Le Mans Classic 2026: A New Chapter in Sarthe

📍 ‘Big news: Le Mans Classic transforms from a biennial shrine to an annual endurance-car festival from 2–5 July 2026.’
 
◼︎New format: The first of a two-part cycle — Le Mans Classic Legend — spotlights cars from 1975–2015.
 
◼︎ Alternating heritage: 2027 will return to earlier eras (1923–1974) under Le Mans Classic Heritage.
 
◼︎ Grids 6–10 define Legend’s on-track chapters: from raw turbo prototypes to high-tech GT icons.
 
◼︎ More than nostalgia: bespoke on-track racing, club paddocks and off-circuit entertainment keep the weekend buzzing.
 
♔ Full Story — Sarthe’s Rebooted Classic
 
◼︎ There’s heritage, and then there’s heritage on steroids.
 
Come July 2026, the hallowed Circuit de la Sarthe will host a reinvention of Le Mans Classic — not merely dusted off but remodelled for a new generation of aficionados.
 
Once every two years, the Classic was a pilgrimage for pre-1970 machines and their devotees. Its success, however, demanded a grander stage.
 
◼︎ Enter Le Mans Classic Legend (2–5 July 2026) — the first instalment of an annual programme.
 
Think of it as endurance racing’s greatest hits from 1975 right through to 2015, periods that gave us Group C titans, McLaren F1 GTRs, roaring turbo beasts and modern GT warriors.
 
These aren’t mere demonstrations: grids 6–10 will compete in full racing sessions, grouped by era for authentic pace and competition.
 
◼︎ In odd years, Legend will dominate. In even-numbered years (starting in 2027), Classic will return to its roots with Heritage, celebrating the earliest chapters of the 24 Heures du Mans from 1923 onward.
 
Off-track, expect the usual cocktail of grills, exhibitions and club culture that has made Classic weekends a must-see.
 
📍 ‘In short: Sarthe’s history may be unchangeable, but the way we savour it just got a thrilling reboot.’
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