From 2 to 5 July 2026 , the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe will host the first edition of Le Mans Classic Legend , the new event dedicated to the cars that wrote the history of endurance racing between 1976 and 2015.
The event inaugurates the new annual format of Le Mans Classic, which will alternate two distinct events: in even-numbered years, Le Mans Classic Legend will celebrate the most modern racing cars, while in odd-numbered years Le Mans Classic Heritage will bring back to the track cars built between 1923 and 1975.
A formula designed to recount over ninety years of history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, allowing the public to admire in action cars from profoundly different eras, categories, and technical concepts.
The great protagonists of endurance
Le Mans Classic Legend will bring together some of the most iconic endurance racing cars of recent decades.
The French track will once again feature prototypes, Gran Turismos, and cars from the categories that have shaped the evolution of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: from the spectacular Group Cs of the 1980s and 1990s to the most recent stars of international endurance racing.
The program will include practice sessions, qualifying, races, parades, and on-track demonstrations. Activities will continue into the night, recreating one of the most distinctive and captivating atmospheres of the famous French marathon.
Alongside the main competitions, there will be events dedicated to historic Porsches, Endurance Racing Legends cars, and cars belonging to the clubs present on the circuit.
Gordon Murray guest of honor
One of the most anticipated protagonists of the 2026 edition will be Gordon Murray , chosen as the event’s guest of honor.
One of the most influential engineers and designers in the history of motorsport, Murray has linked his name to some of the most innovative racing and road cars ever built.
Among the most significant results of his career was the success achieved by the McLaren F1 GTR at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans , a victory that went down in history as it came on the car’s debut in the French classic.
A special track parade will be held over the weekend featuring some of his most famous creations. Among the cars announced are the McLaren F1, its GTR version, the Brabham BT42, and the McLaren MP4/5B, the single-seater in which Ayrton Senna won the 1990 Formula 1 World Championship.
Also on display will be some of the latest cars produced by Gordon Murray Automotive, including the T.33, T.50 and T.50s Niki Lauda .
A selection of the cars will also be on display inside the village, offering the public the opportunity to retrace the evolution of the British designer’s work.
A festival dedicated to automotive culture
Le Mans Classic is not just a sporting event, but a true festival dedicated to the history and culture of the automobile.
In the paddocks and areas reserved for clubs, it will be possible to admire hundreds of historic cars, meet drivers, collectors and tuners and take a close-up look at cars rarely seen together in the same place.
The program will be completed by exhibitions, parades, concerts, driving simulators and initiatives dedicated to enthusiasts of all ages.
Among the most characteristic events, Little Big Mans will also return , the parade reserved for scale reproductions of the most famous 24 Hours cars, driven by the very young participants on the Bugatti Circuit.
The charm of the Circuit de la Sarthe
The Circuit de la Sarthe remains one of the most iconic and challenging tracks in the world of motorsport.
13.626 kilometers long , it combines permanent sections with sections of road normally open to traffic. High-speed straights, legendary curves, and constant changes of pace have helped build the legend of the 24 Hours of Le Mans since its first edition in 1923.
The first Le Mans Classic took place in 2002, bringing back to the circuit the cars that had participated in the famous French competition during the twentieth century.
With the introduction of the new Legend format, the event now expands its narrative to include the most recent cars, capable of representing the technical, aerodynamic and sporting evolution of endurance racing.
A new chapter for Le Mans Classic
Le Mans Classic Legend 2026 marks the beginning of a new phase for one of the most important events in international historic motorsport.
The decision to make the event an annual event will allow for a more in-depth exploration of the different eras of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, alternating cars from the origins with those from more recent years.
From 2 to 5 July, the Circuit de la Sarthe will once again bring together past and present, celebrating the cars, designers and drivers who have transformed Le Mans into one of the symbolic places in the history of the automobile.