Garage 56

Lore & Background

The program debuted in 2012 with the DeltaWing, an unusual rocket-shaped car fielded by All-American Racers and supported by Nissan. The DeltaWing concept showed promise, delivering nearly LMP2-level performance while consuming only 48% as much fuel, but retired after a collision with an LMP1 car six hours into the race. In 2013, Garage 56 was given to the Swiss-designed hydrogen-fueled GreenGT H2, which was to be the first car without an internal combustion engine to compete at Le Mans; however, the car was pronounced unfit to take part in the race by the team a few days before the race. In 2016, the H2 went on to complete a single demonstration lap at Le Mans. Despite an early retirement from the race after only 23 minutes due to a gearbox issue, the ZEOD RC achieved its goals of hitting a top speed of 300 km/h (186.41 mph), and completing the first ever lap of Le Mans using exclusively electric power at racing speed. In 2015, the program took a break as all applications that year were deemed unfit by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Frederic Sausset, a quadruple amputee, drove a modified Morgan LMP2 in the 2016 race. Financial problems forced Welter Racing to cancel its 2017 Garage 56 run with the Green4U Panoz Racing GT-EV, a biomethane-fuel prototype. Welter Racing went on to develop the car with hopes of entering in 2018 and 2019, but ultimately did not compete due to complex issues with the car in 2018, and due to Don Panoz's death causing the suspension of the program in 2019. The 2019 slot was also eyed by UK-based constructor Perrinn with the Project 424, an LMP1-based electric-powered car with an autonomous driving mode; however, this did not come to pass, and Garage 56 was left empty in both 2018 and 2019 as the ACO deemed none of the applications to be sufficiently mature.

Reader's Guide

Garage 56 has served as a testing ground for automotive innovation at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, allowing concept cars to demonstrate experimental features without the pressure of overall competition. Its entries have explored fuel efficiency, electric power, hydrogen fuel, biomethane, and accessibility for disabled drivers. The program's significance lies in its role as a catalyst for technologies that may influence future motorsport and road car development. Despite frequent gaps in participation due to technical or financial challenges, Garage 56 has consistently pushed boundaries, from the DeltaWing's radical aerodynamics to the first all-electric lap of Le Mans. The 2023 entry of a modified NASCAR Cup Series car marked a cross-disciplinary collaboration, highlighting the program's ability to bridge different racing cultures. By providing a platform for projects that might otherwise never race, Garage 56 has become a unique laboratory for the future of automotive engineering.

Did You Know?

• The DeltaWing, the first Garage 56 entry in 2012, consumed only 48% as much fuel as LMP2 cars while delivering nearly LMP2-level performance.
• The 2023 Garage 56 entry was a modified NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driven by Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button, and Mike Rockenfeller.