The newly reopened and redesigned museum claims Lewis Hamilton as patron and one of the world’s largest collections of Formula 1 cars.
It’s perhaps the most famous race in history. It’s certainly the oldest and most prestigious endurance sports car race – that’s just a fact. It’s been immortalized through countless documentaries, deep dive television series, and even a blockbuster film. Now, the reopening of the M24 – Museum of Motorsport is not only giving visitors a new up-close-and-personal perspective on the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, but it’s widening the world of motor racing.
Reopening today, May 28, ahead of the 2026 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which begins on June 10-14, the all-new M24 has been conceived as a broader celebration of motorsport as a whole. Developed by MACO, the joint venture between the ACO and Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille, the museum expands beyond endurance racing to encompass Formula 1, rallying, rally raids, IndyCar, and American motorsport culture.
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Originally opened in 1961 by then-ACO president Jean-Marie Lelièvre, the institution previously known as the Museum of the 24 Hours of Le Mans began modestly with almost 11,000 sq ft dedicated to the history of the race. A larger site followed in 1991 near the race circuit’s main entrance in Le Mans, South of France, allowing for a growing collection of race cars loaned by manufacturers and private collectors alike. But the latest transformation marks its most ambitious chapter yet.
After shutting since 2025, the museum now spreads over 92,500 sq ft, housing more than 120 vehicles alongside rare memorabilia and archival objects spanning more than a century of racing history. Among the headline exhibits are the 1924 Bentley 3 Litre Le Mans winner, the 1965 Ford GT40, the Matra 670B, modern Hypercars, Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F2002, and the iconic Lancia Stratos rally car, as well as race-worn items including Ayrton Senna’s suit.
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Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton will also serve as patron of the museum. Upon the announcement, Hamilton described M24 as “more than a traditional car museum,” calling it “a home for motorsport […] that tells the stories of the races, people, and technological innovation that have shaped Le Mans and the wider sport.” He also highlighted the museum’s collection of Formula 1 machinery, which is expected to become one of the largest displays of F1 cars anywhere in the world.
Architect Frédéric Audevard approached the redesign with the visual language of racing in mind. He explained that the building’s “continuous strokes and taut shapes” were inspired by “the aerodynamics, speed, and adrenaline at play in motor racing.” In particular, he drew from the prototypes on the grid of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with sweeping aluminium surfaces intended to capture the speed and adrenaline associated with the sport.
Inside, visitor movement has been carefully choreographed so the experience flows “like the air around a race car,” to create a sense of motion throughout the museum rather than a series of static galleries. This new format and layout lean heavily into immersive storytelling, with state-of-the-art sound design and digital scenography designed to place visitors inside motorsport’s most exciting moments.
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