In 1995 for its first participation, McLaren won the 24 Hours of Le Mans - though the F1 GTR, designed by famous engineer Gordon Murray, was not intended for motorsports. The Brit Ray Bellm was not a member of the winning trio and it was at the foot of the podium that he finished with his teammates, Mark Blundell and Maurizio Sandro Sala.

Le Mans, ignite your senses | The 24 Hours of Le Mans whets more than an appetite for exciting on-track thrills. It’s also an invitation to a culinary journey. Let’s look at some of the eating experiences to be enjoyed at the event.

<h2>Over 60 eateries in&nbsp;2024</h2>

With over 60 eateries spread all over the circuit, the 24 Hours of Le Mans offers an array of delights for all tastes. A wide variety of foods to satisfy the healthiest of appetites: fresh salads, crusty pizzas, scrumptious burgers, sweet and savoury pancakes, cheesy chips, empanadas, donuts, focaccias, tasty grills and even seafood. Each mealtime offers a unique opportunity to taste something just a little different at one of the many stalls.

But whatever you fancy, you simply have to try out these establishments at some point during your stay. At Le Bon B&oelig;uf, race fans can enjoy succulent French beef in a jovial atmosphere. P&#39;tit D&eacute;lice uses fresh, local ingredients in preparing tasty organic buckwheat galettes, sweet cr&ecirc;pes and churros. For those who prefer table service, La Brasserie&rsquo;s staff are keen to share their know-how of traditional Brittany cuisine with discerning diners.

Finally, a visit to La Taverne is almost a ritual for many racegoers. The restaurant has been a fixture here since 1955, welcoming diners eager to enjoy a hearty meal of fresh salad, juicy grilled meat and its generously flavoured and perfectly cooked pork shank.

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<h2>A superb culinary experience</h2>

More exclusive gourmet experiences also await at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The VIP hospitality venues offer visitors an opportunity to sample refined delicacies. The Starter 24 venue at the Karting des 24 Heures du Mans serves local produce in a cosy bistro-style setting.&nbsp;

Looking for a place with a livelier atmosphere? Then the festive Pavillon 24 at the heart of the race village will be right up your street. Le Mans Spirit Club, a stone&rsquo;s throw from the paddock, takes diners on a culinary journey inspired by the countries hosting a round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, with specialities from Italy, Brazil, the USA, Japan and Bahrain. This eatery serves dishes from around the globe all day in an elegant, cosmopolitan setting.

Lovers of French cuisine should head to Panoramic 24 &ndash; on the fourth and sixth floors of the ACO&rsquo;s headquarters &ndash; where the chefs work with the very best local and regional produce. Endurance is the name of the game for the chefs and kitchen staff in these venues too as they serve up meals to visitors at all times of all day and night during the race. Here, VIPs can enjoy something to eat without worrying about the time. Like a driver between two stints, you can even tuck into a plate of chicken and pasta at 3 a.m.!

Food workshops and tasting sessions add a special ingredient to the VIP experience. For instance, a wine producer from south-west France stages a presentation in Panoramic 24, pancakes and ice creams are specially prepared before sweet-toothed visitors, and cocktails are mixed for guests to sip at their leisure. Every year, caterers take up the challenge to innovate with ever more sophisticated dishes. Delighted guests enjoy a culinary experience befitting of the legendary race.

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<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/hospitality/vip" target="_blank">&gt;&gt;&gt; Find out more about the 24 Hours of Le Mans VIP packages&nbsp;&lt;&lt;&lt;</a>

<h2>Coffee &ndash; a precious stimulant</h2>

Staying awake during the 24 Hours of Le Mans demands coffee.&nbsp; For spectators, a nice espresso or a strong, black coffee is an important ally in keeping on top of the race action. But fans are not the only ones who indulge. Down in the pits, mechanics knock back cup after cup to keep their focus sharp through the night while journalists in the press room also appreciate its benefits as they strive to stay alert to report the latest incidents. Available all around the track, coffee is simply a symbol of resistance!

<h2>The meal table &ndash; where conviviality reigns</h2>

During the French endurance classic, mealtimes aren&rsquo;t simply an opportunity to &ldquo;take on board fuel&rdquo;. They are also a moment of pleasure and conviviality. Whether you sit down for an improvised picnic with friends or join the whole family at a table in the race village, these are precious moments where you can talk about the race, share stories and recall the feats of drivers and teams of the past.

One fine example is a group of friends &ndash; mostly Club ACO members &ndash; from all over France and further afield. Over the last 15 years or so, they have established a tradition of meeting up at the Houx campsite every Friday of race week for a memorable lunch.&nbsp; Each one of them brings a speciality from their own region or country. Laughter and recollections abound as culinary differences become something to be shared and savoured. But, above all, it is an excellent opportunity to strength the special bond that unites these race fans year after year.

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<h2>A chance to sample local delicacies</h2>

A visit to the 24 Hours of Le Mans also offers a chance to tempt your tastebuds with some local delicacies that honour the gastronomy of La Sarthe. One of the most renowned products is the famous shortbread biscuit, baked with fresh butter. These biscuits have been made in the Pays de la Loire region since the 17th century and have become a true institution. The biscuit comes in several flavours but all are guaranteed to melt in your mouth! The celebrated manufacturer La Sabl&eacute;sienne even produces&nbsp;<a href="https://boutique.lemans.org/en/delights-flavors/3755-sable-nature-affiche-24h-2024.html" target="_blank">special 24 Hours of Le Mans tins</a>&nbsp;&ndash; perfect for collectors and biscuit lovers!

Another of the region&rsquo;s specialities is of course the potted meat known as Rillettes du Mans. Pouic-Cochon, renowned for its authentic pork-based products, has designed&nbsp;<a href="https://boutique.lemans.org/en/delights-flavors/2186-assortiment-rillettes-24h.html" target="_blank">an original 24 Hours of Le Mans three-pack with new flavours</a>: chorizo, thyme and lemon. These variations bring a new twist to this well-loved favourite with its unique texture and savoury taste.

Sweet-toothed visitors will not be able to resist the chocolates produced by Bellanger. This artisan chocolate maker has produced a unique&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chocolats-bellanger.com/product-category/coffrets-speciaux/les-24-heures-du-mans/" target="_blank">Bolides des Hunaudi&egrave;res</a>&nbsp;collection in honour of the cars that speed down the famous Mulsanne Straight. Each milk chocolate car has a deliciously crisp filling while the dark chocolate models have a tasty butterscotch flavour. Another variety is filled with a select combination of Italian hazelnut praline and peanut praline that conceals an oasis of butterscotch.

Finally, to quench your thirst, &quot;Les Hunaudi&egrave;res&rdquo; by D&eacute;lices et Casteloir is a citrus cordial also inspired by the circuit&rsquo;s celebrated straight. This creation is a tangy, alcohol-free alternative to a fruit liqueur and brings the refreshing zip of citrus fruits to a variety of cocktails and mocktails.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans offers an experience to stimulate all the senses. The smell of food designed to whet the appetite, the pleasure of sitting down to enjoy a meal with family, friends or fellow race fans, and the delight of tasting authentic products create a culinary adventure that brings an extra dimension to the race. Whether you come to Le Mans for the cars or for the atmosphere, there is always a dish, snack or treat to tantalise your tastebuds and make the experience a memorable one.

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<h4>Did you know?</h4>

Since 2019, the ACO has set new targets on sustainable development matters. We have therefore put initiatives into place to reinforce the positive impact of our events on the community. In particular, we select restaurateurs committed to an environmentally friendly approach that benefits the local economy.&nbsp;Our commitment to responsible catering includes reducing our carbon footprint and encouraging farm-to-fork systems which rely on local producers. 
 
We have also entered into a partnership with Les Restos du C&oelig;ur food banks. Through this arrangement, unconsumed food is collected at the end of the event and redistributed to the needy. The amount of food collected has risen from 1567 kg in 2019&nbsp;to a staggering 10.28 tonnes in 2024, highlighting the growing impact of this commitment. This partnership illustrates how sport can aid those less fortunate and how a spectacular sporting occasion like the 24 Hours of Le Mans can become a socially responsible event.

24 Hours of Le Mans: an experience to savour!

Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA has just announced the names of its drivers for the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans (11-15 June 2025) and the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season. The American manufacturer will be banking on some very experienced drivers to excel in the Hypercar class.

For its third season in the FIA WEC, Cadillac will be running two cars with Hertz Team JOTA, with Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn, S&eacute;bastien Bourdais, Will Stevens, Jenson Button, and Norman Nato be behind the wheel of the #12 and #38 V-Series.Rs. The exact line-up in each car will be confirmed shortly, but this array of talent promises a very exciting season for the manufacturer.

<h2>&ldquo;A formidable line-up&rdquo;</h2>

David Clark, director of JOTA Sport is thrilled about <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/hertz-team-jota-takes-over-the-cadillac-fia-wec-2025-factory-programme-58909" target="_blank">this partnership with Cadillac</a>. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s an honour for us to pair with such an iconic automotive manufacturer. When you consider our collective records in the FIA World Endurance Championship, it&rsquo;s very fitting that for the inaugural Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA driver line-up we have such an impressive breadth of world championship-winning talent and experience. Cadillac&rsquo;s pedigree in motorsport speaks for itself, and with these six drivers we will be in a strong position to challenge for race wins. Under the careful watch of ACO (Automobile Club de l&rsquo;Ouest) President Pierre Fillon, WEC continues to go from strength to strength, and with more eyes than ever before on our races, and some incredible talent behind the wheel, we have no doubt that we&rsquo;ll put on a good show next season.&rdquo;

Earl Bamber shares this optimism and points to his strong partnership with Alex Lynn and S&eacute;bastien Bourdais: &ldquo;Joining JOTA is going to be a great step for the Cadillac project. &nbsp;They have really proven what they can do with the Porsche and early interactions with the team have been positive. With me doing both WEC and IMSA, hopefully we can accelerate the learning process because we were quick with Chip Ganassi Racing the last few races of the &rsquo;24 season. Hopefully we can transfer knowledge from that project and continue our strong showing at the end of the year, taking knowledge from their project and combining all that to win races in WEC in 2025. The continuity of Alex, Seb and myself having driven the cars for a couple of years in IMSA and WEC will really lead to a formidable line-up.&rdquo;

With a crew of swift and experienced drivers, and a Hypercar that has proven its worth, Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA is determined to be at the forefront in 2025. Let&rsquo;s not forget that Hertz Team JOTA won the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps last May, and the team took this year&rsquo;s FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams ahead of AF Corse and Proton Competition.

Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA reveals its 2025 driver line-up

Tickets for the next 24 Hours of Le Mans (Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 June 2025) sold out in record time today. However, there’s still a chance to see the field in action.

There are&nbsp;<a href="https://ticket.24h-lemans.com/selection/event/date?productId=10229239928157&amp;gtmStepTracking=true&amp;lang=en">great offers on tickets</a>&nbsp;for the practice and qualifying sessions, including the nail-biting Hyperpole session (from &euro;23 for students). The new improved qualifying sessions to come next year will make for spectacular racing, while on stage a line-up of talented musicians will have fans dancing the night away. Tickets for Test Day cost just &euro;32&thinsp;&mdash;&thinsp;an exciting opportunity to see the field on track for the first time. It&rsquo;s the day everyone tests out their race set-up: not just drivers and teams, but volunteers, journalists and spectators too! 
 
Make a motorsports fan happy this Christmas! Head to&nbsp;<a href="http://ticket.24h-lemans.com">ticket.24h-lemans.com</a>&nbsp;to see all our offers.

24 Hours of Le Mans: practice and qualifying tickets still available!

Over the course of BMW M Team WRT's first season in the FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar category, the BMW M Hybrid V8 steadily improved, quickly going from newcomer to serious competition for the podium. This first year laid the foundation for an ambitious future in the top endurance class.

Like all new teams and cars, BMW&#39;s debut in the FIA WEC was peppered with adjustments on the back of a relatively steep learning curve. BMW M Team WRT first sought to make it into the top 10, but after mid-season, its performances were noticeably improved. The&nbsp;BMW M Hybrid V8 became a regular among the frontrunners&nbsp;and a dependable contender for a podium finish.

This consistent progress allowed&nbsp;BMW to finish&nbsp;2024 in fifth place in the FIA Endurance&nbsp;Hypercar Manufacturers Championship, an impressive accomplishment&nbsp;for a team&#39;s rookie year in the FIA WEC. BMW beat out&nbsp;Peugeot, Cadillac and&nbsp;Lamborghini, demonstrating its desire and ability&nbsp;to face off against Hypercar&#39;s elite.

<h2>The 24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans: Full of Hope</h2>

The most highly anticipated race of this year, the&nbsp;92nd&nbsp;24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans, was no walk in the park for BMW M Team WRT&#39;s two cars. The&nbsp;#15 BMW M Hybrid V8 was forced to retire after going off-track, a significant blow for an outfit that held big&nbsp;ambitions for its first&nbsp;participation. The #20 finished the race without making it into the classification, further adding to what was described by&nbsp;BMW as a real whirlwind of emotions.

<h2>A Solid Foundation for the Future</h2>

Despite the setbacks, BMW M Team WRT can be proud of its&nbsp;2024 season. In addition to a noteworthy performance at the&nbsp;6 Hours of&nbsp;Fuji where the BMW M Hybrid V8 clinched second place, the outfit racked up four top 10 finishes and took part in seven&nbsp;Hyperpoles, clear proof of its increasing competitiveness.

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport):&nbsp;A long season in the FIA WEC came to an end here in Bahrain [&hellip;] but overall, we can look back positively on the season, considering where we started in our first FIA WEC appearance in Qatar and where we are now in this fiercely contested world championship. A big thank you to everyone at BMW M Motorsport, BMW M Team WRT, all our drivers&nbsp;and everyone involved in development. We&rsquo;ll take this into the winter break and work hard to come back stronger next year.&nbsp;

Expectations are high for the&nbsp;2025 season. Ren&eacute; Rast,&nbsp;one of BMW M Team WRT&rsquo;s star drivers, is&nbsp;optimistic: So, we can look positively at our performance. We can fight for the top spots on our own strength. That is a great motivation for the 2025 season!&nbsp;

BMW M Team WRT and&nbsp;the BMW M Hybrid V8 have&nbsp;proven they&#39;re ready to fight on&nbsp;the front lines of a highly competitive Hypercar field, taking on&nbsp;next season with confidence and aiming for the&nbsp;podium to write a new chapter in&nbsp;BMW&#39;s history in endurance racing.

BMW M Team WRT rises from Hypercar rookie to podium contender

In 1992, McLaren boss Ron Dennis invited Ray Bellm to the Grand Prix of Monaco for the release of its road car. With the road car as a success, it was decided to commission a model to convert into a race car. Dennis refused with an idea in mind. Find out what in this video which includes an enthusiastic Ray Bellm interview!

To honour the Le Mans exploit, the British company announced a limited edition 650S to be released mid-2015 in only 50 units.

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Text: C&eacute;cile Bonardel / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Video: YouTube - McLaren Automotive

24H LE MANS

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