ACO Launches “Americans at Le Mans” Exhibit

Photo: Endurance-Info

On the year Ford makes its official comeback to Circuit de la Sarthe, the ACO will launch a special exhibit, putting the heritage of Americans racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on display.

A 13,000 sq. ft. exhibit, located at the track, will open next week, featuring 16 cars that have left the “American” mark on the famed French endurance classic.

Among the cars include the three Ford GT40s that filled the overall podium in 1966, including the recently restored winning Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon-driven GT40.

Steve McQueen’s Porsche 908 Cam Car S, which took part in the 1970 race to help produce the film “Le Mans” will also be on display, as well as John Greenwood’s “Spirit of Le Mans” Corvette from 1976, which was entered in the NASCAR category that year.

The Porsche 935 driven by Paul Newman to a second place overall finish in 1979 will be on hand, as well as a number of modern-era prototypes, such as the Panoz LMP1 Roadster S from 2000, a Chrysler-powered Oreca Dallara LMP from 2001, as well as a Corvette C7.R.

All of the American cars will take part in a parade lap on Sat. June 18 at 12:35 p.m.

The exhibition will also include photos, films and driver’s firesuits to help commemorate the occasion. It will be open to the public from Wed. June 15 through Sun. June 19.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John