24h Le Mans
Aged 19, Adrien Closmenil will soon start his first 24 Hours of Le Mans. The native of Normandy represents a generation of drivers for whom Le Mans is more than a race, it’s a huge feat of human endeavour. We meet a young man who is about to experience one of the greatest moments of his life.
In a few days’ time, Adrien Closmenil will be fulfilling the dream of thousands of racing drivers: driving in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. At just 19 years old, the driver from Bayeux will take the wheel of the CLX Motorsport #37 Oreca 07-Gibson entered in the LMP2 class and enter a new dimension. He’s headed for a place where childhood dreams blend with reality, where ideas become goals and where every lap of a circuit tells a story. His youth masks a maturity forged by success, work and constant learning in a discipline that is as rewarding on a personal level as it is in silverware.
Long before he ever entered a pit, attended a driver briefing or held a racing line, Adrien Closmenil began familiarising himself with the 24 Hours of Le Mans by watching the race on TV with his parents. Like many children with a passion for motorsport, he would imagine what it felt like to hurtle down the Mulsanne Straight on a starlit night.
His attraction to racing stems from his family history. His grandfather was a rally driver and gradually passed on the racing bug to Adrien. When the young man claimed pole position at the 2024 Road to Le Mans, on the full Sarthe circuit, he was overjoyed. “It was my first season in endurance and my first Michelin Le Mans Cup qualification. Proving that I could attain that level in LMP3 was an accomplishment. Just driving on the circuit was such a great feeling. So taking pole position was obviously a real high.”
The first milestone on the road to the world’s greatest endurance race.
It may sound like overnight success. But it’s actually the result of patient persistence. In 2025, Adrien Closmenil and CLX Motorsport dominated the European Le Mans Series LMP3 class. He and teammates Paul Lanchère and Theodor Jensen won five of the six races in the series. “We worked very hard during the winter and I think that was the key to success. Right from the word go, we had a head start and we managed to keep the advantage."
In motorsport, good results are often the tip of the iceberg. Under the surface lie hundred of hours of data analysis, repeated moves and training. It’s precisely that work culture that ushered him to the top. A few months later, in Portimão, he reached a turning point in his career. “Just before the race, Nicolas Lapierre told me I was moving up to LMP2 and would be taking part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I didn’t sleep that night. I was living the dream.”
Some memories wear thin with time, but Adrien will never forget that night.
When he began single-seater racing, the 24 Hours of Le Mans wasn’t Adrien’s goal. Like many young drivers, he had his sights set on Formula One. His coach, Julien Neveu, also a CLX Motorsport engineer, suggested he try endurance racing. The discipline introduced him to a whole new world. “I share the car with two other drivers: our performance is the result of a team effort, not individual exploit. The collective aspect is interesting and stimulating."
Le Mans drivers take turns at the wheel, but they’re never alone. Every race is the result of collective intelligence, with mechanics, engineers, strategists and team members all pulling together. This philosophy suits Adrien Closmenil perfectly. He also enjoys managing traffic, keeping an eye on fuel consumption and all the other tactical elements of endurance racing.
For his Le Mans début, he will be sharing the CLX Motorsport #37 Oreca 07-Gibson with Theodor Jensen and Ian Aguileral. The average age of the crew is barely 19! Such youth may be surprising to some, especially at such a demanding race. “Our preparation could make all the difference. We’ve learned so much from Nicolas Lapierre and the engineers.” Elders pass on their knowledge and experience to the next generation, who gain in maturity.
With only a few days to go, Adrien Closmenil says he is excited and raring to go. At the same time, he is surprisingly calmly spoken. “My parents say they’re proud of me. I’m honoured to have a seat for the 24 Hours of Le Mans at my age.”
Some 19-year-olds have barely left childhood. This young man is about to take part in a world-class race. He sums up his attitude in one sentence: “It doesn’t faze me though, because I look ahead with the knowledge of the past.”
A simple reminder that humility is often ambition’s best friend.
Every driver has their own 24 Hours of Le Mans fantasy. Some dream of the podium. Others the acceleration on the Mulsanne Straight. Adrien Closmenil has several images in his head: “Night driving and the start. I may not be in the cockpit, but I’ll be holding my breath.”
A spellbinding experience, that requires 24-hour concentration. “My biggest challenge will be to stay focused until the chequered flag". Reflex work and visual coordination exercises are part of the specific pre-race preparation.
As for the result, the young driver remains perfectly reasonable. “We’re aiming to learn as much as possible for future races.” Ah! So there’ll be more. Adrien Closmenil is embarking on his first 24 Hours of Le Mans, but he doesn’t intend it to be the last.
What would he say to his childhood self? “I’d tell him to always do his best. To learn from his mistakes and not let them get him down for long.”
In a few days, when the French flag is waved to signal the start of the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans, Adrien Closmenil will be more than a promising young driver. He will be fulfilling a childhood dream.
