FIA president Ben Sulayem hails 24 Hour of Le Mans as one of motorsport’s ‘great landmarks’

DUBAI: Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, will attend the 2026 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend, which he has described as one of the most prestigious and enduring events in world motorsport.

A record 14 manufacturers have assembled at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe for this weekend’s race, which is a cornerstone of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

This year Genesis Magma Racing make their Le Mans debut in front of over 332,000 fans, and a huge global TV audience, for an event which continues to bring together leading teams, drivers and fans.

Ben Sulayem said: “The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the great landmarks of world motorsport. For more than a century it has tested the limits of innovation, performance, and teamwork, while continuing to inspire generations of competitors and fans around the world.

“It is one of the highlights of the FIA World Endurance Championship, a competition that is enjoying a period of remarkable strength and growth, and I would like to extend my thanks to all those involved in delivering this extraordinary event, in particular the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, whose dedication makes it such a success.”

As the FIA World Endurance Championship continues to grow in popularity and competitiveness, the 24 Hours of Le Mans stands as one of the defining events on the global sporting calendar.

The championship achieved a cumulative TV audience of 43.4 million viewers in 2025, representing a 37 percent increase from 2024. Last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans was broadcast in 190 countries worldwide, attracting 10.7 million cumulative TV viewers across the race weekend.