The Cité de l’Automobile in Mulhouse is proud to present three very special cars belonging to the Matra museum in Romarantin. They will be on show in Alsace until the end of November.

24H Le Mans

24 Heures du Mans

Le Mans, ignite your senses | Food is an important component of what makes the 24 Hours of Le Mans so special. Arnold Robin, who drove the #78 Lexus RC F LMGT3 for French outfit Akkodis ASP Team in 2024, shares his unique take on the things that add spice to the endurance classic.

<h2>Done to a &lsquo;turn&rsquo;</h2>

<p>Ask local driver <strong>Arnold Robin</strong> which smell typifies the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the answer won&rsquo;t be rubber or oil. It&rsquo;s the scent of barbecues wafting over the camping areas and race village! Deeply rooted in his memory as a racegoer, this ambient aroma now accompanies him as a driver. <em>&ldquo;You can even smell it at the wheel,&rdquo;</em> he laughs, <em>&ldquo;especially when you reach Mulsanne Corner or the Porsche Curves.&rdquo;</em> A heady mix of adrenaline and the friendly atmosphere that together make the spirit of Le Mans.</p>

<p>While racing, of course, drivers have to adopt a pragmatic approach to food. <em>&ldquo;The 24 Hours of Le Mans now comes down to <strong>a simple dish &ndash; pasta and chicken</strong>,&rdquo;</em>&nbsp; he explains. There are, however, very good reasons for choosing such simple fare. Being subjected to intense effort while at the wheel, drivers prefer meals that are both easily digested and rich in protein and carbohydrates. Their diet therefore generally consists of starch foods and white meat. <em>&ldquo;During the race, I always pay attention to what I eat as I don&rsquo;t want tummy trouble upsetting my stint,&rdquo;</em> Robin points out. Desserts are also simple, usually fromage blanc. Acidic fruit is avoided. Only bananas and dried fruit add an exotic note to meals that are geared towards endurance.</p>

<h2>The hot-dog ritual</h2>

<p>Once the race is over, however, dietary discipline gives way to a moment of pleasure. The Akkodis ASP Team&rsquo;s drivers and mechanics like to enjoy a hot-dog together. <em>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s comfort food but I look forward to it after burning off a lot of calories during the race.&rdquo;</em> This moment of enjoyment and relaxation rounds off a week of collective effort and is an important team bonding exercise.</p>

<p>Food is more than just fuel. It is also <strong>a performance lever that must not be underestimated</strong>. <em>&ldquo;These days, all drivers know that a good diet is crucial,&quot;</em> Robin insists. <em>&quot;Even for amateurs, it&rsquo;s something we can easily control. We&rsquo;re not quite at the level of professional cyclists because different effort is required. If we take 500 grams of excess baggage into the car, it doesn&rsquo;t matter too much, unlike a cyclist who has to carry the extra weight on their bike.&rdquo;</em></p>

<p>Food not only has an effect on physical performance, it has an impact on the drivers&rsquo; mental capacity too. Meal times are strictly managed to avoid the fatigue that comes with digestion. Drivers often eat straight after their stint and then abstain for several hours to avoid drowsiness.</p>

<p>Finally, the 24 Hours of Le Mans does not only a sporting challenge for drivers. The event is an experience that is savoured through <strong>the rituals that add a touch of spice to the intensity of the race</strong>. Whether it be the fans&rsquo; barbecued sausages and burgers, the drivers&rsquo; pasta dish or a delicious post-race hot-dog, each mouthful tastes of the goodness of Le Mans &ndash; participation, performance and passion<br />
<br />
.</p>

How drivers savour the Le Mans experience

As 2024 draws to a close, we look back at some of the outstanding images from the 92nd 24 Hours of Le Mans. With many exciting, unforgettable moments, the French endurance classic wrote yet another memorable chapter in the sport’s history. Enjoy our selection of the finest pictures captured by the official 24 Hours of Le Mans photographers.

<h2>Scrutineering: an event that&rsquo;s not to be missed!</h2>

<p>The 92nd 24 Hours of Le Mans began with the administrative and technical checks, known as scrutineering, held in Place de la R&eacute;publique in Le Mans city centre. The two days of checks provided an excellent opportunity for the public to get a close-up view of the cars, collect autographs, snap a few selfies and catch up with some of the pre-race stories. Among the most eagerly awaited cars were Lamborghini Iron Lynx&rsquo;s SC63 Hypercar, the Alpine Endurance Team&rsquo;s A424 and the BMW M Hybrid V8 entered by BMW M Team WRT.<br />
The scrutineering session also offered onlookers a chance to see the livery of the Iron Dames&rsquo; #85 Lamborghini Hurac&aacute;n LMGT3 Evo2. The design was based on the dreams of children from a priority education school in Le Mans.</p>

<h2>A city outing!</h2>

<p>This year, after scrutineering, 16 of the 62 cars entered in the three classes went for a drive through the city streets on Saturday afternoon. The 2.1-km route took in some of the city&rsquo;s iconic thoroughfares such as Quai Louis Blanc, Rue Gambetta, Place de la R&eacute;publique and Boulevard Ren&eacute; Levasseur, giving the spectators another chance to see the cars close-up but this time in motion! The roar of the #2 Cadillac V-Series.R&rsquo;s V8 engine echoed through the streets, reviving memories of an era when the cars joined the circuit by road. The ACO and Le Mans city council not only gave a nod to this historic tradition, but above all offered the public a day to remember!</p>

<h2>A studious Test Day favourable to Porsche</h2>

<p>Two three-hour track sessions were held on Test Day, offering teams the opportunity to adjust their set-up to the 13-km Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans and giving the rookie drivers a taster of the challenges they would face later in the week. This first day of track action also provided an insight into the runners and riders&rsquo; form. Porsche Penske Motorsport, in particular, showed their intentions with the #6 Porsche 963 topping the timesheets ahead of the #5 sister car.</p>

<h2>The traditional family portraits</h2>

<p>On the Tuesday of race week, the 186 drivers and then, later in the day, the 62 cars set to compete in the 24 Hours lined up on the Pit Straight for the now traditional family portraits. For their official photograph, the drivers were joined by the coveted trophy, ACO president Pierre Fillon and Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Lequien, director of LMEM.</p>

<h2>Speed and precision in the Pit Stop Challenge</h2>

<p>In just two years, the Pit Stop Challenge has become a big hit with spectators. This year&rsquo;s third edition was no exception. The event takes the men and women who are normally in the background &ndash; the mechanics of the competing teams &ndash; and thrusts them into the spotlight. They are faced with the task of changing all four wheels as quickly as possible.<br />
The Ferrari AF Corse mechanics in the #51 Ferrari 499P crew won in an impressive time of 9.680 seconds. In LMP2 and LMGT3, the winning crews were AO by TF (#14 Oreca 07-Gibson) and Team WRT (#31 BMW M4 LMGT3) respectively, proving that speed is a key factor not only on the racetrack.</p>

<h2>K&eacute;vin Estre clinches Hyperpole for Porsche</h2>

<p>Hyperpole was a melting pot of suspense and emotions. K&eacute;vin Estre of Porsche Penske Motorsport pulled out a perfect lap at the death&nbsp;to snatch pole position for the #6 Porsche 963. As the minutes ticked down, Cadillac appeared to have the fastest time in the bag until the Frenchman maximised the potential of his Porsche to offer the German manufacturer its 19th pole position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.<br />
In LMGT3, Inception Racing&rsquo;s Brendan Iribe was fastest in the #70 McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo, securing the British constructor&rsquo;s first Le Mans pole position and marking a historic first step into this new class.<br />
In LMP2, Louis Del&eacute;traz dominated the session to take pole position to the AO by TF #14 Oreca 07-Gibson. He put in a remarkable performance to place his team in an ideal position before the start.</p>

<h2>The carnival atmosphere of the Drivers&rsquo; Grand&nbsp;parade</h2>

<p>The emblematic Drivers&rsquo; Parade is one of the highlights of Le Mans race week and, once again, it enthralled the crowds. With the event restored to its usual Friday late-afternoon time slot this year, almost 200,000 people lined the streets along the 4.4-kilometre route. The unmissable parade is a tremendous opportunity for fans to greet the drivers and enjoy a moment of fun with them before they return to the serious business.</p>

<h2>Zin&eacute;dine Zidane brandishes the start flag</h2>

<p>Former French international footballer Zin&eacute;dine Zidane signalled the start of the 92nd 24 Hours of Le Mans at precisely 4 p.m. Although Laurens Vanthoor, at the wheel of the #6 Porsche 963, held off his rivals into the Dunlop Chivane, the #50 Ferrari 499P driven by Nicklas Nielsen completed the first lap in the lead.</p>

<p>The same car was also the first to the chequered flag 24 hours later, as Nielsen, Antonio Fuoco and Miguel Molina secured Ferrari&rsquo;s 11th outright win and the second in a row. Strategies went out of the window as the rain-affected race was severely interrupted by safety car periods.&nbsp;<br />
The LMP2 class was won by United Autosports&rsquo; #22 Oreca 07-Gibson driven by Oliver Jarvis, Bijoy Garg and Nolan Siegel, whereas Porsche came out on top in LMGT3 with the Manthey EMA trio of Yasser Shahin, Morris Schuring and Richard Lietz bringing home the #91 911 GT3 R LMGT3 in top spot. As they say, a picture paints a thousand words! We are therefore giving you the opportunity to relive the race through a selection of the finest taken by the ACO&rsquo;s official photographers (scroll left to view).&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Release of emotions</h2>

<p>After 24 hours of intense effort, stress and pent-up feelings, the various class podiums were scenes of unbridled joy as the winners proudly showed their trophy to the fans crowded below. The 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans role of honour:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Overall classification: #50 Ferrari 499P &ndash; Ferrari AF Corse &ndash; Antonio Fuoco/Miguel Molina/Nicklas Nielsen</li>
	<li>LMP2: #22 Oreca 07-Gibson &ndash; United Autosports &ndash; Bijoy Carg/Oliver Jarvis/Nolan Siegel</li>
	<li>LMGT3: #91 Porsche 911 GT3-R LMGT3 &ndash; Manthey EMA &ndash; Richard Lietz/Yasser Shahin/Morris Schuring</li>
	<li>LMP2 Pro/Am: #183 Oreca 07-Gibson &ndash; AF Corse &ndash; Ben Barnicoat/Fran&ccedil;ois Perrodo/Nicol&aacute;s Varrone</li>
</ul>

<p>The 24 Hours of Le Mans once again delivered an unforgettable spectacle for the 92nd staging of the event. Thanks to the skilled eye of our photographers, key moments and scenes of emotion were captured for eternity.<br />
We now look forward to the 93rd edition (11-15 June 2025) when the camera lenses will once again be focused on the world&rsquo;s greatest endurance race.<br />
</p>

2024 Review – The finest photographs from the 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans cemented the race's pioneering role in committing to responsible and sustainable best practices. Several initiatives aimed at reducing its environmental impact were implemented involving cutting-edge technologies as well as increased public awareness and societal commitment. Here is a look back.

<p>Excellium Racing 100 has fuelled&nbsp;the cars at&nbsp;24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans and in the&nbsp;FIA WEC since 2022, representing&nbsp;the values ​​of reduced consumption and carbon-free mobility&nbsp;in sync with the goals of the ACO,&nbsp;FIA ​​and TotalEnergies</p>

<p>Tyre&nbsp;manufacturers have also played their part. Goodyear has decreased by&nbsp;33% the LMGT3 and LMP2 tyre quota thanks a special&nbsp;specification, and Michelin outfitted the 23 Hypercars at the start with tyres capable of lasting four stints without&nbsp;loss of&nbsp;performance. Also, the&nbsp;Michelin Pilot Sport Wet tyre for the&nbsp;Hypercars is made with&nbsp;45%&nbsp;renewable and recycled materials.</p>

<h2>Hydrogen Takes Center Stage</h2>

<p><br />
The programme for the 92nd edition provided&nbsp;an excellent&nbsp;showcase for hydrogen cars with&nbsp;a&nbsp;spectacular running of four prototypes&nbsp;including Alpine&#39;s Alpenglow. The&nbsp;H24EVO, the third hydrogen-electric&nbsp;prototype released by&nbsp;MissionH24, was unveiled.&nbsp;The crowd&nbsp;was able to check out&nbsp;the car&#39;s&nbsp;sleek and revolutionary lines, ushering in a new and promising era. A hydrogen tuk-tuk also achieved an endurance record with&nbsp;only 2 kg of hydrogen while driving for 24 hours on the Alain Prost karting circuit!</p>

<p>The hydrogen village welcomed visitors with educational and fun activities, notably thanks to Horizon Educational and its remote-controlled car circuit and&nbsp;hydrogen fuelling demonstrations. No less than 20 partners and exhibitors participated.</p>

<h2>YOUTH, innovation AND&nbsp;accessibilitY: COMMITTMENTS FOR THE FUTURE</h2>

<p>YOUTH, innovation AND&nbsp;accessibilitY: COMMITTMENTS FOR THE FUTURE</p>

<p>The Green Ticket, available for the third year in a row, earned funds for&nbsp;M&eacute;c&eacute;nat Chirurgie Cardiaque.&nbsp;Those donations financed a life-saving operation for Abdoulaye, a&nbsp;Guinean boy, who suffered from a dysfunctional&nbsp;Ductus Arteriosus (the operation took place on 23 September at the hospital in&nbsp;Nantes, France). Meanwhile,&nbsp;efforts in carpooling, public transportation and soft mobility&nbsp;intensified.</p>

<p>The circuit also opened its gates to&nbsp;young&nbsp;fans on Tuesday&nbsp;11 June, Wednesday&nbsp;12 June and Friday&nbsp;14 June. On Tuesday,&nbsp;330 students from eight schools got to meet&nbsp;Lo&iuml;c Duval and&nbsp;Team Peugeot TotalEnergies driver&nbsp;Stoffel Vandoorne.&nbsp;These schoolchildren were able to discover the values ​​of endurance racing&nbsp;through educational projects.</p>

<p>During the&nbsp;24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans press conference, the positive innovation facet&nbsp;of the&nbsp;2024 Sustainable Endurance Award by DHL rewarded&nbsp;Ferrari AF Corse, Team WRT and&nbsp;Alpine Endurance Team for their efforts. These teams received a new trophy made in Brittany out of sustainable French wood by Ewan Bryce. The ACO has also expanded facilities for individuals&nbsp;with reduced mobility with 11 dedicated areas and personalised support.</p>

<p>With its&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-of-le-mans-granted-iso-20121-and-fia-3-certifications-58882" target="_blank">ISO 20121 certifications and FIA 3* environmental accreditation</a></strong>&nbsp;(the F&eacute;d&eacute;ration Internationale de l&rsquo;Automobile&#39;s highest distinction), the&nbsp;24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans has solidified its status as a model for&nbsp;responsible event management. The greatest endurance&nbsp;race in the world continue to inspire and pave the way towards a more sustainable future.</p>

2024 Review – The 92nd running champions sustainability

Le Mans, Ignite your senses | Since 1923, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been regarded as the ultimate test in endurance racing. Only 145 drivers and 25 brands have ever reached the top step on the podium. The race is regarded as the Everest of motorsport by fans and competitors alike. Every triumph recorded in the history of the French endurance classic tells the story of an extraordinary conquest, destined to be remembered for all time.

<h2>The rich flavour of victory</h2>

<p>The 24 Hours of Le Mans is so much more than just a race. It is a monumental challenge, where the taste of victory is rich and complex. For some, it&rsquo;s the long-awaited redemption, a dream finally achieved after years of hard work and sacrifice. For others, it&rsquo;s <strong>the&nbsp;joy of coming through a gruelling ordeal</strong>, with every lap a battle against time, mechanical issues and the ever-changing elements.</p>

<p>Yet, triumph can leave a more bittersweet aftertaste. 2013 was a poignant example of this. As <strong>Tom Kristensen</strong> secured a record-breaking ninth victory, the tragic loss of his compatriot Allan Simonsen cast a sombre shadow over the celebrations</p>

<h2>Reaching the chequered flag, a victory in itself</h2>

<p>Taking part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans means competing at the pinnacle of endurance racing, while confronting a challenge unlike any other. For many teams, simply crossing the finish line is considered a victory in itself. It&rsquo;s a feeling that reflects the remarkable nature of the event, where the experience holds almost as much weight as the outcome. As the teams overcome technical, sporting and human challenges, the very essence of endurance is brought to the forefront.</p>

<p>In the last two years, Ferrari AF Corse has savoured two wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.&nbsp;<strong>Kenji Concy</strong>, a mechanic for the Italian team assigned to the Ferrari&nbsp;499P, enjoyed the even sweeter taste of triumph at the Centenary edition.&nbsp;He tells us what victory feels like.</p>

<p>For him, the feeling is above all &ldquo;<strong>insatiable</strong>.&rdquo; &ldquo;<em>Once you&rsquo;ve won the race, you want to savour that taste of victory again.&nbsp;At the start of the race, you never know what to expect. But when you&rsquo;re at the top of the leaderboard, the more the time goes by, the more you start to believe it can happen. Paradoxically, though, the doubts grow stronger because anything can happen, right up to the very last moment. It&rsquo;s only when the chequered flag is lowered that you finally realise.&nbsp;That&rsquo;s when the real taste of victory hits</em>,&rdquo; he says.</p>

<p>When asked what epitomises the taste of success, the mechanic quickly replies, &ldquo;<em>Champagne, though enjoyed in moderation!</em>&rdquo;&nbsp;But beyond the celebration, it&rsquo;s the memory of the team effort that will stay with him. &ldquo;<em>Since the start of our campaign, we&rsquo;ve come through a lot together.&nbsp;For six months, it was test after test. And before the tests, there was the entire assembly of the car. It was exhausting. I&rsquo;ll always think back to the path that led to victory. It was filled with obstacles and sleepless nights</em><em>.&quot;</em></p>

<h2>An indelible taste</h2>

<p>Engaging our sight, sense of smell, touch, taste and hearing, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a powerful, multi-sensory experience. Victory, when it comes, is the culmination of a journey fraught with challenges. Yet it is this blend of perseverance, doubt and hope that gives it a flavour both distinctive and deeply cherished. At Le Mans, victory embodies the essence of teamwork, the sweet taste of accomplishment, and the lasting resonance of a dream fulfilled.</p>

The taste of victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: hard work, dreams and emotion

<p>Visitors to the Cit&eacute; de l&#39;Automobile will be delighted to see the Matra 530 Vignale, Jean-Pierre Beltoise&rsquo;s Formula One MS 11/12 and a Le Mans Matra MS 63. All three are 1968 models and showcase the French carmaker&rsquo;s talent for design. The marque won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1972, 1973 and 1974 and the MS 630 is likely to attract attention from sports car racing fans.</p>

<p>The MS 630 was the only Matra entered in the 1968 Le Mans, which was postponed to September due to the student and worker revolt in May of that year. Although the MS 630 did not win, it made history due to a particularly difficult night. Johnny Servoz-Gavin was in third place when the windscreen wipers stopped working. He refused to do another stint, considering the conditions too dangerous. His teammate Henri Pescarolo took the wheel, negotiating the driving rain throughout the night, only for the MS 630 to retire shortly before the end of the race due to a blown tyre that caused a fire in the pits. Still, Pescarolo had made a name for himself!&nbsp;</p>

<p>Head to Mulhouse to see the car and be whisked back to an era that although recent history, seems light years away.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Photo: If you&rsquo;re in Alsace this summer, don&rsquo;t miss the Matra MS 630 at the Cit&eacute; de l&rsquo;Automobile in Mulhouse.</strong></p>

24H LE MANS

The Matra MS 630 1968 on show in Mulhouse

Related News

How drivers savour the Le Mans experience

2024 Review – The finest photographs from the 24 Hours of Le Mans

2024 Review – The 92nd running champions sustainability

The taste of victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: hard work, dreams and emotion

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