24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the most prestigious and gruelling motorsport events in the world, has a rich history of innovation and competition. Currently one of the most unique features of the race is ‘Garage 56’, a special entry slot dedicated to experimental cars that push the boundaries of automotive technology and performance. In the sea of “by-the-book” Hypercars and GT cars, Garage 56 offers a special testbed for the engineers and teams who see the art and potential of the road not taken.
History
Garage 56 was introduced in 2012 by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the organizing body of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The aim was to encourage technological innovation and advancements at Circuit de la Sarthe and in motorsport as a whole. This unique slot allows one car to compete outside the usual regulations, provided it demonstrates significant technological innovation or environmental benefit.
2012 – Nissan DeltaWing
Garage 56 debuted with the Nissan DeltaWing. Originally created as a new generation IndyCar it came to Le Mans to compete. The car was fielded by All American Racers (constructor), Highcroft Racing (team) supported by Nissan. It featured a radical design with a narrow front track and a lightweight structure, aiming to achieve high drag efficiency and low fuel consumption. A four-cylinder Nissan turbo propelled the car.
The car qualified 29th with Marino Franchitti, Michael Krumm and Satoshi Motoyama driving. While qualifying was pleasant to the project, the race wasn’t as much. The car was retired after 75 laps following an accident after a collision with #7 Toyota TS030 Hybrid.
2013 – GreenGT H2
The GreenGT H2, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered car, was selected for the 2013 race. However, it did not participate due to developmental issues that prevented it from being race-ready in time. It highlighted the potential of hydrogen fuel cells as a sustainable energy source for motorsport.
2014 – Nissan ZEOD RC
Ben Bowlby saw the successor to his Deltawing to be the ZEOD RC (Zero Emission On Demand Racing Car). Once again backed by Nissan and fielded by Nismo, this time the car was powered by a hybrid electric drivetrain with lithium-ion batteries and a 3-cylinder Turbo engine, producing a total output of 695bhp.
Driven by Lucas Ordóñez, Wolfgang Reip, Satoshi Motoyama, the car qualified 27th, and managed to set a lap using electric power in the warm-up, which accomplished the goal of the project to “set a purely electric lap time at racing speeds”. Although, a gearbox issue would plague the car and would eventually force the car to retire on lap five.
Panoz and Ganassi sued Bowlby and Nissan over use of intellectual property due to the similarities with the DeltaWing, the matter was eventually settled out of court in 2016.
2015
2015 would see the garage 56 empty due to the nominated entry of Welter Racing, a biomethane-fuel prototype fell behind schedule because of funding issues. ACO later determined that none of the candidates were unfit.
2016 – Morgan LMP2 SRT 41 By Oak Racing
2016 would be a truly beautiful and heart warming year for Garage 56 as it would welcome a project led by Driver Frédéric Sausset, a quadruple amputee. The SRT 41 LMP2 was modified to allow Sausset to drive using a specially adapted control system, Sausset operated a throttle and braking system which with his thighs, while the steering column was directly attached to his right arm limb. His teammates would race the car normally.
The team would Qualify 32nd and finish a highly respectable 38th setting multiple records along the way including being the first Garage 56 car to finish the race, highlighting advances in accessibility and inclusivity in motorsports, demonstrating that high-performance racing is accessible to all. The team found its place in the hearts of motorsports fans all across the globe.
2017 – 2020
These few years would see numerous attempts including the failed return of Welter Racing and Perrin with the Project 424, an LMP1-based electric car with an autonomous driving mode.
But ultimately ACO would once again deem the candidates unfit and not mature enough to race. 2020 would see itself as a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Credits: racecar-engineering.com
2021 – La Filiere by SRT 41 Oreca 07 LMP2
2021 welcomed Frederic Sausset once again to Garage 56, this time fielding a specially modified Oreca 07 Gibson LMP2 car with a lineup of three disabled drivers. Transcending barriers Sausset would this time round have not one but two drivers, paralyzed from the waist down racing his car.
The team would Qualify 29th and finish an incredible 32nd once again defying all odds and in the process the two disabled drivers became the first disabled teammates to compete and finish in the history of the race.
2022
Garage 56 would once again remain empty.
2023 – Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 StockCar
Nascar, to celebrate its 75th anniversary took the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 StockCar run by Henderick Motorsports, its most successful team. The modified Stockcar would be driven by 7x Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, 2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button and 2010 Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller.
The car was quite different to the traditional machines that normally graced the track, in it’s sheer size and brute force produced by it’s incredible V8. It truly was a Goliath in the sea of Davids, but this story ends differently; the team would qualify and finish a very respectable 39th putting up a good fight with the GTEs. While the GTEs had a clear advantage in the corners, the Chevy would thunder down the straights.
Future
As we look into the future, Garage 56 continues to be a beacon for innovation in motorsports. It offers a unique platform for testing and demonstrating new technologies that may eventually become standard in racing and commercial vehicles.
“Le Mans has always been a crucible for innovation. Garage 56 gives inventors and engineers a chance to dream big and bring those dreams to life in a way that can inspire the entire automotive world.”
Don Panoz, Founder of Panoz Motorsports
As automotive technology continues to evolve, Garage 56 entries will likely explore new frontiers in electric propulsion, autonomous driving, advanced materials, and more. Thus maintaining its role as a crucible for the future of racing technology and the broader goals of sustainability and inclusivity in motorsport.