennep and&nbsp;Helmut Marko to win at the 1971&nbsp;24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans.

24H LE MANS

Today's Photo Story - Gijs van Lennep wins the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans

Related News

Dates confirmed for rescheduled Qatar 1812 Km and FIA WEC Prologue

Cyril Abiteboul (Genesis): “A two-car finish would be out of this world”

Gordon Murray, an exceptional guest of honor at Le Mans Classic Legend

Robin Schulz, Magic System and Mosimann complete the XXL line-up for the 94th edition of t

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