Georges Durand

Georges Durand was born on April 30, 1864, in Fresnay-sur-Sarthe. He is known for being the creator of the mythical race of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, originally called in the first years the Grand Prix of endurance of 24 hours - Rudge-Whitworth Cup.

In October 1905, he teamed up with Gustave Singher, Georges Carel and René Pellier, industrialists from Sarthe, to lay the foundations of an automotive initiative committee for the candidature of La Sarthe for the organization of the first Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France (ACF). The sports commission of the French club entrusts the organization of the Grand Prix to the Sarthe circuit. Georges Durand and the committee won. On 24 January 1906, the official statutes of the Automobile-Club de la Sarthe, the future Automobile Club de l'Ouest (A.C.O.), were deposited, and the first Grand Prix of the A.C.F. was held on 25 and 26 June 1906. Georges Durand is appointed general secretary of the Club and will remain so until the limit of his forces in 1938.

At the 1922 motor show, Georges Durand, mandated by the A.C.O.’s steering committee, made an appointment with Charles Faroux, a polytechnic journalist and the boss of the newspaper L'Auto, and Émile Coquille, CEO of the British wheel manufacturer Rudge-Whitworth, to examine a new formula for motor racing, based on endurance rather than speed, in order to show the public the quality of the machines and also to obtain essential improvements. It is quickly mentioned an 8-hour race half night and the bid changes to a 24-hour race. Durand quickly takes care of obtaining the necessary authorizations and a racing regulation is born.

The first 24-hour Endurance Grand Prix – Rudge-Whitworth Cup took place on 26 and 27 May 1923 at the Circuit de la Sarthe. The 24 Hours of Le Mans were born

Scale1/18

BrandLE MANS miniatures

CompetitionNo

Year1930'S

GTIN3700474505731

Collection02/2026