Le Mans Classic

The Le Mans Classic is a vintage sports car event held on the grounds of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, created by Peter Auto and Richard Mille, and associated with Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). It began in 2002 and ran every two years in July on the full 13.65 km circuit also used for the annual modern day 24 Hours of Le Mans. The event is split, starting in 2025, based on 50 years determining which classes will be used, as the event will become annual. Le Mans Classic Heritage (which will encompass the original classifications up to 1975, in odd numbered years) and Le Mans Classic Legend (which will encompass classes since 1976, in even numbered years).

The Le Mans Classic event of 2002 was the first time since 1923 that the full 24-hour Circuit, part of which is public road the rest of the year, was closed specifically for an event other than the annual running of the 24 heures du Mans with contemporary sports cars and prototypes. To compete in the races a driver must own an FIA International Competition licence.

The event consists of a series of races for cars which have competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans or for similar cars of the same model. The traditional classes feature cars from prior to 1981 (originally 1979, but 1981 was the last year of the formula), with all cars being broken into six different eras. In recent years, three new classes from event organisers have been added by Peter Auto, to reflect the history of the event.

Car shows and auctions are hosted on the Bugatti Circuit grounds, with various car clubs meeting to show off machinery.

Each class of car competes separately on the full 13.65 km Circuit de la Sarthe (traditional circuit of Le Mans race). The classes are divided by era in an attempt to equalize the pace of the cars in each event. The current classes for Heritage are:

The current classes for Legend are:

Although the ruleset states 2015 for the final Legend class, any car up to 2020 in Prototype and 2023 for GTE will be eligible, as the cars were retired at the end of the 2020 FIA WEC season in prototypes and 2023 for GTE cars. Some cars used in 2015 were eligible to 2023. Support races for retired GT3 cars whose homologation expired and NASCAR race cars up to 2021 will be offered. The Le Mans Classic will be associated with NASCAR Holdings' Historic Sportscar Racing, whose sportscars will be offered in the Le Mans Classic Legend.

Beginning in 2005, the SERO organization launched the Le Mans Classic Japan event, meant to run in alternative years from the event in France. The initial event was held at the Mine Circuit, while in 2007 it moved to the Fuji Speedway where it was part of the Japan Le Mans Challenge event.