Photographing the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours – the view of the veterans

David and Andrew Harbey report from the 94th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race. Samuel Johnson almost certainly didn’t say in 1777, “No, sir, when a man is tired of Le Mans, he is tired of life; for there is in Le Mans all that life can afford.” As I approached my 30^th visit to the iconic race, I confess I might have been guilty of being tired of Le Mans.

Photographing the Le Mans 24 Hours – 1969

As a four-wheeled motorsport family, with Autosport delivered weekly, Le Mans was always there. My late father grew up on the fifties exploits of Jaguar and Aston Martin. Returning from our camping holiday to Spain in 1969, we “happened” to find ourselves stopping at Le Mans for a photo on the public road that formed much of the race-track.

Photographing the Le Mans 24 Hours – 1981

In 1981, my parents made their first visit to the race, and my father captured a few images with his Ilford Sportsman. The Martini Lancia in the Forest Esses sums up that era of Le Mans for me with the fairground in the background and nary a fence in sight.

Photographing the Le Mans 24 Hours – 1982

My first visit was a year later and, of course, I took my Olympus OM1 and Tamron zoom lens plus a couple of rolls of film. In time, the little box of 35mm slides returned for eager viewing. Results were mixed ! It should be said that I was entirely self-taught and hadn’t encountered such technicalities as the exposure triangle.

Photographing the Le Mans 24 Hours – 1985

We returned again in 1985. This event confirmed two things, my love of Le Mans and Mrs H’s lifelong aversion  to camping. Mind you the “facilities” weren’t up to much in those days so she had a point. It was for many Brits a week away with walls of empty beer bottles and Ferraris and Lamborghinis amid old army trucks and tents at Maison Blanche campsite.

In 1996, I returned for an unbroken run until 2019 with various friends and family. We saw a wide range of boom and bust over those years as the usual rhythm of motorsport played out. Manufacturers came and went and came back. Sometimes photos were taken, sometimes not – at the time, I was still very much a motorsport enthusiast taking photos.

2020 saw the Covid epidemic and with the uncertainties of what would be allowed and when, I sat out that year and 2021. All was back to normal in 2022 – and another Toyota win. I’d been there in 2016, when they suffered a heartbreaking mechanical with less than ten minutes to go. The crowd went silent as the car ground to a halt on the track near their pit box attracting considerable attention.

Hypercars 2023

The latest rule set – Hypercar was introduced in 2023 and I was there to see a Ferrari debut win for the 499P at Le Mans. Ferraris first since 1965. They repeated the feat in 2024. For both trips I took the family Nikon D3400 and kit lens. I was well aware of the relatively limited photographic opportunities on a circuit of 14 kms and a 24 hour race. Especially as we were only going to be there for Saturday and Sunday each time. I was happy with the ease of use and reasonable quality of the images – reports can be found on PistonClick.

My approach to photography though had changed. For many events now, I was focusing on the photography first and the racing second.  That means deciding whether to accommodate the limitations of the circuit (e.g. Silverstone fences) against access to good, less compromised shooting locations (e.g. hillclimbs).

30 vists to Le Mans and counting

Le Mans 2025 saw a decision to stay home and watch on the WEC app due to a recent cataract operation. With my 30^th Le Mans coming up in 2026, I decided to take the serious kit for a Saturday / Sunday visit. Track knowledge is important as a spectator photographer, I knew where some good sports were around the Forest Esses and Tertre Rouge. I was though to discover significant changes at Karting which took away a really cool shot of the cars heading to the Ford Chicane with the grandstands behind. I had to make do with a shot at the chicane itself.

It was clear that the Hypercar era – where complimentary regulations enable cars racing in WEC and IMSA in North America to compete together – has seen huge growth in the top class with eight manufacturers battling it out for the glory of the top step. This has gone hand in hand with an increase in attendance at Le Mans – they used to quote 200/250,000 – for 2026 the official attendance was over 350,000.

Le Mans – The Corporate view

The profile of the typical attendee also seems to have changed. There appeared to be a significant level of corporate guests in attendance. Not least for the grid walk on Saturday afternoon for a privileged few thousand which took up around 90 minutes. Of course, I could have taken myself off to the village with its retail opportunities. Or find one of the increasingly remote fan zones but having spent the morning at Tertre Rouge and having bought a pit straight grandstand seat, I was keen to rest my legs on a very hot and humid day.

Was I tired of Le Mans ? The race itself – in no way – it remains a huge challenge of driver, team and machine. Whilst reliability has increased significantly and the winning margin is now counted in seconds rather than laps. The wider experience of LM for me has diminished.

Le Mans – A fans view

I can probably best say that it has been gentrified or perhaps Goodwood-ed. I was a regular from the first Revival but with increasing focus on the experience and meeting corporate guests needs rather than the racing I didn’t go back after Covid. As the wise Mrs H says, sometimes things have their time. In the way that Goodwood has had its time for me for now, is Le Mans going the same way ?

Many of the changes are for the better. Reliable 5G was available; the toilets have come on over the last 44 years (it was hard not too), the fan zones had a wider range of catering than ever before (including my first taste of poutine) and there are big screens everywhere. The cars are more reliable and the racing is closer. Having said that, there is a very clear nod to the manufacturers and their corporate guests who are currently investing in Le Mans and the full year WEC championship.

Le Mans as spectator or photographer?

With my adjusted focus to that of a photographer, where does Le Mans sit for me? Just shooting on the race weekend is probably not enough if I want to get more than the range of shots you see here. Does it need a longer commitment? To be there for qualifying when the grandstand above the pits is open to all. To wait for the gap at the fence, to finally get up (or stay up) for Sunday sunrise? Do I, as some do, go for the test day the previous weekend, stay for qualifying and hyperpole and then come home on Friday and watch the whole race on TV?

As we reflected on the weekend, Mr PistonClick Editor said – “I’m looking forward to seeing what you do next in your journey”. I guess I hadn’t thought that I was on a journey. I’m just a motorsport fan taking photos and writing about them … so some food for thought there! At the time of writing, Le Mans 2027 plans are yet to be confirmed.

Andrew’s reflection on Le Mans 24 Hours 2026

This year was my 16th visit to Le Mans and it’s definitely changed since I first went in 2005. Has it grown, changed and become more ‘gentrified’ and corporate? Yes – there was a dip after the end of the golden LMP1 era. Now it’s in a boom with lots of manufacturer interest and investment. This does mean the World Endurance Championship is in a healthy position and we’ve still got Ford and McLaren to join the top Hypercar class next year.

Has this changed the experience over the years ? Also, yes. There’s certainly been a change in the experience for the ‘normal’ fans. This year was certainly a little busier than last year, which felt like it was too busy at times. It seems that a decision was made not to allow general ticket holders into the pit lane after the race. Fans were generally respectful last year and didn’t try to get into the garages, but now that isn’t an option without the correct pass.

Le Mans 24 Hours Event or Race?

Has it become an event and not a race ? Seems so – you can make the argument that it has for a long time. There’s the village and manufacturer areas, shops and fairly recent ‘fan zones’ providing more places to visit, things to see and venues to spend at. Did I enjoy the race? Absolutely! One of the most competitive races we’ve had and some excellent racing across all the classes. The sounds of the Aston V12 and Cadillac V8 are music to the ears.

For me as a veteran with far more visits than most, I think I’m probably going to take a break for at least a year, watch it at home and be able to see more of the race. There’s nothing wrong with having time off from attending an event you’ve been to that many times, nor is using the holiday days / money to watch other races instead. There’s always another track or race to visit for the first time.

I’ve probably become a slightly jaded fan who’s seen the race change away from the fan-focus I remember from previous years, but I’m definitely not telling anyone not to go. There’s an element of what feels like less value for money compared to previous years. That’s before we talk about the ticket and paddock access and parking prices for WEC’s return to Silverstone next year.

Le Mans 24 Hours should you go?

The race itself is a great experience and any self-respecting motorsport fan with an interest should go at least once. I’d still recommend people go along if they haven’t been before or haven’t been much and want to return again. Ultimately, Le Mans is still an event and race that must be experienced.

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Thanks to David and Andrew for this report, Photographing the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours. More of their photos can be seen by following the links below.