{"id":88,"date":"2022-05-30T20:07:20","date_gmt":"2022-05-30T20:07:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lemansclassic.com\/?page_id=88"},"modified":"2026-09-28T10:24:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T09:24:22","slug":"grids","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lemansclassic.com\/en\/competition\/plateaux\/","title":{"rendered":"Grids"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n \n \n \n\t\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n
\n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\nCompetition\n<\/h5>

\n\n\n Grids<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/h2><\/div>\n<\/section>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n Edition<\/span>\n\n 2027<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/h4>
\nGrids 1 to 6\n<\/h6>
\n
You 1 to 4 july 2027<\/strong>, Le Mans Classic will celebrate 25 years old<\/strong> of an adventure that began in 2002 alongside the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. For this edition, the grids 1 to 6 will return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans Circuit<\/strong> and will put the cars that wrote the opening decades of the event back on the track.<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div><\/div>
Hunaudi\u00e8res, Mulsanne, Indianapolis, Arnage... The full 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit will once again open in its long-distance configuration, one of only two events to use it. A rare layout, inextricably linked with motor racing history. Since 2002, drivers, collectors, clubs, teams, marshals and spectators have been making Le Mans Classic grow together.<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nOrigins: the pioneers of the circuit\n<\/h6>

\nGrid 1\n<\/h2>

\n1923 - 1939\n<\/h6>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n \t <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>
\n

Where it all started. <\/strong>In 1923, the 24 Hours of Le Mans opened a new chapter in motoring history. For 24 hours, manufacturers and private competitors came to pit their machines against an unprecedented challenge: go the distance, go fast and push the limits of reliability.<\/p>

More than a century later, Grid 1 brings this pioneering era back to life on the full Le Mans circuit. Some cars are over 90 years old, their gearboxes are unsynchronised and their braking belongs to another era. Yet they already exceed 100 mph on the Mulsanne Straight.<\/p>

Seeing them take to the track again today, right where their history was written, offers one of the most striking journeys back in time at Le Mans Classic.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nOn the track\n<\/h6>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nQualification:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nFree practice:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nRaces:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\n1\n<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\n2\n<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nLe Mans Reborn: The Post-War Renaissance\n<\/h6>

\nGrid 2\n<\/h2>

\n1949 - 1956\n<\/h6>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n \t <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>
\n

Le Mans springs back to life, and the battle shifts to another dimension. <\/strong>After a ten-year hiatus, the 24 Hours of Le Mans returned to the track in 1949. A new generation of manufacturers quickly made their mark: Ferrari won the event upon its return, while Jaguar left a deep impression on the 1950s with its legendary C and D-Types. Talbot and Mercedes also added their names to the winners' list during a period when performance and innovation were advancing at a rapid pace.<\/p>

But Le Mans remains also the playground of enthusiasts and \u00abmechanical wizards\u00bb. Alongside the major marques, independent craftsmen and privateer competitors design their own machines, experiment and strive for performance with the means available to them.<\/p>

Plateau 2 brings back to life this rich period when Jaguar, Ferrari, Talbot, Mercedes, DB and Panhard were all telling the same story: that of a Le Mans in full renaissance, where every idea could still make a difference.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nOn the track\n<\/h6>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nQualification:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nFree practice:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nRaces:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nSixties 1: the first modern GTs
& mythical prototypes\n<\/h6>

\nGrid 3\n<\/h2>

\n1957 - 1961\n<\/h6>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n \t <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>
\n

Ferrari lay down the law, Aston Martin gatecrash the battle. <\/strong>In the late 1950s, Ferrari took on a new dimension at Le Mans. Already formidable in major road races, the Italian marque gradually transformed La Sarthe into its own territory of conquest, chaining together successes against ever-tougher competition.<\/p>

However, in 1959 Aston Martin interrupted this domination by claiming its only victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was a major success for the British marque, before Ferrari quickly reclaimed the advantage and continued its march forward.<\/p>

Plateau 3 plunges back into that period when major European brands engaged in an intense battle of speed, endurance and prestige.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nOn the track\n<\/h6>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nQualification:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nFree practice:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nRaces:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\n3\n<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\n4\n<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nSixties 2: The Age of Legends\n<\/h6>

\nGrid 4\n<\/h2>

\n1962 - 1965\n<\/h6>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n \t <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>
\n

Ferrari still dominates. But America is arriving. <\/strong>At the beginning of the 1960s, Ferrari reigned supreme at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, racking up victory after victory. The Italian brand asserted its mastery of endurance racing, while GT cars assumed an ever more important role in the race.<\/p>

Yet a new adversary is preparing. Ford is making its first steps at Le Mans before entering the GT40 and Cobra Daytona, heralding a clash that will profoundly mark the history of the event.<\/p>

Plateau 4 recounts this pivotal moment: the one where European dominance begins to falter in the face of the massive arrival of American manufacturers.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nOn the track\n<\/h6>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nQualification:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nFree practice:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nRaces:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nClassic Endurance: the pinnacle of endurance
with Ford, Ferrari & Porsche\n<\/h6>

\nGrid 5\n<\/h2>

\n1966 - 1971\n<\/h6>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n \t <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>
\n

Ford strikes hard, Porsche takes over. <\/strong>From 1966, Le Mans changed scale. Ford imposed its GT40 and came to challenge Ferrari with spectacular dominance, going so far as to monopolise the podium. The 1967 race, which has become legendary for the quality of its grid and the level of performance achieved, marks one of the peaks of this confrontation.<\/p>

Ford continued its winning streak into 1969 and firmly etched the GT40 into the history of Le Mans. Then Porsche took over and pushed the limits of performance even further, until in 1971 they set a record 24-hour average speed that would remain a benchmark for several decades.<\/p>

Plateau 5 revives this turning point, when American power and German mastery redefined the standards of endurance.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nOn the track\n<\/h6>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nQualification:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nFree practice:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nRaces:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\n5\n<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\n6\n<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\nGrid 6\n<\/h2>

\nProto 1972 - 1981\n<\/h6>
\nGT 1975 - 1984\n<\/h6>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n \t <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>
\n
This grid brings together prototypes entered between 1972 and 1981, as well as GTs produced between 1975 and 1984.<\/strong> It marks a transitional era in endurance racing: prototypes were evolving rapidly, combining advanced aerodynamics with the emergence of turbocharged engines. On the GT side, cars derived from production models \u2014 such as the Porsche 935 or the Ferrari 512 BB LM \u2014 dominated their categories. Porsche enjoyed overwhelming success throughout the decade with models like the 936 and the 908\/3, but other manufacturers also made a lasting impact, including Lancia and Rondeau. In 1980, Jean Rondeau even became the only driver to win Le Mans at the wheel of a car bearing his own name.<\/div>
This grid highlights a period rich in technical diversity, on the eve of the arrival of Group C.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nOn the track\n<\/h6>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nQualification:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nFree practice:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nRaces:\n<\/div>
\n-\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n \t <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>

\n\n\n Legend Edition<\/span>\n\n 2026<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\nGrid 7\n<\/h2>

\nGroup C 1982 - 1993\n<\/h6>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n \t <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>
\n
This grid is dedicated to Group C prototypes entered between 1982 and 1993. The Group C regulations focused on fuel consumption rather than outright power, pushing manufacturers to innovate in aerodynamics and engine management. Porsche dominated the early part of the decade with its 956 and 962, before the arrival of major manufacturers such as Jaguar, Sauber-Mercedes, Nissan, Toyota, and Peugeot.<\/div>
Mazda\u2019s victory in 1991 remains a truly singular moment, featuring the only rotary engine ever to win at Le Mans.<\/div>
This grid pays tribute to a period when performance was measured over long distance, and when 1000 km endurance races reigned supreme in the championships.<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nOn the track\n<\/h6>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nQualification:\n<\/div>
\n1x42m\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nFree practice:\n<\/div>
\n1x35m\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nRaces:\n<\/div>
\n3x42m\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\n7\n<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\n8\n<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\nGrid 8\n<\/h2>

\nProto & GT 1994 - 1999\n<\/h6>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n \t <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>
\n
This grid brings together the prototypes entered between 1994 and 1999, as well as the GTs from the same period.<\/div>
It was a transitional period in which GT cars returned to the forefront, at times proving as fast as the prototypes. This grid features iconic machines such as the McLaren F1 GTR, the Porsche 911 GT1, the Mercedes CLK-LM, and the Toyota GT-One. McLaren\u2019s victory at Le Mans in 1995, achieved on its very first appearance, remains one of the defining moments of the era.<\/div>
It also marked the rise of ultra-high-performance GT cars, sometimes produced in very limited numbers solely to meet race eligibility requirements.<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nOn the track\n<\/h6>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nQualification:\n<\/div>
\n1x50m\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nFree practice:\n<\/div>
\n1x35m\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nRaces:\n<\/div>
\n3x45m\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\nGrid 9\n<\/h2>

\nProto 2000 - 2005\n<\/h6>
\nGT 2000 - 2010\n<\/h6>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n \t <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>
\n
This grid covers the years 2000 to 2005 for the prototypes, and up to 2010 for the GT cars.<\/div>
This was the era in which Audi asserted its dominance with the R8, followed by the arrival of Pescarolo, Bentley, and manufacturers such as Dallara and Courage. On the GT side, the Ferrari 550 Maranello, Porsche 996 GT3 RSR, Saleen S7-R, Aston Martin DBR9, and Corvette C6.R battled in fiercely contested categories (GT1 & GT2).<\/div>
Endurance racing entered a new era, with increasingly professional competition in both categories. This grid illustrates a decade marked by Audi\u2019s growing dominance and the return of several major names to the Le Mans stage.<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nOn the track\n<\/h6>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nQualification:\n<\/div>
\n1x50m\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nFree practice:\n<\/div>
\n1x35m\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nRaces:\n<\/div>
\n3x45m\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\n9\n<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n
\n
\n\n
\n \n 04 LYNN Shaun, BBM Sport, Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, LMP1, action during the 1st round of 2026 Legend of Le Mans Championship, from April 16 to 19, 2026 on the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy - Photo Alberto Vimercati \/ DPPI<\/span>\" data-category=\"1\" data-lg-size=\"1920-1430\"\n\n >\n
\n \n \n <\/figure>\n <\/a>\n\n \n 08 LENTOUDIS Kriton, BBM Sport, Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, LMP1, action during the 1st round of 2026 Legend of Le Mans Championship, from April 16 to 19, 2026 on the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy - Photo Joao Filipe \/ DPPI<\/span>\" data-category=\"1\" data-lg-size=\"1920-1249\"\n\n >\n
\n \n \n <\/figure>\n <\/a>\n\n \n 25 WUNDERLICH Franz, Fanta Racing Legend by Code Classic, Aston Martin Vantage AMR, GTE, action during the 1st round of 2026 Legend of Le Mans Championship, from April 16 to 19, 2026 on the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy - Photo Alberto Vimercati \/ DPPI<\/span>\" data-category=\"1\" data-lg-size=\"1920-1280\"\n\n >\n
\n \n \n <\/figure>\n <\/a>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
\n \n <\/div>\n
\n \n <\/div>\n \n
<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>

\n10\n<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

\nGrid 10\n<\/h2>

\nLegends of Le Mans\n<\/h5>
\nLMP1 2006 - 2012\n<\/h6>
\nLMP2 2006 - 2015\n<\/h6>
\nGTE 2011 - 2020\n<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n \t <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>
\n
This grid brings together the LMP1 prototypes from 2006 to 2012, the LMP2s from 2006 to 2015, and the GTE cars from 2011 to 2015.<\/div>
It was a period of advanced technology and memorable rivalries: Audi versus Peugeot in LMP1, marked by the arrival of diesel engines. The prototypes reached an impressive level of performance, with record-breaking speed and efficiency. In LMP2, private teams played a central role, running chassis such as the Oreca 03, Lola or HPD, often paired with a variety of engines. The category became a true proving ground for emerging talent.<\/div>
On the GTE side, Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin and Corvette continued their fierce rivalry, with cars that remained closely related to their road-going counterparts yet became ever faster and more sophisticated. This grid showcases a decade in which performance went hand in hand with endurance, and where technical innovation lay at the very heart of the competition.<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nOn the track\n<\/h6>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nQualification:\n<\/div>
\n1x50m\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nFree practice:\n<\/div>
\n1x35m\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n
\nRaces:\n<\/div>
\n3x40m\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Comp\u00e9tition Plateaux Edition 2027 Plateaux 1 \u00e0 6 Du 1er au 4 juillet 2027, Le Mans Classic c\u00e9l\u00e9brera 25 ans d\u2019une aventure commenc\u00e9e en 2002 aux c\u00f4t\u00e9s de l\u2019Automobile Club de l\u2019Ouest. Pour cette \u00e9dition, les plateaux 1 \u00e0 6 retrouveront le Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans et remettront en piste les voitures qui […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":79,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_breakdance_hide_in_design_set":false,"_breakdance_tags":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-88","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lemansclassic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/88","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lemansclassic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lemansclassic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lemansclassic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lemansclassic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.lemansclassic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/88\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33814,"href":"https:\/\/www.lemansclassic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/88\/revisions\/33814"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lemansclassic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/79"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lemansclassic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}