Le Musée des 24h

Right next to the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit (9 place Luigi Chinetti), the museum, now called M24 – Musée du Sport Automobile, invites visitors to explore the world of motorsport through endurance racing, Formula 1, rallying, and IndyCar. The permanent exhibition unfolds across nine themed spaces: an immersive experience of the 24 Hours of Le Mans from start to finish; a 1/43-scale miniature collection featuring every competitor in the race since the 1920s; a retrospective of Formula 1's evolution; a gallery devoted to iconic drivers and their race suits; a rally area; a glass-walled workshop where working cars are maintained and restored; a tribute to IndyCar; a touch-screen “materials library”; and life-size dioramas re-creating key moments in the race's history.

The collection brings together vehicles and objects from the heritage of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, enriched by pieces from the Richard Mille collection: Bentley 3L (1924), Ferrari 166 MM (1949), Mazda 787B, winner in 1991, Maserati 250F, Ferrari F2002, Lancia Stratos, Porsche 919 Hybrid, and others. The cars on display were chosen for their outstanding records, a major technical innovation, or their role in a legendary race. A 350 m² temporary exhibition hall and access to the circuit itself round out the visit.

A bit of history

The idea of a museum dedicated to the 24 Hours of Le Mans took shape in the 1960s: the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), which organizes the race founded in 1923, wanted to preserve the winning cars as well as the objects, posters, race suits, and souvenirs accumulated over the editions. The museum was founded in 1961 under the name “Musée automobile de la Sarthe,” first housed inside the circuit grounds, near the village.

In 1991, it moved to a purpose-built building near the circuit's main entrance, under the direction of Francis Piquera, and became the “Musée des 24 Heures du Mans.” The institution underwent a major renovation in 2009.

In 2025–2026, the former museum was completely rehabilitated and given a new extension in under a year, bringing its total area to more than 8,600 m². Reopened to the public on May 28, 2026, under the new name “M24 – Musée du sport automobile,” the institution broadens its focus beyond the 24 Hours alone to cover the wider history of motorsport (Formula 1, rallying, IndyCar).