The world of endurance racing has always been a magnet for legends, machines, and memories, and this October, that tradition is alive and roaring louder than ever. With the dust barely settling from a record-breaking Le Mans Classic weekend and the motorsport community abuzz over the upcoming auction of Valentino Rossi’s iconic BMW M4 GT3, fans have plenty to celebrate—and even more to dream about.
In 2025, the hallowed grounds of Le Mans welcomed more than 238,000 spectators, each eager to lose themselves in the mythic atmosphere of the Le Mans Classic. Organized by Peter Auto in collaboration with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and with Richard Mille as an official partner, the event delivered four days of non-stop action, nostalgia, and the unmistakable scent of high-octane history. The paddocks pulsed with activity: mechanics elbow deep in grease, V12 engines screaming, and the air thick with the aroma of oil and anticipation.
David Marvier, one of the official photographers for this year’s edition, described the challenge and privilege of capturing the event’s essence. "Four days to capture the essence of a myth. A full immersion in the history of endurance racing," he shared. But the task was no walk in the park—thirty kilometers of walking each day, blisters burning, and the ceaseless hum of engines even at night. For Marvier, it was a marathon as much for the photographers as for the drivers and their machines.
The Le Mans Classic is a living museum, and each race—grouped by plateau—tells a story from a vanished era. The 1920s and 30s saw pioneers like Delage, Alfa Romeo, and Bugatti thunder down the straight, their patina and leather whispering tales of daring and innovation. The 1950s and 60s brought the reign of Jaguar and Ferrari, only to be challenged by the raw power of Ford’s GT40 and the sleek aggression of the Cobra Daytona. Marvier recalls, "One dawn, in the rain, I watch them slide and roar. My fight to keep my gear dry feels trivial beside the storm just meters away."
Those golden years from 1966 to 1971 are etched into racing lore—Ford’s GT40 dominance giving way to the arrival of the Porsche 917, a 500-horsepower beast that shattered records and expectations. The 1967 edition is still remembered as the 24 Hours of the Century, and for many, watching Shelby silhouettes plunge into the Dunlop Curve at nightfall is a memory that lingers long after the engines fall silent.
But the story doesn’t stop there. The 1970s and 80s saw Matra’s V12, Porsche’s turbo, Renault Alpine, and Ferrari all chasing the bleeding edge of performance. Then came Group C, from 1982 to 1993, where futuristic monsters brushed 400 kilometers per hour down the Hunaudières—before the chicanes slowed them, at least a little. In the paddocks, their cockpits resembled lunar modules—rugged yet fragile, solid yet complex. As Marvier put it, "At over 300 kilometers per hour, strapped into a harness, the adrenaline must be insane. Demonic."
And just when you think the spectacle can’t get any wilder, the Endurance Racing Legend class unleashed the prototypes of the 1990s and 2000s—McLaren F1 GTR, Viper GTS R—louder, faster, and more extreme. The event was more than a race; it was a journey through time, a communion of man, machine, and memory.
Yet, Le Mans Classic isn’t just about the cars or the drivers. It’s about the people—the mechanics, the marshals, the fans, and even the photographers. The sprawling village surrounding the circuit buzzed with exhibitions, car clubs, and rare models like the Honda NSX. A retro campsite, a tribute to paid holidays, hummed with laughter and camaraderie. There was even gravity-defying entertainment, with Julien Dupont and Christophe Bruand drawing cheers on vintage trials bikes.
For the next generation, the Little Big Mans race offered a taste of the legend. Children aged seven to twelve lined up, tense and eager, before sprinting across the track, leaping into their mini GT40s and D-Types, and roaring off for a full lap of the Bugatti circuit—a true Le Mans start, echoing the days before Jacky Ickx’s symbolic protest in 1971.
The final morning of the 2025 edition arrived under heavy rain, turning the campsite into a swamp and testing the endurance of everyone present. But spirits remained high, and the drivers continued, keeping alive the legend of the 24 Hours—a story deeply rooted in endurance and passion. As Marvier reflected, "At Le Mans Classic there is nothing to win, and that is exactly what makes it so special. Exhausted, I still feel an immense privilege: to have frozen fragments of a myth."
The event closed with a historic announcement: Le Mans Classic will now take place every year. Starting in 2026, Le Mans Classic Heritage will celebrate cars from 1923 to 1975, immersing fans in the golden age of endurance. The following year, Le Mans Classic Legend will honor the prototypes of the modern era, from 1976 to 2015. For enthusiasts, that means more chances to witness history in motion—and for Marvier, more opportunities to chase time, camera in hand (and perhaps with a scooter next year).
Meanwhile, another chapter of endurance racing history is about to go under the hammer. A BMW M4 GT3 car raced by none other than MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi is set for auction in Munich on October 18, 2025, courtesy of RM Sothebys. The estimated price? Between €435,000 and €485,000—a hefty sum, but for good reason.
Rossi, who retired from MotoGP at the end of 2021 after an illustrious career boasting nine grand prix world titles, made the switch to four wheels in 2022. Teaming up with WRT, he dove into the GT World Challenge Europe and later the World Endurance Championship, bringing his trademark flair and competitive spirit to a new arena. The BMW M4 GT3 up for auction is the very first he raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and it’s a car with a story to tell.
In 2023, Rossi campaigned the car in the GT World Challenge Europe, notching podiums at Brands Hatch and Zandvoort, and even clinching a win at Misano. He also took victory in the Road to Le Mans, and in the 2024 FIA WEC, the car finished fourth at Qatar, second at Imola, and third at Fuji. While it didn’t make the finish at Le Mans, its legacy was cemented with a second-place finish at the 2025 Bathurst 12 Hours alongside teammates Maxime Martin and Raffele Marciello. The car, chassis number 22-046, is preserved in its end-of-race condition from Bathurst, complete with a special livery and a clear matte lacquer applied by Walter Maurer, whose signature adorns the chassis.
Having competed in 27 races, this BMW M4 GT3 is more than a collector’s item—it’s a piece of endurance racing history, wearing Rossi’s iconic yellow 46 and bearing the scars and triumphs of battle. For fans and collectors alike, the upcoming auction is a rare opportunity to own a machine that bridges eras and legends, from the golden days of Le Mans to the modern exploits of a MotoGP icon turned endurance racer.
As the engines cool and the crowds disperse, one thing is clear: endurance racing’s magic endures, fueled by legends old and new, and by the stories that keep us coming back for more. Whether it’s the promise of next year’s Le Mans Classic or the thrill of bidding on a piece of Rossi’s legacy, the spirit of competition and camaraderie remains as vibrant as ever.
