On December 17, 1903, Orville Wright made the first-successful flight in the Flyer, an airplane designed with his brother Wilbur, in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Five years later, Wilbur accepted Léon Bollée's invitation and flew publicly near what is today the famous Mulsanne straight on August 8, 1908.

24H Le Mans

Le Mans Legendes

24 Heures du Mans

Historique

Winner 27 years ago, BMW returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans podium last Sunday. The second place for the BMW M Team WRT #20 confirms that the Munich-based carmaker is well and truly back at the top of endurance racing.

<p>It was almost an even more spectacular comeback: having taken the lead several times, the <strong>#20 BMW M Hybrid V8</strong> was a credible candidate for victory. At the finish, the car was a mere 10.9 seconds behind the winning Toyota. In the hands of drivers Robin Frijns, Ren&eacute; Rast and Sheldon van der Linde, BMW take their first overall podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since the <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-of-le-mans-bmws-astonishing-1999-v12-lmr-56547" target="_blank"><u><strong>BMW V12 LMR</strong></u></a> won the 1999 race.</p>

<h2>79 laps in the lead</h2>

<p>For BMW M Team WRT, the 94th 24 Hours Of Le Mans was special even before the race start. The #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 claimed <strong>BMW&rsquo;s first Le Mans Hyperpole&nbsp;in the Hypercar era</strong>, sending a clear message to their opponents and confirming their progress since rejoining the &eacute;lite of endurance racing.</p>

<p>In the race, the #20 BMW was quick to deliver on the promise. Solid traffic management and excellent performance in all track conditions enabled BMW M Team WRT to figure among the front-runners and to take the lead several times.<br />
With six hours left on the clock, a safety car intervention regrouped the leaders, causing a scrabble for position. The final sprint lived up to expectations. Despite remarkable resistance, the <strong>BMW had to be content with second place</strong>.</p>

<p>Head of BMW M Motorsport, <strong>Andreas Roos</strong>, was delighted: <strong>&ldquo;What a magnificent and historic result! Pole position and second place on the podium &ndash; incredible! We have worked for years to be successful at Le Mans again, and now we have reaped the reward with second place.&rdquo;</strong></p>

<h2>A clean run</h2>

<p>Aside from the points it earns the team, the result illustrates how far BMW&rsquo;s Hypercar programme has come. In a class where every detail is important, BMW M Team WRT delivered an exemplary performance.</p>

<p>Vincent Vosse, Team Principal, BMW M Team WRT: <em><strong>&ldquo;That was one of the strongest races we have ever had as a team with the BMW M Hybrid V8. Absolutely flawless. No penalties, no bad pit stops &ndash; nothing. We are one unit, we are making progress, and we deserved this podium.&quot;</strong></em></p>

<p>Proficient from start to finish, BMW gave the crowd an impressive show of fighting spirit right to the end.</p>

<p>Within the crew of the #20, emotions ran high, matching their performance. Finishing in the top three at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a rare accomplishment. But coming so close to victory can be frustrating.</p>

<p><strong>Robin Frijns</strong>: <em><strong>&ldquo;I honestly don&rsquo;t quite know what to say yet. Second place at Le Mans is a fantastic achievement, but seeing the victory so close does hurt a bit. We led for long stretches of the race, but in the end, second place was the maximum we could achieve after the safety car.&rdquo;</strong></em></p>

<p><strong>Ren&eacute; Rast</strong> felt the same: <em><strong>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a bittersweet podium. On the one hand, it&rsquo;s a great achievement to be on the podium at Le Mans. The team and we as drivers did everything right, I would say. But unfortunately, Le Mans didn&rsquo;t choose us as winners this time.&rdquo;</strong></em></p>

<p><strong>Sheldon van der Linde</strong> summed up the overall feeling: <em><strong>&quot;At first, I don&rsquo;t really know whether to laugh or cry. When you finish just ten seconds behind the winner after 24 hours, it&rsquo;s not easy to accept at first. But if we look at the past two years and see the huge progress we&rsquo;ve made, we can be very proud.&quot;</strong></em></p>

<p>As runners-up, BMW leave Le Mans certain of having reached a milestone. 27 years on from its last podium place in the overall ranking, the German marque is well and truly back among the major players in endurance racing.</p>

<p>At Le Mans, a result can be much more than a line on a timesheet. Behind this one is a tale of perseverance and meticulous preparation to climb back to the top. BMW&rsquo;s second place is a reminder of why we love the 24 Hours of Le Mans so much: because it always makes for an enthralling story.</p>

10 Seconds From Glory: BMW M Motorsport at Le Mans

24 Heures du Mans 2026 : BMW M Team WRT à dix secondes de la gloire

27 years on, BMW returns to the 24 Hours of Le Mans podium

A night spent at Tertre Rouge. A sunrise watched from the Ferris wheel. The roar of a V12 engine approaching in the darkness. A long-awaited victory. Days after the finish of the 94th 24 Hours, personal highlights continue to play back in the minds of fans who were there. We asked them which one moment they would most love to relive. Their answers reveal the magic of Le Mans better than any race results ever could.

<p>Before you read on, here&rsquo;s a tip: put on &quot;Tropic&quot; by SebastiAn. That particular song&nbsp;&mdash; which echoes through the circuit&rsquo;s speakers during the formation lap &mdash; holds a strange power,&nbsp;the ability to transport you&nbsp;instantly back to Le Mans.</p>

<p>The 94th running of the race&nbsp;delivered its fair share of thrills, dramatic twists&nbsp;and moments that seemed to make time stand still.&nbsp;While the&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/fr/actualites/toyota-racing-remporte-les-24-heures-du-mans-2026-60813https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/toyota-take-its-sixth-victory-at-le-mans-60812" target="_blank">win clinched by Toyota Racing&#39;s #7&nbsp;Toyota TR010 Hybrid</a></strong>, the stunning face-offs&nbsp;and the heroic driver performances leave lasting impressions, the most cherished memories are often created off the track and make you keep coming back for more.</p>

<h2>after night falls</h2>

<p>For many spectators, especially those experiencing their first&nbsp;24 Hours in person, the most vivid memory begins when the sun disappears behind the grandstands.</p>

<p>As night falls, the circuit takes on&nbsp;a new&nbsp;atmosphere. Headlights pierce the darkness, braking maneuvers turn into red-hot flashes&nbsp;and every overtaking&nbsp;by the Hypercars, LMP2s&nbsp;and LMGT3s feels even more intense. Whether at Tertre Rouge, along the pit straight&nbsp;or atop the Ferris wheel, fans have enjoyed moments they still struggle to put into words.</p>

<p>After dark on&nbsp;Saturday, a massive fireworks display blanketed&nbsp;the circuit. Drones traced laser-precision&nbsp;shapes in the sky. Cars sped passed spectators in a blur of light and colour.</p>

<p>Everyone speaks of how special the &quot;night&quot; is at Le Mans. As if that single word were enough to sum up the experience!</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>a sunrise like none other</h2>

<p>Every running of the 24 Hours&nbsp;has its own identifiable and iconic images. The sunrise is definitely included in the highlight reel this year.&nbsp;Some watched it from the Ferris wheel, others&nbsp;from the spectator mounds. All described the same sensation: it was like witnessing a moment suspended in time.</p>

<p>At Le Mans, the sunrise&nbsp;is a transformative experience, an emotion shared by thousands who start to&nbsp;understand why this event holds such a special place in the hearts of so many racing enthusiasts.</p>

<h2>nail-biter battles</h2>

<p>This year, the&nbsp;duels between&nbsp;Toyota Racing, BMW M Team WRT and&nbsp;Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA took centre stage at the race. So much was still up in the air&nbsp;right up to the final moments as fans were kept on the edge of their seats watching leader changes,&nbsp;divergent pit stop strategies&nbsp;and gaps that seemed&nbsp;they would never widen.</p>

<p>When Toyota Racing finally returned to the top step of the podium after a few years of attempts to reclaim the trophy, the emotion was palpable in the grandstands and on social media alike.&nbsp;Winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the result of thousands of kilometres covered, split-second decisions&nbsp;and a collective commitment across&nbsp;an entire year.</p>

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<h2>soul-penetrating engine roars</h2>

<p>The roar of the V12 engines powering&nbsp;Aston Martin THOR Team&#39;s&nbsp;Aston Martin Valkyries made an everlasting&nbsp;impression on the crowd throughout race&nbsp;week. Also, the sound of the Cadillac V-Series.R cars&nbsp;fielded by&nbsp;Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA and Cadillac WTR was&nbsp;frequently cited as one of the most exciting things at&nbsp;the 2026&nbsp;24 Hours.</p>

<p>Regulars know it. Newcomers quickly learn&nbsp;it. Le Mans is not just something you&nbsp;watch. It&#39;s an experience that engages all your&nbsp;senses. A racing&nbsp;car approaching in the night. The vibrations felt behind the guardrail. The echo of engines in the grandstands. The sounds&nbsp;remain etched in your mind&nbsp;long after returning home.</p>

<h2>The most precious memories are not always created on the track</h2>

<p>Amidst the sporting&nbsp;feats and sensational&nbsp;outcomes,&nbsp;another emotion consistently recurs in spectator&nbsp;accounts: a sense of sharing.</p>

<p>Sharing your first 24 Hours of Le Mans&nbsp;weekend or race week with your partner. Introducing your son to the&nbsp;free practice and qualifying sessions. Watching the race while sitting on the grass with friends. Riding the Ferris wheel with your&nbsp;family as the cars sprint&nbsp;on below. These moments don&rsquo;t appear in any race standings. Yet, they are often the first memories that come to mind long after&nbsp;the chequered flag is waved.</p>

<p>With a few days in the rearview after this year&#39;s 24 Hours, one certainty remains: everyone would gladly go back to experience a sunrise, a battle for victory, a night at Tertre Rouge&nbsp;or simply a moment shared trackside with loved ones.</p>

<p>And that is undoubtedly the finest sign that the magic of Le Mans has worked its spell once again.</p>

24 Heures du Mans 2026 - OFFICIAL AFTERMOVIE

L'aftermovie officiel des 24 Heures du Mans 2026

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans – Fan-favourite moments

Genesis Magma Racing achieved a feat at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by finishing one of the world’s most gruelling motorsport races. Not only did one of their Hypercars reach the chequered flag, the team was among the leaders for several hours, amassing precious data for the pursuit of the South Korean manufacturer’s campaign.

<p>This d&eacute;but was more than an appearance, it was a declaration of intent. As <strong>the first South Korean car manufacturer to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans</strong>, and the first to reach the finish, Genesis has already made its mark, and attracted attention in the pit lane.</p>

<p><strong>Genesis Magma Racing</strong> came to Le Mans with all the humility that is de rigeur when joining a field seasoned competitors, ready to learn, and also with the intention of racing towards their destiny. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/2026-24-hours-of-le-mans-the-low-down-on-the-genesis-magma-racing-hypercar-60714" target="_blank"><u><strong>GMR-001-Hypercar</strong></u></a>. had completed only three races before Le Mans. Yet from the beginning of the week, both cars showed that they hadn&rsquo;t come to be bystanders. They claimed <strong>P6 and P9 on the starting grid</strong>, confirming the potential that many had already sensed was there.</p>

<h2>Uncovering potential</h2>

<p>Motivated by a competitive spirit, Genesis Magma Racing could have been tempted to aim for the top straightaway. Instead, they opted for patience. Mastery. Rather than a quick win, <strong>they set out to build consistency and operational efficiency</strong>, proving that the two GMR-001-Hypercars could keep pace with the top teams on the grid.</p>

<p>Impeccable pit stops and intelligent neutralisation management helped move them through the ranks. A strategic choice to keep both cars out during a safety car period took them to the same lap as the leader, not far from the front-runners.</p>

<p>During the night, when the race often reveals its true nature, excellent performance from <strong>Mathieu Jaminet</strong> in the #19 and <strong>Mathys Jaubert</strong> in the #17 demonstrated a project well on the way to maturity. <strong>Genesis Magma Racing were even among the front-runners </strong>for several hours. Jaminet was in fourth place, confirming the car&rsquo;s speed.</p>

<p>Around 04:00, the #19 suffered a technical issue requiring a <strong>restart on track</strong> between Mulsanne Corner and Indianapolis. The same worry reappeared moments later, dashing hopes of featuring high in the classification. As for the #17, a suspension issue ended its d&eacute;but 24 Hours of Le Mans after 16 hours of racing.</p>

<p>Many newcomers would have been discouraged. Not Genesis Magma Racing. On the contrary, the team demonstrated the resilience required to excel in endurance racing. The team <strong>focused all their efforts on getting the #19 to the chequered flag</strong>.</p>

<p>After 372 laps, <strong>Paul-Loup Chatin</strong>, <strong>Mathieu Jaminet </strong>and <strong>Dani Juncadella</strong> achieved <strong>13th place in the overall classification</strong>. The result is the culmination of hours of development, testing and teamwork.</p>

<p><em><strong>&ldquo;It&#39;s definitely been a roller coaster for us, but that&#39;s what you expect in your first 24 Hours, as a new team, a new car. Obviously, I think we showed better pace than maybe we expected. For sure we had a couple of issues, but we fought back. [...] No one ever gave up. We just made history. The first ever Korean brand to make it to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the first one for Genesis,&rdquo;</strong></em> said Mathieu Jaminet after the race.</p>

<h2>The first step on the way to the top</h2>

<p>Finishing a 24-hour race is a victory in itself. Genesis Magma Racing&rsquo;s foundational Le Mans garnered the data and experience the team needs to continue developing the GMR-001-Hypercar.</p>

<p>Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul&rsquo;s appraisal reveals the spirit of the project: <em><strong>&ldquo;Our first 24 Hours of Le Mans with Genesis Magma Racing ends on a positive note. Getting one car to the finish was our main objective. [...] The #17 unfortunately retired with suspension failure. We faced a number of reliability challenges which will be our priority moving forward. Despite this, the car showed strong potential throughout the week, especially during the first half of the race, where we were consistently fighting inside the top 10. While we faced challenges, the team showed great resilience, composure and teamwork.&rdquo;</strong></em></p>

<p>In an exacting class, where every detail is important, and faced with experienced world-class oponents, Genesis Magma Racing have proved they are quick to learn. Andr&eacute; Lotterer, three-time winner of the French 24-hour marathon and one of the project&rsquo;s lynchpins:<strong>&nbsp;<em>&ldquo;We definitely showed the world who Genesis is. I think we surprised a few people and achieved more than we could hope for with our new team, new car, new brand, everything. But our engine lasted, everything around it lasted until that point and we didn&#39;t have any big problems during the race which was quite remarkable. We need to study and come back stronger, but I think for our first Le Mans appearance it was very positive, especially with the sister car reaching the finish to complete the weekend.&rdquo;</em></strong></p>

<p>The 24 Hours of Le Mans has a habit of revealing a team&rsquo;s character. Over ten days, Genesis Magma Racing have seen just how all-encompassing this event is, and sampled its joys, frustrations and demands. Above all, the fledgling team have demonstrated the ability to turn setbacks into savvy.</p>

<p>Chapter one in the history of Genesis at Le Mans is complete. The rest of the story already looks promising.</p>

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans: a promising début for Genesis Magma Racing

Last Sunday, the #7 Toyota TR010 Hybrid won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Today, it arrived back at its Cologne base to a fittingly warm welcome from its designers, developers and preparers.

<p>Last Sunday, shortly after 16:00, the car crossed the finish line to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans before a crowd of tens of thousands. Today, it arrived safely back at the Toyota Racing European headquarters in Cologne, Germany, where another journey continues. It was an emotional scene, for the Hypercar has entered its name in the history books of the world&rsquo;s greatest endurance race.</p>

<p>Back home, the Hypercar was not only reunited with its garage, but also with the many people who helped prepare it for glory. Engineers, mechanics, technicians and logisticians gathered to welcome the triumphant machine and to celebrate their success, far from the limelight of the pit lane.</p>

<p>The 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans trophy takes pride of place in the Toyota Racing silver cabinet. A trophy symbolises a victory, but behind the end result are many hours of tireless work, strategic decision-making and a constant search for performance and reliability.</p>

<p>This year, the #7 Toyota TR010 Hybrid carried the hopes and dreams of an entire team across the finish line. Driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries, the car stood up to the gruelling race, its strenuous night and unsparing opponents. The crew were bent on pushing the limits without going too far and committing an error. For a full 24 hours.</p>

<p>Toyota&rsquo;s collective endeavour was underlined by the sister car&rsquo;s third place. S&eacute;bastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa in the #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid were shown the chequered flag a mere 20.417 seconds after the winners in a battle to the line, after 24 hours of racing.</p>

<p>A third Toyota displayed promise on the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans last week. The Toyota TR LH2 Racing Prototype took the track for a <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/a-first-for-liquid-hydrogen-at-le-mans-60761">demonstration</a>, much to the delight of the spectators in the grandstands and the experts in the pit lane. Kazuki Nakajima took the first liquid hydrogen prototype for a lap of the circuit in a symbolic, yet concrete demonstration of tomorrow&rsquo;s technology today.</p>

<p>The appearance opens up new prospects. The potential for hydrogen in racing, its stability in real conditions and potential for widespread application has been demonstrated. Taking place as it did, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the outing was a sign that this race is heading towards zero-emission endurance racing.</p>

The Le Mans-winning Toyota TR010 Hybrid is welcomed home to Cologne

<p>According to a local newspaper at the time, Wilbur Wright&#39;s plane did three complete loops 15-20 meters off the ground before landing safely. A stele is in place&nbsp;to commemorate&nbsp;that first flight. Among the spectators that day was a certain Louis Bl&eacute;riot who went on to become the first to cross the English Channel by plane the following year.</p>

<p><strong>Photo (Copyright -&nbsp;Archives/ACO): Curious onlookers around&nbsp;Wilbur Wright&#39;s airplane.</strong></p>

Today's Photo Story - The Wright brothers' plane flies over Le Mans in 1908

Related News

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2026 24 Hours of Le Mans – Fan-favourite moments

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans: a promising début for Genesis Magma Racing

The Le Mans-winning Toyota TR010 Hybrid is welcomed home to Cologne

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