Automobile Club de l'Ouest

Lore & Background

The ACO's history begins with the Automobile Club de la Sarthe, the ancestor of today's ACO, which was founded in the town of Le Mans. In 1906 that group included Amédée Bollée and Paul Jamin, winner of the 1897 Paris-Dieppe race in a Léon Bollée tricar. With the help of the larger Automobile Club de France they organised a race on local public roads, on a 65-mile triangular course connecting Le Mans with Saint-Calais and La Ferté-Bernard. The 12-lap race, titled the Grand Prix de l'ACF, was held over two days and won by Ferenc Szisz driving a Renault.

This race, the first Grand Prix, would eventually become the French Grand Prix. After World War I, the ACO turned its attention to designing a shorter circuit on public roads to the south of the city. The organisation's chief secretary Georges Durand, together with magazine editor Charles Faroux of La Vie Automobile and tyre manufacturer Emile Coquille, came up with the idea for a 24-hour race. The first 24 Hours of Le Mans was held on 26 May 1923. The very first entry was lodged with the ACO by John Duff on a Bentley.

Reader's Guide

The ACO is responsible as a ruling body for race series, specifically sportscar series. The ACO has run or backed the following races or race series: Current: 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Le Mans Moto, Le Mans Classic, French motorcycle Grand Prix, FIA World Endurance Championship, Asian Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series, Le Mans Cup, Asian Le Mans Cup, Prototype Cup Europe. Former: 1000 km of Le Mans, American Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series, Japan Le Mans Challenge, Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, Formula Le Mans, Le Mans Autumn Cup, World Sportscar Championship, FRD LMP3 Series, UK LMP3 Cup Championship.

Did You Know?

• The 1955 Le Mans disaster killed 84 people and is regarded as the worst accident in motorsport history.
• The ACO's first race was the Grand Prix de l'ACF in 1906, won by Ferenc Szisz.

Historical Context and Championship Significance

The 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans took place on June 13–14, 2026, serving as a pivotal third round in the FIA World Endurance Championship season. Organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest at the iconic Circuit de la Sarthe, this edition marked a significant shift in manufacturer participation within the top-tier Hypercar class. Notably, Porsche withdrew from the championship, creating space for new entrants to challenge established giants.

The most historic development was the full-season debut of Genesis Magma Racing, representing Hyundai's luxury division. This entry made history as the first South Korean team to ever compete in the prestigious 24-hour endurance event, fielding two Genesis GMR-001 cars. The race attracted a massive grid of 62 vehicles across three distinct classes: Hypercar, LMP2, and LMGT3. Beyond factory teams, the entry list was bolstered by automatic invitations for champions from the European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series, and GT World Challenge Europe, alongside special slots for IMSA representatives, ensuring a diverse global field of competitors.

Qualifying Drama and Technical Scrutiny

The path to the starting grid was fraught with drama and strict regulatory enforcement during the qualifying sessions. Dries Vanthoor ultimately secured pole position in his BMW M Team WRT Hypercar, setting the stage for a fierce battle ahead. However, the session saw several high-profile incidents that altered the final lineup. The #38 Cadillac Hertz Team Jota initially posted an impressive time but had it deleted after illegally maneuvering from the working lane to the fast pit lane without authorization during Hyperpole 2.

Similarly, Forestier Racing by Panis faced a one-place grid penalty for impeding a McLaren in the final session. Perhaps most controversial was the disqualification of the #34 Racing Team Turkey by TF entry; despite setting the fastest time in the initial qualifying session, officials found their Corvette Z06 GT3.R had breached regulations due to excessive wear on the rear diffuser strake height during post-session scrutineering. These incidents highlighted the intense technical scrutiny and competitive pressure inherent in modern endurance racing.

Race Strategy and Hypercar Showdown

The race itself unfolded as a tightly contested battle characterized by aggressive strategy and frequent lead changes among BMW, Cadillac, and Toyota. The ceremonial start was given by cyclist Mark Cavendish, after which immediate action saw Cadillac's Will Stevens overtake the pole-sitter at the first corner. René Rast in the second BMW quickly seized the lead on the Mulsanne Straight during the opening lap. Strategic pit stops played a crucial role early on; Mike Conway in the #7 Toyota utilized an undercut strategy by pitting after just 29 minutes, which eventually propelled his sister car, the #8, into the lead by the one-hour mark.

The race saw seven cars finish on the lead lap, underscoring the parity of the field. Ultimately, the #7 Toyota Hypercar, driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries, claimed overall victory. This win was particularly significant as it ended a three-year winning streak for Ferrari, restoring Toyota's dominance in the premier class.

Class Victories and Historic Milestones

While the Hypercar battle captured headlines, triumphs were also celebrated in the LMP2 and LMGT3 categories. In LMP2, Inter Europol Competition secured a dominant one-two finish with their No. 43 Oreca 07, driven by Tom Dillmann, Jakub Śmiechowski, and Nick Yelloly. This victory marked the team's third win in four years, cementing their status as a powerhouse in the intermediate class. The LMGT3 category saw TF Sport claim the top step of the podium with their No. 33 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R. Driven by Nicky Catsburg, Jonny Edgar, and Ben Keating, this win represented the tenth class victory for the American brand at Le Mans.

Furthermore, the event featured historic milestones beyond the track results; during pre-race testing, Jamie Chadwick became the first woman to drive a Hypercar at Le Mans while representing Genesis. The test day also saw intense competition across all classes, with Tom Gamble setting the fastest time in the Aston Martin Valkyrie and various reserve drivers gaining valuable experience on the demanding French circuit.