The M24 Museum in Le Mans – Experience history up close
- thereserotschne
- Jul 26
- 5 min read
Therese Rotschne I Visit June 28, 2026 Re-Opening
There are places you never forget – and then there are places you have to return to again and again. The M24 Museum in Le Mans is exactly the latter. I had the great privilege of visiting the newly reopened museum on its very first day and being one of the first people to walk through the new halls.
And I can say in advance: What was already impressive has increased enormously once again.
Where legends come alive
Anyone who loves motorsport will feel it the moment they step inside: every fiber of this place breathes history. Le Mans cars, iconic racing vehicles, prototypes, and classics stand side by side – a journey through decades of the 24-hour race. You don't even know where to look first.
An honor, with an Austrian touch
What particularly moved me was the tribute to two exceptional Austrian drivers: Jochen Rindt and Niki Lauda are given due recognition here. As an Austrian, I get goosebumps at that moment. Jochen Rindt was even honored with his own breathtakingly staged racing track installation – a tribute that uniquely captures his class and courage.
Jochen Rindt won Le Mans in 1965 – together with Masten Gregory in a Ferrari 250 LM of the North American Racing Team (NART). It was a sensational victory against the factory teams.
Niki Lauda, on the other hand, never won Le Mans. He was one of the all-time greats of Formula 1 (three-time world champion), but never stood on the top step of the Le Mans podium.
Emotion, endurance, victories
Ultimately, Le Mans is exactly that: emotion, endurance, victories . It's the sweat of 24 hours on the limit, the jubilation after a night's driving, the tears of exhaustion and triumph. This museum captures all of that – the boundless passion, the indomitable will, and the unforgettable moments when drivers became legends. You don't just leave the halls impressed, but deeply moved.
Ferrari at Le Mans – the return of a legend
Ferrari's history at Le Mans is one of the most glorious in all of motorsport. In the 1960s, the Scuderia dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans at will, winning six consecutive editions between 1960 and 1965. The last of these triumphs came in 1965 with the Ferrari 250 LM – a sensational victory for Jochen Rindt. Afterward, Ferrari withdrew from the top tier of endurance racing and concentrated for decades on Formula 1 and GT racing.
An overall victory at Le Mans eluded them for an incredible 58 years .
The comeback was all the more spectacular: in 2023, for the race's 100th anniversary, Ferrari returned to the Hypercar class with the brand-new 499P – and won on their very first attempt. A goosebump moment for the entire motorsport world. And it didn't stop there: Ferrari also won in 2024 and 2025 – three consecutive overall victories, the first since the golden 1960s. This meant the Scuderia could keep the winner's trophy forever. The 499P made history and remains undefeated at Le Mans to this day.
Workshop live – clean, cool and fascinating
A highlight for every technology enthusiast: the live workshop . Clean, cool, and full of incredible cars. Here you don't just see the vehicles, but experience how they are maintained, restored, and kept running. Motorsport up close – that's what a modern museum should be.
Perfection in detail
And then there are these models. Breathtaking miniatures of virtually every car that ever lined up at Le Mans – and in their exact original liveries. For collectors like myself, it's a true paradise. You could spend hours discovering every single detail.
A style that made history
The fashion also deserves special attention: the original racing suits are skillfully showcased here – and one can only marvel. This simplicity, this coolness, which is something one can only dream of today. No cluttered jumble of sponsors, but clean lines, fine materials, and an elegance that lends the drivers of this era something truly timeless. Motorsport was never just about technology – it was always also about style.
The Ferrari Race Truck
An absolute masterpiece of staging: the faithfully recreated Ferrari race truck . So meticulously detailed and authentically recreated that you truly feel like you're standing right in the middle of the paddock. A breathtaking racing truck, surrounded by engines and mechanics – and watching over it all from Enzo's pertinent gaze . You can practically feel the tension, the oil in the air, the concentrated activity before the big race. Here, history isn't just told, it's brought to life. Simply breathtaking.
Pure goosebumps – right in the thick of it, not just a bystander.
And then comes that breathtaking moment: You look at the more modern Le Mans cars from behind – and suddenly the cockpit perspective completely captivates you. It feels as if you're sitting in the race car yourself, the track rushing towards you, the ideal racing line unfolding before you. For an instant, you're no longer a spectator, but a pilot on the legendary Le Mans circuit.
That's precisely the magic that makes this museum so special: it doesn't just display the vehicles – it lets you feel the race. Pure goosebumps. 🏁
A chat that made everything even more special
What truly made this visit unforgettable for me was a personal moment: a pleasant chat with museum director Fabrice Bourrigaud . With palpable passion, he spoke about the vision behind the new M24 Musée, the attention to detail, and the dedication that has gone into every corner of this building.
It is precisely these encounters – from enthusiast to enthusiast – that transform a great museum into an extraordinary experience.
Thank you, Fabrice, and thank you, Le Mans. I'll be back. 🏁
The Austrian overall winners in Le Mans:
Jochen Rindt – Victory 1965 (Ferrari 250 LM, with Masten Gregory)
Helmut Marko – Victory 1971 (Porsche 917, with Gijs van Lennep; legendary distance record)
Alexander Wurz – two-time overall winner (1996 with Porsche/Joest, 2009 with Peugeot); in 1996 the youngest Le Mans winner ever
Other notable Austrian participants:
Niki Lauda – Formula 1 World Champion, started in Le Mans, but without an overall victory
Jo Gartner – died in a crash at Le Mans in 1986
Gottfrid Köchert – the “racing jeweler”, the first Austrian after the Second World War in Le Mans (Ferrari 500 TRC)
Dieter Quester – multiple long-distance and Le Mans starter
Walter Lechner Sr. – several Le Mans appearances in a Porsche
Franz Konrad – long-time sports car and Le Mans driver
Richard Lietz – Porsche works driver, multiple starter and GT class winner
Horst Felbermayr Sr. & Jr. – the Upper Austrian father-son team (LMP2/GT)
Martin Ragginger , Dominik Kraihamer , Norbert Siedler , Klaus Bachler – modern long-distance drivers
Ferdinand Habsburg – current Hypercar driver (Alpine), with a chance of overall victory
PHOTO Therese Rotschne Leica D-Lux 7
TEXT Therese Rotschne
26.7.26
Comments