The cities of Le Mans and Indianapolis will be twinned

Two of the most legendary motorsport cities will soon be joining forces. This Thursday, on the sidelines of the City Council meeting, the city of Le Mans announced that it will soon be twinned with the city of Indianapolis, in the state of Indiana, United States. The two cities host two of the biggest sporting events, with the 24H of Le Mans on the one hand and the Indianapolis 500 on the other. The two events are already linked by the iconic "Triple Crown", an honorary award that brings together the three most prestigious events in motorsport, with the Monaco Grand Prix in F1.

Here Maine (ex-France Bleu) reports Indeed, the project, launched in 2018, will soon be finalized and a charter will be signed on the occasion of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, next June. "Indianapolis, a city of 879 inhabitants, and Le Mans share a strong identity and a history that is legendary in world motor racing., explained the mayor of Le Mans, Stéphane Le Foll. This partnership [between Le Mans and Indianapolis] is not only a symbolic link between two cities that deeply love racing, but also a framework to foster cultural, educational and economic exchanges that will bring lasting benefits to our communities."

Towards a common totem between the two circuits?

The charter, which is expected to be signed in June, will aim to formalize the twinning's objectives: exchange of delegations of city representatives, specialists from various fields of urban life, scientists and technicians, arts and literature, artists' communities, young people, and athletes; as well as the exchange of correspondence between groups of pupils and students. Sophie Moisy, deputy mayor of Le Mans, in charge of the city's influence, twinning, and heritage, will travel to Indianapolis from May 23 to 26, 2025, during the 109th edition of the Indianapolis 500, to formalize the twinning and sign a memorandum of understanding with representatives of the American city.

This new twinning could also materialize with a common monument between the two circuits. "We're going to try to suggest to Indianapolis that they have a totem pole in the corners of their circuit, to really highlight the fact that we're connected, that we're part of the oldest car races in the world." confided Stéphane Le Foll, always on the microphone of Ici Maine.

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