On December 4, 1259 the Treaty of Paris (also known as the Treaty of Albeville) was signed by Louis IX of France and Henry III of England, effectively ending the conflict born of the marriage between Aliénor of Aquitaine and Henri II Plantagenêt. On June 11, 1972 Henri Pescarolo and Graham Hill  in the #15 Matra won the very first victory of a French-English duo at the 24 Hours.

24H Le Mans

Le Mans Legendes

24 Heures du Mans

Historique

Last year’s winners Inter Europol Competition not only held on to their LMP2 crown, they took the first two places in the highly competitive class with the #43 and #343 Oreca 07-Gibsons. The performance deserves to be underlined.

Inter Europol Competition packed a mighty punch in this year&rsquo;s hard-fought 24 Hours of Le Mans. Their #43 Oreca 07-Gibson in the hands of Jakub Śmiechowski, Tom Dillmann and Nick Yelloly triumphed in the LMP2 class followed by the #343 sister car driven by Bijoy Garg, Reshad De Gerus and Nico M&uuml;ller. The historic one-two sweep is the culmination of the Warsaw-based team&rsquo;s domination of this class, built up gradually, patiently, and painstakingly in the last few years.

<h2>Inter Europol Competition enters a new dimension</h2>

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is often compared to climbing Everest. Reaching the top once is a feat. Returning to the summit monumental. This milestone result puts Inter Europol Competition in a different class altogether.

The Polish team have established an enviable record in LMP2: three victories, two second places and five podiums in the past four years at Le Mans. More impressive still, they have not done worse than second in recent years. 
Demonstrating such consistency in the most demanding race in world endurance racing cannot be put down to luck. Behind the drivers, dozens of engineers, mechanics and tacticians have been working for months, preparing every little detail. Speed is essential at Le Mans, but it&rsquo;s not enough. You have to hold up through the night, deal with the unexpected, cope with tiredness and the constant pressure of your opponents. The 2026 race was no exception to the rule.

<h2>Triumph over tribulation</h2>

The final result gives the impression of total domination, but the race was far from run in advance. Jakub Śmiechowski: &quot;To be honest, this was one of the most difficult Le Mans races I&#39;ve experienced in recent years. I don&#39;t remember having so many issues during a race, but somehow this year luck was on our side and we managed to recover every time. We knew we had one of the fastest cars in the field, so once we got to the front I wasn&#39;t surprised that we were able to build a gap. Nick and Tom did a fantastic job as always, but I feel like today was something really exceptional from everyone involved.&quot;

The Polish driver knew his team had a major asset: a car among the fastest on the grid. The crew of the #43 gradually built on their lead thanks to faultless driving.

Tom Dillmann, winner last year with the same team, played a decisive role in the closing stages, fending off attacks from Duqueine Team and Forestier Racing by Panis. But the Frenchman and Nick Yelloly held out until the end.&ldquo;A few hours before the finish, Nick and I decided to to mount all the kerbs, to go all-out. We had to respond. It was either win or retire, and it we got the win,&rdquo; says Tom Dillmann.

This victory is particularly special for Dilmann. The French driver lost his father in September. &ldquo;I wore my father&rsquo;s yellow colours on my helmet, as a tribute to him. I&rsquo;m very proud to have won the greatest race ever with his colours.&rdquo;

<h2>The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the scene of historic feats</h2>

Aside from the championship points, this result reveals what sets the 24 Hours of Le Mans apart. Behind every trophy there&rsquo;s a story of people, the risks they take, and the depth of feeling you just don&rsquo;t get elsewhere.

Nick Yelloly sums it up. &quot;[We had] the same team, the same line-up as last year. To do it back to back is pretty special, it&rsquo;s something I&rsquo;ll remember for the rest of my life.&rdquo;

The <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/ford-reveals-the-names-of-the-2027-hypercar-driver-crews-60778">future Ford Hypercar driver</a> was full of praise for his teammate. &ldquo;In my opinion, Tom Dillman was the man of today. He was absolutely flying and I was more than happy to leave him in at the end of the race and let him do his business.&rdquo;

The #343 crew added to the joy by bringing Inter Europol Competition their first one-two in LMP2. A collective reward for the outfit managed by Wojciech Śmiechowski.

At Le Mans, some victories mark a race. Other mark a whole era. Inter Europol Competition&rsquo;s one-two falls in the second category. The Polish team has just written a chapter in the annals of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans: a historic one-two finish in LMP2 for Inter Europol Competition

No sooner has the chequered flag signalled the end of one running of the race that the next begins to take shape. Save the date for the 95th 24 Hours of Le Mans, fifth round of the 2027 FIA ​​World Endurance Championship (WEC)!

After a race week and main event packed with endless thrills and sensational performances, all eyes are now turned&nbsp;to next year. The Automobile Club de l&rsquo;Ouest (ACO) has announced the 95th 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place on 9-13 June!

The region will once again become the centre&nbsp;of the endurance racing world: a&nbsp;place where generations come together and&nbsp;legends are forged.

<h2>A 94th running&nbsp;etched in memory</h2>

This year&#39;s running&nbsp;served as a reminder of why the 24 Hours of Le Mans holds a such a special&nbsp;place in global motorsport.

A staggering&nbsp;350,105 spectators witnessed the battle for victory carry out until the final moments of the race. After&nbsp;24 hours of nonstop intensity, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/toyota-take-its-sixth-victory-at-le-mans-60812" target="_blank">#7 Toyota TR010 HYBRID driven by&nbsp;Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and&nbsp;Nyck de Vries claimed the top step on the overall podiium</a>, giving the Japanese carmaker a remarkable sixth win.

The final time gap&nbsp;speaks to the gruelling nature of the race: a mere 10.621 seconds separated the winners from their immediate pursuers!&nbsp;

<h2>2027 24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans: experiencing the dawn&nbsp;of a new era together</h2>

The journey&nbsp;to the 95th running of the race has already begun. The 2027 24 Hours will serve as the fifth round of next year&#39;s&nbsp;WEC season. The Hypercar category&nbsp;already promises an exceptional field, with the confirmed participation of Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Ford, Genesis, McLaren, Peugeot&nbsp;and Toyota!

Legendary manufacturers, historic rivalries&nbsp;and a single ambition: to add&nbsp;their names to the legend of Le Mans.&nbsp;For the teams, preparation is already underway, and for the fans, the countdown is on.

<h2>More than just a race: an experience to be lived</h2>

This iconic race&nbsp;is about more than just the start on a Saturday afternoon or the waving of the chequered flag&nbsp;on Sunday.

It&#39;s&nbsp;the goosebumps during&nbsp;the opening laps, the magic of the night&nbsp;and the emotion you feel as the sun rises over the circuit. It&#39;s about sharing unique moments with friends, family&nbsp;and&nbsp;fellow enthusiasts from the far corners of the world. Every running&nbsp;is different and every one leaves a lifelong&nbsp;impression.

From 9-13 June&nbsp;2027, the 95th 24 Hours of Le Mans will write a new chapter in a story that began in 1923 &mdash; a story that belongs as much to those who bring it to life on the track as to those who experience it from the grandstands, campgrounds,&nbsp;trackside and from home all across the globe.

Don&#39;t miss a moment on the road to the 95th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans! <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/custom/newsletter" target="_blank">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> and be the first to receive all the latest news, announcements and essential information about the event.

&nbsp;

24 Heures du Mans 2026 - OFFICIAL AFTERMOVIE

L'aftermovie officiel des 24 Heures du Mans 2026

95th 24 Hours of Le Mans – See you on 9-13 June 2027!

Statistics tell a story. Behind the numbers – 350,105 spectators, 48 leader changes, 5,190 kilometres – there’s a tale of of human interaction, a global event. Once again the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans was the scene of an extravaganza of speed, endurance and heartfelt emotion. Let’s take a look at the stand-out figures from last weekend’s race that demonstrate the intensity of the world’s greatest endurance event.

<h2>350,105 spectators &ndash; Enjoy the experience together</h2>

Attendance at the circuit increased yet again with 350,105 people in the grounds. Le Mans is more than a race, it&rsquo;s an all-encompassing event.

In the grandstands, on the viewing banks, in the campsites and fan zones, several generations shared in the fun. Le Mans draws people from all over the world, gathered for the same week-long event.

<h2>6 victories &ndash; Stamp your hallmark on the race</h2>

Thanks to the #7 Toyota TR010 Hybrid&rsquo;s star performance, Toyota scores a sixth win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, equalling Bentley, and confirming the manufacturer as one of the makes to beat when it comes to the French classic.

Drivers Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi celebrate their second win, the first being in 2021. The third crew member, Nyck de Vries joins the select club of 24 Hours of Le Mans winners, the third Dutchman to do so, Gijs van Lennep and Jan Lammers having shown the way.

<h2>10.621 seconds &ndash; Keep the pressure on until the end</h2>

A trifling 10.621 seconds separated the winning car from the second-placed #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 &ndash; BMW M Team WRT. 
Amazing, after 24 Hours and over 5,000 kilometres. It&rsquo;s the fourth smallest gap in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and glaring proof of the fierce competition in the Hypercar class.

<h2>5190.33 kilometres &ndash; Cover the distance</h2>

On the way to victory, the #7 Toyota TR010 Hybrid covered a distance of 5,190.33 kilometres at an average speed of 215.8 kph. The distance equates to 381 laps. The distance record is held by the 2010 winning Audi R15+ TDi which spanned 5,410.713 kilometres.

<h2>3:25.041 &ndash; Set the pace</h2>

The fastest lap in the 94th race was recorded by Ryō Hirakawa in the #8 Toyota TR010 Hybrid. The car&rsquo;s 306th lap was completed in 3:25.041, which is 1.022 seconds faster than last year&rsquo;s best mark, and shows that the Hypercars are still improving. As the years go by, the field has grown and become more and more competitive, encouraging manufacturers to keep refining their cars and their strategy.

<h2>48 leader changes &ndash; Persevere</h2>

This was Le Mans as we like it &ndash; an ongoing wrangle for the top spot.

The #12 Cadillac V-Series.R held on to the lead for 128 laps, longer than the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 (79 laps) and the #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid (74 laps). The winning car, the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid crept up stealthily, and headed the pack for 44 laps. In this race, it&rsquo;s not always the car that leads for the longest that wins, it&rsquo;s the car in front when the clock strikes 16:00.

The other classes were equally eventful: 52 leader changes in LMP2 and 48 in LMGT3.

<h2>351.8 kph &ndash; Push boundaries</h2>

The top speed of the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans was hit in the ninth lap. Earl Bamber clocked 351.8 kph in the #38Cadillac V-Series.R on the Mulsanne Straight.

In the other classes, the bar was high too:

<ul>
	<li>LMP2: the TDS Racing #14 Oreca 07-Gibson hit 326.5 kph</li>
	<li>LMGT3: 304.5 kph for #79 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 of Iron Lynx.</li>
</ul>

This data is a reminder that Le Mans is one of the most demanding and fastest development platforms in world motorsport.

<h2>35 victories &ndash; make history</h2>

Thanks to the #7 Toyota TR010 Hybrid, Michelin scores a 35th win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Better still, the French manufacturer boasts its 29th victory in a row. The win takes Michelin ahead of Dunlop in the 24 Hours of Le Mans tyre manufacturer charts.

<h2>13 retirements &ndash; Stay the course</h2>

Only 13 of the 62 starters failed to cross the finish line. This statistic reveals the exceptional reliability achieved by modern-day constructors and race teams. Yet, even in this high-tech era, Le Mans continues to be a test of time and reaching the chequered flag is a triumph in itself.

<h2>An edition in keeping with the legend</h2>

From the packed grandstands to the strategic onslaughts, the 94th 24 Hours Of Le Mans once again show why this race is unique.

Statistics reflect performance. Images evoke emotion. Together, they form a motto: for the space of 24 Hours, Le Mans is where the impossible becomes possible.

The 95t 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place from 10&ndash;13 June. McLaren and Ford will be joining the Hypercar class alongside Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Toyota and Genesis. The race will be the fifth on the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship calendar. In the meantime, watch the highlights of this year&rsquo;s race below.

24 Heures du Mans 2026 - RACE HIGHLIGHTS

Les faits de course marquants de la 94e édition des 24 Heures du Mans

The key figures of the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans

Toyota executed a perfect, textbook strategy throughout the 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans to claim its first victory since 2022, securing a sixth overall triumph and equalling the tally of British marque Bentley.

To spectacular fanfare, Japanese powerhouse Toyota Racing lifted the iconic trophy at a sun-kissed Circuit de la Sarthe for the first time in four years, in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators at the venue and millions more watching around the world. Drivers Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck de Vries and Mike Conway emerged as the team to beat at the end of the race, guiding the #7 Toyota to victory ahead of the sister #8 Toyota Racing entry, the #20 BMW M Team WRT and the #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA machine in an epic four-way battle to the chequered flag &ndash; underlining the &quot;Platinum Era&quot; status that the Hypercar category is building.

For Kobayashi, it was a second Le Mans victory. It marked a second triumph for British star Mike Conway and, for the first time in 38 years, a historic win for the Netherlands as Nyck de Vries became the latest Dutch driver to conquer Le Mans.

It looked set to be another Toyota one-two, but BMW&#39;s never-say-die attitude ensured that the FIA World Endurance Championship points leaders &ndash; the #20 crew of Robin Frijns, Ren&eacute; Rast and Sheldon van der Linde &ndash; claimed second overall and a valuable haul of championship points.

Toyota could still be delighted with third place, although a few costly mistakes and strategy calls denied the #8 Toyota of S&eacute;bastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa another victory.

Meanwhile, Cadillac can take plenty of plaudits once again. A crowd favourite throughout the week, the #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA crew gave everything in pursuit of victory, and the pace they demonstrated at Le Mans suggests they will remain contenders for years to come.

<h2>Inter Europol Competiton&nbsp;lock-out LMP2&nbsp;</h2>

It was a grandstand finish in LMP2 as Inter Europol Competition worked well overnight to bring both cars into the rostrum contention, but a second day charge from Forestier Racing by Panis had everyone on the edge of their seats, but after 24 hours of racing the Polish #43 ORECA with pilots Jakub Smiechowski, Tom Dillmann and Nicholas Yelloly win the penultimate race at Le Mans for this specification LMP2 car!

<h2>Corvette charge back to the top!</h2>

Corvette capture the magic of Le Mans once again with iconic yellow #33 Corvette run by TF Sport took LMGT3 laurels with Ben Keating, Jonny Edgar, Nicky Catsburg taking a popular leap onto the top step of the podium. Akkodis ASP Team put Lexus on the podium for the first time at Le Mans with the #78 car second and the #23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin joins in the celebrations in third.

Top 5 Results - 24 Hours of Le Mans:

Toyota TR010 Hybrid #7 Toyota Gazoo Racing &ndash; Mike Conway / Kamui Kobayashi / Nyck de Vries &ndash; 381&nbsp;Laps 
BMW M Hybrid V8 #20 BMW M Team WRT &ndash; Robin Frijns / Rene Rast / Sheldon van der Linde &ndash; + 10.913 
Toyota TR010 Hybrid #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing &ndash; S&eacute;bastien Buemi / Brendon Hartley / Ryo Hirakawa &ndash; + 20.417 
Cadillac V-Series.R #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA &ndash; Louis Del&eacute;traz / Will Stevens / Norman Nato &ndash; +32.381 
Ferrari 499P #51 Ferrari-AF Corse &ndash; Alessandro Pier Guidi / James Calado / Antonio Giovinazzi &ndash; +2:22.423

Category Winners:

<ul>
	<li>LMP2: Oreca 07-Gibson #43 Inter Europol Competition &ndash; Jakub Smiechowski / Tom Dillmann / Nicholas Yelloly - 361 Laps</li>
	<li>LMGT3: Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R #33 TF Sport &ndash; Ben Keating / Jonny Edgar / Nicky Catsburg &ndash; 336&nbsp;laps</li>
</ul>

Fastest Lap: Rio Hirakawa (Toyota TR010 &ndash; Hybrid #8 Toyota Racing) &ndash; 3:25.041 - Lap 306

Retirements:

<ul>
	<li>Oreca 07-Gibson #30 Duqueine Team &ndash; Doriane Pin / Julien Andlauer / Richard Verschoor</li>
	<li>Ferrari 499P #50 Ferrari-AF Corse &ndash; Antonio Fuoco / Nicklas Nielsen / Miguel Molina</li>
	<li>Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 #91 Manthey DK Engineering &ndash; James Cottingham / Timur Boguslavskiy / Ayhancan G&uuml;ven</li>
	<li>Genesis GMR-001-Hypercar #17 Genesis Magma Racing &ndash; Andr&eacute; Lotterer / Luis Felipe Derani / Mathys Jaubert</li>
	<li>Ford Mustang LMGT3 #77 Proton Competition &ndash;&nbsp; Eric Powell / Ben Tuck / Sebastian Priaulx</li>
	<li>Cadillac V-Series.R #38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA &ndash; S&eacute;bastien Bourdais / Earl Bamber / Jack Aitken</li>
	<li>Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 #79 Iron Lynx &ndash; Johannes Zelger / Matteo Cressoni / Lin Hodenius</li>
	<li>Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo #54 Vista AF Corse &ndash; Thomas Flohr / Francesco Castellacci / Davide Rigon</li>
	<li>Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 #61 Iron Lynx (Martin Berry / Rui Andrade / Maxime Martin</li>
	<li>Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R #13 Thirteen Autosport &ndash; Orey Fidani / Lars Kern / Matthew Bell</li>
</ul>

<h2>Here&#39;s how the race unfolded coming into the final hour&hellip;</h2>

After trips around the clock, the relentless competition around the Circuit de la Sarthe, for the 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has delivered everything endurance racing promises, fierce battles, strategic gambles, crushing heartbreak and a fight for outright victory that remained tantalisingly close until the final phase.

From the moment the tricolour dropped on Saturday afternoon, the race refused to settle.

Toyota initially showed its hand, taking control during the opening exchanges as the battle at the front intensified. Its early pit stop gamble in limited traffic enabled them to climb up the order. Ferrari, who were chasing an unprecedented fourth consecutive Le Mans victory, remained in outside contention, while BMW&#39;s pole-sitting challenge looked every bit as potent as expected. Cadillac, meanwhile, quietly lurked within striking distance.

By nightfall, three manufacturers were locked together in a captivating Hypercar contest.

As darkness enveloped Le Mans, Cadillac began to emerge as a genuine threat. The #12 and #38 Hertz Team JOTA Cadillac V-Series.Rs steadily worked its way to the head of the field as Ferrari&#39;s challenge faltered. The Prancing Horse&#39;s hopes suffered a series of setbacks, allowing the gold-liveried American machine to seize the initiative. Behind it, BMW and Toyota remained firmly in touch, refusing to let the leaders escape.

Dawn brought fresh drama.

While the #12 Cadillac strengthened its grip on the race through the early morning hours thanks to assured performances from Norman Nato, Will Stevens and Louis Del&eacute;traz, the sister #38 entry suffered heartbreak. Running at the sharp end with S&eacute;bastien Bourdais aboard, the Cadillac was forced into the garage with mechanical problems. Although it briefly returned to the circuit, its challenge had effectively ended before the car was eventually retired with persistent power steering issues.

Toyota, however, refused to surrender.

A Full Course Yellow transformed the complexion of the race. The leading #12 Cadillac was caught out by Full Course Yellow speed restrictions, forcing an unscheduled extra stop to fulfil a Drive Through Penalty and wiping away its advantage. Suddenly, the fight for victory widened once more.

BMW&#39;s #20 M Hybrid V8 surged into contention, while Toyota&#39;s pair of TR010 Hybrids mounted an inspired comeback. Brendon Hartley attacked relentlessly in the #8, passing the Cadillac before concerns over the car&#39;s front-left corner delayed its progress. That opened the door for the sister #7 machine, with Kamui Kobayashi launching a trademark charge to the front.

Within laps of a later Safety Car restart, Kobayashi had erased the deficit and attached himself to the rear of the leading Cadillac, setting the fastest lap as he hunted down the leaders.

BMW remained equally dangerous. Robin Frijns briefly escaped at the front before a gravel excursion entering the pits compromised the German manufacturer&#39;s momentum. Even so, the pace of the #20 ensured it remained firmly in the hunt.

As the race entered its final four hours, just 10 seconds separated the leading quartet.

Elsewhere, Le Mans delivered its customary share of heartbreak.

Genesis Magma Racing&#39;s impressive debut suffered a major blow when the #17 stopped with suspension failure at Tertre Rouge after already overcoming difficulties with the sister #19. Ferrari&#39;s race unravelled further when the #50 Ferrari AF Corse 499P ground to a halt with electrical issues, leaving the Italian marque relying on the #51 factory car and the resurgent #83 AF Corse entry to salvage a result.

Alpine&#39;s hopes of a dream home triumph faded as rising temperatures exposed the limitations of the A424&#39;s pace, while Aston Martin Thor Team continued its quiet run towards a top-10 finish with the Valkyrie.

Into the final four hours, Toyota had cycled to the front and when the opportunity was right - it turned on the afterburners to bring both cars into one, two. However, the last hour&hellip; BMW was not going down without a fight.

<h2>In LMP2...</h2>

Duqueine appeared set for victory before a costly trip through the gravel slashed its advantage. As the clock hit four hours remaining, disaster bestowed the LMP2 leaders. Heartbreak as the black and green machine was parked on the side of the road with suspected broken suspension. Inter Europol Competition&#39;s pair of ORECAs closed rapidly, setting up a thrilling conclusion in the prototype category. In the final two hours, the fastest crew in the Hyperpole #29 Forestier Racing by Panis wasn&rsquo;t going to make it easy for the Polish cars with Esteban Masson on a mission. Splitting the yellow cars - the Frenchman had eyes on victory.

<h2>LMGT3 proved no less dramatic.</h2>

TF Sport&#39;s #33 Corvette fought its way to the head of the class after a superb overnight performance, but a late Safety Car intervention following Ayhancan G&uuml;ven&#39;s heavy accident in the #91 Manthey Porsche at sunrise compressed the field once again. With the Aston Martin and Lexus squads were still within striking distance, the battle for GT honours remained finely poised.

TOYOTA TAKE ITS SIXTH VICTORY AT LE MANS

24 Heures du Mans 1972

Though more French and British drivers have won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans than any other nationality,&nbsp;it wouldn&#39;t be until the 40th edition for a French-English duo to win, and in 1985&nbsp;the&nbsp;duos were changed to trios&hellip;

Photo (Copyright - Archives/ACO): The #15&nbsp;Matra Simca MS670 driven by&nbsp;Graham Hill and&nbsp;Henri Pescarolo.

Today's Photo Story - The first French-English duo to win at Le Mans, in 1972

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95th 24 Hours of Le Mans – See you on 9-13 June 2027!

The key figures of the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans

TOYOTA TAKE ITS SIXTH VICTORY AT LE MANS

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