Le Mans

100 years of man and machine

AFP

The Le Mans 24 Hours celebrates its centenary on May 26, 2023 - the mythic race's history marked by triumph and tragedy, and a hefty sprinkling of Hollywood stardust. Since 33 cars set off in the rain for the very first edition on May 26, 1923, Le Mans has gone on to earn an exalted place in motorsport's calendar alongside Formula One's Monaco Grand Prix and the Indy 500. The 9 June 2023 centenary, the 91st edition, promises to be a special affair, with a sold-out 300,000 crowd burning the midnight oil to watch the new Le Mans hypercar and a top tier grid comprising Toyota, Peugeot, Ferrari, Porsche, Cadillac, Glickenhaus, and Vanwall.

A journalist from the AFP picture library re-opened every box of the Le Mans 24 Hours to select hundreds of negatives taken by AFP photographers recalling 100 years of the race.

Discover 1557 pictures including 340 exclusives, sorted by topic.

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man and machine, and midnight oil

JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP

From the 1930's to nowadays. AFP

Toyota number 8 GR010 Hybrid Hypercar with the drivers Swiss Sebastien Buemi, New Zealand Brendon Hartley and Japanese Ryo Hirakawa crosses the finish line at the end of the 90th edition on June 12, 2022. JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP

French drivers Henri Pescarolo (L, raised hand, with cap) and Gérard Larrousse (C) together with the Matra-Simca Shell team celebrates the victory at the 41st edition on June 10, 1973. AFP

Henri Pescarolo (L) : “I was completely terrified! There were cars from every angle going at scary speeds” Jean-Louis Trintignant (R): “During a few seconds, I thought I was going to die” GABRIEL DUVAL / AFP

Accidents in 1966 (L) and 1951. AFP

In the pits

Teams crew at work. AFP

Discover a selection of 116 pictures taken in the pits since 1950.

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CELEBRITIES

US actor and driver Paul Newman in a pit on June 1979. AFP

Visiting US actor Steve McQueen gets into his Porsche on April 09, 1970 during a practice. - / AFP

US actor Brad Pitt (R) speaks after a full lap on the Le Mans 24 Hours circuit with a Pescarolo Prototype driven by Austria's Alex Wurz (L), on June 18, 2016. JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP

Discover a selection of 88 pictures of celebrities from auto tycoon Henri Ford to actor and pilot Patrick Dempsey or basketball player Tony Parker.

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The atmosphere

A view of the Dunlop footbridge during the 31st edition on June 16, 1963. AFP

Searching for the best place to watch the race. AFP

A race driver takes a rest at the Porsche pit on June 10, 1978 during the 46th edition. AFP

Discover a selection of 74 pictures taken behind the scene of the race since 1938.

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A race marshall wave the yellow flags during the 87th edition on June 15, 2019. FRED TANNEAU / AFP