M24 – The Motor Sports Museum

Founded in 1961 by the ACO, the department, and local collectors, it was originally located within the circuit itself, near the village. The museum underwent numerous renovations over the years and moved in 1991 to a new building constructed near the circuit’s main entrance. Acquired by the ACO in 2017, the museum’s collections increasingly focused on the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In 2023, the major exhibition dedicated to the centennial of the 24 Hours of Le Mans established a new chronological layout, which was retained thereafter. The 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum closed in July 2025 to allow for major expansion work. M24 – The Motor Sports Museum reopened in May 2026, with double the floor space (approximately 10,000 m²), including 8,600 m² of exhibition space.

Cars

Under its dual name, M24 and Motor Sports Museum, the museum explores the major disciplines of motor racing. Endurance racing, epitomized by the 24 Hours of Le Mans, is prominently featured with 48 cars, and four other categories of motor racing are on display: Formula 1, rallying, and U.S. car racing (IndyCar and CAN-AM). Two distinct areas have been created, each with its own unique layout. The first space is dedicated to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, set in a rather dim atmosphere evoking the night, one of the key elements of the 24 Hours. The second space, dedicated to the other disciplines, is instead brightly lit, symbolizing the day, and features a more traditional layout (though with some delightful surprises) that showcases the cars on display.

Endurance and Le Mans 24 Hours

For the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the models on display span the entire history of the race, from the early Chenard & Walker, Lorraine, and Bentley cars, through the Porsches and Toyotas of recent years, to Audi, Bentley, Ferrari, Jaguar, Matra, Mazda, Peugeot, and Renault, not to mention Jean Rondeau, a local hero. The 24 Hours of Le Mans also features many artisans and small manufacturers vying for class or category victories, such as Courage, DB, CD, Gordini, Lotus, and Tracta…

The vast majority of the models on display are in perfect working order and maintained in the M24 workshop. Furthermore, great attention is paid to the authenticity of the chassis and their correspondence with their race entries. Instead of a chronological approach, the exhibition follows the progression of the 24 Hours, from technical inspections (weigh-in) to the finish line, blending cars and eras in a highly immersive experience.

A space is dedicated to the Bollée family, a dynasty of Le Mans industrialists and automotive pioneers. This serves as a reminder that the automobile was actually born in Le Mans, and that this history led to the creation of the first ACF (Automobile-Club de France) Grand Prix in Le Mans in 1906, followed by the creation of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1923.

F1 and Rallye

Descending a few steps leads to the new building, which is largely built into the hillside and showcases the history of motorsports. Several murals and informational panels provide newcomers with the key insights needed to understand the various themes on display.

Formula 1 takes center stage with some thirty single-seaters, mostly from the Ricard Mille Collection, but also including a few loans from Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes that round out the selection and allow visitors to explore six decades of racing: Brabham, Ferrari, Lotus, March, Maserati, Matra, McLaren, Mercedes, Renault, Tyrrell, and Williams, featuring several authentic World Champions. Two life-size dioramas provide context for some iconic cars and figures.

While the Rally section might be less extensive, it features “the crème de la crème”: Alpine A110, Audi Quattro, Citroën Xsara WRC, Lancia Stratos, Porsche 911, Toyota Celica… This theme is rounded out by two icons of the Tour de France Auto (the original) a Ferrari 250 GT and a Matra MS 650, and a Porsche 959 from the Paris-Dakar, representing rally raids.

US Motor Sport

IndyCar is the premier single-seater racing series in North America, with the Indianapolis 500 as its flagship race. Two of the cars on display have actually won the famous race: a Lotus 38 (1966) and a Penske PC 22 (1993).

The American CAN-AM racing series (short for Canadian-American Challenge Cup) produced some of the most spectacular cars in motorsports. Since the regulations were essentially “no limits,” it gave rise to various experiments, both aerodynamic and mechanical. McLaren dominated for a long time with its Chevrolet-powered M8 series, Chaparral experimented with oversized spoilers, while Ferrari pushed its V12 to a 7-liter displacement, making it the Ferrari with the largest engine in the brand’s history.

For some legends

Along the route, two spaces, two “display cases”, are designed to highlight a specific driver or car for a limited time. For the opening and at least until the end of 2026, one is dedicated to Michael Schumacher and his Ferrari F2002, the other to Henri Pescarolo, an iconic figure of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, first as a driver and later as a manufacturer.

Besides cars

Le Mans is also a major hub for motorcycle racing, notably hosting the 24 Hours of Le Mans motorcycle race and numerous French Grand Prix events. It therefore made sense to dedicate a section to motorcycle racing, featuring some fifteen machines, including an MV Agusta ridden by Giacomo Agostini and a Honda ridden by Valentino Rossi.

As previously seen at the 24 Hours Museum, a prominent place is reserved for racing legends with the “Avenue of Heroes,” which pays tribute to key figures in motorsports. Naturally, it features major figures from endurance racing, but also legends from F1 and rallying, as well as U.S. champions. Many of them have, in fact, competed successfully in multiple disciplines, notably F1 and endurance racing.

The permanent collection also displays numerous items related to motorsports, including cups, trophies, helmets, and racing suits…

The 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum was well known for its collection of scale models, which are naturally featured at M24. In total, nearly 4,800 1/43-scale models are on display, representing all the cars that have competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1923, organized by year. Several meticulously crafted dioramas on the same scale bring to life some of the race’s most memorable moments and highlight, in particular, the evolution of the pit areas over the decades.

In addition to the museum, visitors can tour the facilities of the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit, outside of race weekends, of course, either on your own or as part of a guided tour.

Services

The visit to M24 concludes in the large 300-square-meter gift shop (accessible without visiting the museum), which offers a wide selection of branded merchandise, clothing, accessories, and books dedicated to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and motorsports. A rest area in the lobby provides a place to take a break before or after the visit, with tables, chairs, and vending machines (drinks, chips, snacks, etc.) available.

The museum offers visitors a smartphone app featuring different tours tailored to their interests. This app covers both the museum itself and the racetrack. During certain periods, such as school holidays, family activities are also organized.

With this expansion, M24 now offers event spaces for meetings, conferences, or seminars, accommodating up to 110 people. A large free parking lot is located right across the road from the museum.

Practical information

Opening

Open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Closed on December 25 and January 1

Rates

Category	Museum	Circuit	Museum & circuit
Adults	20,00 €	7,00 €	24,00 €
Adults, (reduced : Students and Disabled)	15,00 €	6,00 €	18,00 €
Youth (6-17 years old)	12,00 €	4,00 €	14,00 €
Children (- de 6)	Free	Free	Free
Families	58,00 €	20,00 €	72,00 €
ACO Members*	Free	Free	Free

* ACO Members: First visit is free; subsequent visits are €10.

Groups: Various museum and/or circuit guided tours can be arranged for groups. Please contact the museum for a customized quote.

Online ticketing

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