M24, Le Man’s new museum of motorsport opened on 28 May and the seven-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton has been named patron.
By accepting this role, Lewis Hamilton does more than lend his name: he represents the intentions of the museum to be a place for everyone – all audiences, of all sports, and all generations.
Lewis Hamilton said: “What’s been built here is more than a traditional car museum, it’s a home for motorsport, a place that tells stories of races, of people and technology that have made Le Mans and motorsport so special. M24 also brings together an incredible collection of race cars and memorabilia, including one of the biggest collections of F1 cars anywhere in the world. Alongside other legendary cars they make this place truly unique.”
M24 is not just another museum. It is the place where motorsport tells its own story, to people who may know nothing of it. It is an exceptional collection of cars, objects, archives, and stories coming together to recreate a century of passion, innovation and courage.
Among the collection is the Mercedes W09 with which Lewis Hamilton won his fifth Formula One World Championship in 2018 – an outstanding race car, inextricably linked to the museum’s patron.
Richard Mille said: “The love of motorsport cannot be conveyed in books. It is passed down via memorabilia, by feelings, by the tales of those who were there at the time. Every car that composes a collection such as M24’s is a work of art. The culmination of hours and hours of tireless work, the fruit of collective intelligence that cannot be perceived just by contemplating the end result. That is this museum’s role: to tell the whole story. In the same way, there is much more to Lewis Hamilton than seven world titles. He is exactly the right person to represent the passing on of our heritage to the next generation.”
M24 embraces the whole spectrum of motorsport: Formula One, endurance, rallying, motorcycle racing, single-seater racing and more. The collection is encompasses history-making cars, each in their discipline.
Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest said: “Lewis Hamilton is more than an impressive track record. He is one of those rare sportsmen who has used his influence to bring change well beyond the boundaries of his discipline. M24 stems from exactly that outlook. It is a place that celebrates the heroes and heroines of motorsport whose feats belong to all of us. I am proud and pleased to welcome Lewis Hamilton on board in what promises to be an exciting adventure.”
