Stéphane Bern presents 100 years of passion and innovation at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (Video)

On May 26, 1923, a crazy idea came to life in Le Mans: to have racing cars run for 24 hours without interruption.

A century later, the magic of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is still captivating. Next Saturday, at 3:00 PM, the 93rd edition will see the giants of the automobile take to the track with Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche, and Toyota, in a fierce battle for glory.

From its very first edition, the Le Mans race was unlike anything else. It was not just a simple display of speed: it was a battle against time, wear and tear, the night, fatigue… and against oneself. Designed as an open-air laboratory, the race propelled automotive innovation to another level.

Disc brakes, LED and then laser lights, alternative fuels, road surfaces, hybrid systems… so many innovations were born or tested here before equipping our everyday cars. Today, hydrogen is joining the dance, supported by the MissionH24 program. Cleaner, more ambitious, still as spectacular.

An Epic of Drama and Legends

Le Mans is more than just a race. It’s a saga. Images etched in collective memory: Bentley triumphing in the 1920s, the intense Ford-Ferrari duel in the sixties, the improbable victory of Mazda with its rotary engine in 1991, Audi’s relentless dominance, and recently, Ferrari’s triumphant return in Hypercar.

Each decade has written a new chapter, filled with drama, exploits, and moments of eternity. It is this unique blend of raw performance, precise strategy, and vibrant humanity that makes the 24 Hours of Le Mans a pinnacle of motorsport, alongside the Indy 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix.

Since its centennial edition in 2023, the event attracts more than 300,000 enthusiasts from around the world. On-site, in the stands, or in the pits, everyone comes to experience Le Mans. It’s a mechanical festival, a human communion, a raw emotion.

And tomorrow? Tomorrow is already here. The 2025 edition promises to be electric — both figuratively and literally. A grid of 62 cars (compared to 33 in 1923), giants of the industry, a race more open than ever, and one goal: to make history.

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