On November 10, 1885, engineer Gottlieb Daimler's son Paul traveled five kilometers on the handlebars of the first motorcycle, the "petroleum reitwagen" (gas carriage) developed with the help of Wilhelm Maybach. On June 15, 1952, Daimler-Benz won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.

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24 Heures du Mans

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The Asian Le Mans Series moved into the second half of the 2024-25 season at this weekend’s 4 Hours of Dubai. In LMP2, Algarve Pro Racing proved that they are the team to beat with both cars winning over the weekend, while the battle in LMP3 and GT is more open than ever.

After winning Race 2 at the 4 Hours of Sepang in December, Algarve Pro Racing&rsquo;s #25 Oreca 07-Gibson followed up by claiming victory in Race 1 of the 4 Hours of Dubai this weekend. Michael Jensen, Valerio Rinicella and Malthe Jakobsen shared the wheel. The Portuguese outfit dominated the LMP2 field throughout the weekend.

In Race 2, it was turn of the #20 Oreca driven by Kriton Lentoudis, Olli Caldwell and Alex Quinn to take the honours. Quinn took advantage of a mistake in traffic by Proton Competition&rsquo;s Tom Dillmann (#22 Oreca) to snatch the lead a few minutes before the chequered flag.

In the general classification, RD Limited, second in Race 2, lies just three points adrift of Algarve Pro Racing&rsquo;s #25 Oreca with 69 points, while the win in Race 2 takes Algarve&#39;s #20 car up into third place with 63 points.

<h2>LMP3&nbsp;&ndash; Ultimate holds on in the face of a mounting challenge</h2>

In LMP3, Bretton Racing won Race 1 with the #26 Ligier JS P320-Nissan on the back of a stellar performance by Jens Reno Moeller, Griffin Peebles and Theodor Jensen, while RLR MSport&rsquo;s #15 Ligier, driven by Chris Short, Nick Adcock and Ian Aguilera, secured top spot in Race 2. 
Ultimate&rsquo;s car #35 continues to lead the standings with 70 points, but Bretton Racing (#26, 67 points) and High Class Racing (#49, 65 points) will be looking to leap on the slightest error in the season&rsquo;s final rounds in Abu Dhabi.

<h2>Winward Racing still leads the way&nbsp;in GT</h2>

Dubai offered two breathtaking battles in GT. In the first leg, the #96 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO fielded by 2 Seas Motorsport claimed victory amid the last-gasp drama. Manthey&rsquo;s leading #10 Porsche 911 GT3 R had to make a quick fuel stop just two minutes from the end, leaving Ben Barnicoat, Anthony MacIntosh and Parker Thompson to clinch the honours. 
In Race 2, the #99 Porsche driven by Herberth Motorsport&rsquo;s line-up of Ralf Bohn, Robert Renauer and&nbsp;Alfred Renauer came out on top following an intense battle with Winward Racing&rsquo;s #81 Mercedes and EBM&rsquo;s #89 Aston Martin. Just 12 seconds separated the three cars at the chequered flag.

Winward Racing nonetheless retains the championship lead with 60 points, ahead of Manthey EMA&rsquo;s #92 Porsche (45 points), 2 Seas Motorsport&rsquo;s #96 Mercedes and Manthey&rsquo;s #10 Porsche (both on 43 points).

After four rounds in the six-race season, the suspense is bubbling nicely ahead of the championship climax in Abu Dhabi next weekend. Will Algarve Pro Racing continue to dominate the LMP2 field? Will Ultimate hold off the LMP3 challengers? Who will be crowned GT champions?&nbsp;Who will grab a golden ticket to the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans (11-15 June 2025)? The winners of the LMP2 and GT classes will secure their place on the grid for the French endurance classic.

Before turning our attention to Abu Dhabi, let&#39;s sit back and enjoy the highlights of both rounds of the 4 Hours of Dubai.

4 Hours of Dubai - Race 1 Highlights

Asian Le Mans Series : les meilleurs moments de la course 1 des 4 Heures de Dubaï

4 Hours of Dubai - Race 2 Highlights

Asian Le Mans Series : les faits marquants de la course 2 des 4 Heures de Dubaï

Asian Le Mans Series – Algarve Pro Racing at the double in the 4 Hours of Dubai

Aston Martin is making its comeback to the top of endurance racing with the Valkyrie developed by Aston Martin Performance Technologies and American team The Heart of Racing. The one-of-a-kind car is the only Hypercar developed directly from a road model.

Adam Carter, Aston Martin&rsquo;s Head of Endurance Motorsport: &quot;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/aston-martin-thor-team-unveils-valkyrie-livery-59319" target="_blank">Aston Martin Valkyrie</a> is not just a Hypercar. It is a revolution in automotive engineering history representing the pinnacle of performance, design and innovation. With an extraordinary fusion of F1 technology and road car mastery, Valkyrie is truly built for racing.&quot;

This Hypercar is powered by a unique 6.5-litre&nbsp;naturally aspirated V12 engine designed by Cosworth that&nbsp;reaches 11,000 rpm and develops more than 1,000 hp. To comply with Hypercar regulations,&nbsp;it has been optimised to deliver 680 hp&nbsp;while guaranteeing the energy efficiency crucial to&nbsp;endurance racing.

Carter: &quot;Running lean to reduce the amount of fuel you are carrying to deliver the required stint energy is important. We operate the engine slower than it&#39;s capable of because we require less power. The lower power limit within the regulations creates an opportunity for us to revisit the torque curve and reduce frictional losses by reducing engine speed to increase fuel efficiency.&quot;

Designed by&nbsp;Aston Martin&#39;s creative director, Marek Reichman, and&nbsp;Adrian Newey, one of the greatest F1 engineers in history, the Valkyrie&#39;s aerodynamics are a product of tried-and-true experience.&nbsp;The transition from road to track was executed in compliance with FIA regulations all while retaining the original model&#39;s exceptional foundation.&nbsp;Carter: &quot;As with every competition Aston Martin, ultimately we are taking an extremely performant vehicle and tailoring its characteristics and capabilities to the requirements of the regulations, and within that optimising performance opportunities.&quot;

<h2>A Transformation Suited for Endurance Racing</h2>

To take on the&nbsp;24 Hours of Le Mans, the Valkyrie Hypercar has been modified in several key areas. It&nbsp;boasts&nbsp;a carbon fiber body with removable front and rear components&nbsp;for speedy&nbsp;replacement&nbsp;and is equipped with&nbsp;a 7-speed Xtrac sequential gearbox.&nbsp;Refuellings will go&nbsp;fast&nbsp;thanks to a single-nozzle system and the car is fitted with integrated jacks so it can&nbsp;be raised quickly during pit stops for efficient wheel&nbsp;changes. The Valkyrie is equipped&nbsp;with 18-inch Michelin Pilot Sport tyres in compliannce&nbsp;with Hypercar regulations.

Carter: &quot;The absolute performance is limited by the regulations, irrespective of development. There&rsquo;s a minimum weight, a power limitation through driveshaft torque control and an aerodynamic performance window.&quot;

Aston Martin is seeking&nbsp;to reclaim&nbsp;former glory by fielding&nbsp;the Valkyrie in the Hypercar class, offering a spectacular alternative to Alpine, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche and Toyota. This&nbsp;comeback and the goal of overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans&nbsp;mark&nbsp;a new chapter in the&nbsp;British marque&#39;s illustrious legacy.

Aston Martin Valkyrie: a sports car icon headed to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans

Le Mans, Ignite your Senses | The 24 Hours of the Le Mans, synonymous with performance and elegance, stokes passions and stimulates senses. Smells can be particularly evocative and often contribute to the collective memory of an event. Corania was established in Marseille in 1934 for that very purpose. The perfumer has recently created a range of perfumes that capture the essence of the world’s greatest endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Corania is no ordinary perfume house. Drawing on its solid founding qualities &ndash; quality, innovation and a dash of audacity &ndash; the fragrance maker has blended elegance and modernity to create unique scents. Just like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Corania has that special French touch celebrated the world over. As we all know, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is much more than a sports fixture: the race is a slice of history that transcends the frontiers of time and place. The famous circuit was voted <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/fr/actualites/le-mythique-circuit-des-24-heures-du-mans-elu-monument-prefere-des-francais-58970" target="_blank">France&rsquo;s favourite monument for 2024</a>.

Cette vision commune a donn&eacute; naissance &agrave; la collection &laquo; 24H Le Mans &raquo;, une ligne de parfums qui va au-del&agrave; du simple produit pour devenir un hommage sensoriel &agrave; la course.

<h2>Notes that evoke history</h2>

Each of the fragrances was created with the greatest care to reflect the soul of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Corania&rsquo;s perfumers drew inspiration from the elements that make the race unique:

<ul>
	<li>The smell of leather interiors and comfortable cockpits;</li>
	<li>The celebration of speed and state-of-the-art engineering;</li>
	<li>Deep notes of amber and spice translate the excitement, the adrenaline of the race;</li>
	<li>Earthy woodland notes pay tribute to the surrounding forests.</li>
</ul>

These unique compositions whisk the wearer to the heart of the action, recreating the emotions associated with being at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. &ldquo;We worked hand in hand with talented perfumers to create fragrances that encapsulate the history and spirit of the famous event.&quot;

In line with the Automobile Club de l&rsquo;Ouest&rsquo;s CSR commitments, Corania selected partners that conduct their business in an ethical manner. &ldquo;We also worked on eco-responsible packaging, using partially recycled and recyclable materials.&rdquo; Only products that respect the environment can reflect the true essence of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

<h2>Scent is part of the 24 Hours of Le Mans</h2>

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an all-round sensory experience. <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/smell-sense-fuels-the-spirit-of-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-59149" target="_blank">Smell sense fuels the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans</a>.

The smells of the paddock, the woodland that surrounds the circuit are part of the race and its heritage. These perfumes reflect that rich history, conjuring up its essence in an instant.

With this collection, Corania offer a new way to interact with the 24 Hours of Le Mans. An encounter. The 24H Le Mans range is the fragrance of performance. 
If you&rsquo;ve ever wanted to take the 24 Hours of Le Mans home with you, Corania has the answer: a tribute to the French touch in the shape of a fragrance.

When scent evokes the fervour of the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Alpine Endurance Team has received a substantial boost ahead of the FIA World Endurance Championship 2025 season, including the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans (11-15 June). After a 10-year collaboration with Porsche, Frédéric Makowiecki is joining Alpine Endurance Team with a clear aim: winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Makowiecki is a seasoned professional with a reputation for endurance expertise. His enthusiasm&nbsp;at the idea of joining <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/first-look-at-the-2025-alpine-a424-hypercar-livery-59321">Alpine</a>&nbsp;is unfeigned. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m extremely proud as a French driver,&rdquo;&nbsp;he says.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&#39;s something special to represent a French manufacturer in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the possibility of aiming for an overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, especially as Alpine has a vibrant motorsport history. I&rsquo;m already looking forward to Qatar!&rdquo;

After returning to the top class of endurance in 2024 with the A424 Hypercar, Alpine fully intends to step up a gear in 2025. The arrival of a driver of Makowiecki&rsquo;s stature is a sign of the team&rsquo;s growing ambitions.

<h2>A convincing project</h2>

The French outfit&rsquo;s dynamic approach and work ethic have pleased the experienced recruit.&nbsp;&ldquo;I was attracted by the way the project came to fruition, the way we work, and above all, the desire,&rdquo;&nbsp;he enthuses. &ldquo;I like efficiency, understanding, and using techniques to get things done. I truly liked the team&#39;s approach and development.&rdquo;

The Frenchman has also teamed up again with Alpine Motorsports VP Bruno Famin, with whom he worked over a decade earlier.&nbsp;&ldquo;He gave me my first LMP1 test back in 2011,&rdquo;&nbsp;he recalls, &ldquo;and we&#39;ve kept in touch ever since. I like his approach and &lsquo;racer&rsquo; spirit, which pushes him to question everything to keep moving forward and trying to make the impossible possible.&rdquo;

<h2>Bringing precious experience to&nbsp;Alpine</h2>

With over a decade of endurance experience and an impressive track record, Makowiecki has tools in his locker that will be invaluable to Alpine in developing the A424. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m arriving with great humility,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I was in a sort of routine after ten years with another constructor, so now I have to learn how Alpine works.&rdquo;&nbsp;

His technical development expertise and strategic approach to endurance racing will be highly beneficial to the team. &ldquo;My technical background can also bring a different vision to these very complex prototypes,&rdquo; he insists. &ldquo;The race weekends are short, so we must quickly identify what to do and define priorities and targets. Doing everything better than everyone else will be crucial if we are to get over the final hurdles.&rdquo;

With the Alpine A424 showing constant progress last season, the French team harbours lofty ambitions for 2025. The current frame of mind of both driver and team were revealed when Makowiecki was asked to define Alpine Endurance Team in three words: &ldquo;Potential, French touch and Le Mans target!&rdquo;&nbsp;

His experience, motivation and thirst for performance will be precious assets for his new team.&nbsp; A new adventure that can only delight Makowiecki fans before the real business begins on the racetrack.

Frédéric Makowiecki (Alpine): “I’m arriving with great humility”

24 Heures du Mans 1952

Gottlieb Daimler and his friend&nbsp;Wilhelm Maybach had one clear&nbsp;obsession: to put an internal combustion engine in anything that could be likened to a means of locomotion. After several years of research, namely in&nbsp;Paris, the engine nicknamed &quot;Standuhr&quot; for its resemblance to a grandfather clock was built. After two-wheelers, the two friends moved on to automobiles and in 1890 created Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, later to become Daimler-Benz, the large German&nbsp;automobile group&hellip;

Photo Copyright: Archives/ACO

24H LE MANS

Today's Photo Story - Daimler-Benz wins the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans

Related News

Asian Le Mans Series – Algarve Pro Racing at the double in the 4 Hours of Dubai

Aston Martin Valkyrie: a sports car icon headed to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans

When scent evokes the fervour of the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Frédéric Makowiecki (Alpine): “I’m arriving with great humility”

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