A look back: Multimatic's historic Le Mans win, 25 years later

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Twenty-five years. A quarter-century. The passage of time can be a cruel mistress, blurring the sharp edges of triumph, softening the roar of engines into a distant hum.

Yet, as we cast our gaze back to the year 2000, the image of Multimatic Motorsports — triumphant, defiant, and gloriously Canadian — winning the LMP675 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans remains as vivid as the tricolor flag itself.

That win wasn’t merely a victory; it was a revelation. It was the moment a Canadian upstart, a quiet force in automotive engineering, shattered a 68-year drought for their nation at the world's most grueling endurance race.

But to truly appreciate the magnitude of that Le Mans victory, we must understand the journey that led them there.

The grinding path to glory: Daytona and Sebring 2000

The 2000 season for Multimatic Motorsports wasn't just about a single race; it was a rigorous campaign, a testament to their dedication to endurance racing. They started the year by diving headfirst into the crucible of American sports car racing: the Daytona 24 Hours.

Here, they campaigned a Lola B98/10, a different beast from their later Le Mans conqueror, powered by a Nicholson McLaren Twin Turbo Cosworth engine. While the specifics of their finish in a notoriously chaotic Daytona 24 are often overshadowed by their later Le Mans success, the experience gained was invaluable. 

From Daytona, they moved to the equally punishing 12 Hours of Sebring. This endurance classic, held on a notoriously bumpy ex-airfield circuit, is a true test of a car's structural integrity and reliability. Again, they ran the Lola B98/10, continuing to gather vital data and refine their operations under immense pressure.

These early-season battles against some of the best teams in North American sports car racing weren't just races; they were extended test sessions, building the team's resilience and understanding of the Lola platform.

The Le Mans masterpiece: the Lola B2K/40

It was at Le Mans, however, that Multimatic truly shone. For the 24 Hours, they strategically shifted their focus to the LMP675 class, a category designed for lighter, more agile prototypes.

Their weapon of choice was the Lola B2K/40, but with a critical difference: the chassis itself was designed and built by Multimatic. This was no mere customer car; it was a bespoke creation, infused with Multimatic’s engineering philosophy. 

The LMP675 class, for those unfamiliar, was a proving ground where raw power often yielded to nimbleness, efficiency, and unwavering reliability. And in that environment, the Multimatic Lola, piloted by the formidable trio of Scott Maxwell, David Empringham, and Greg Wilkins, proved to be unstoppable. For 24 grueling hours, through the twilight and dawn, the changing conditions, and the relentless demands of the circuit, they pushed.

They coaxed their machine, nurtured it, and drove it with a precision that bordered on telepathy. The Nissan V6 engine, a more compact and fuel-efficient unit compared to the larger LMP900 prototypes, proved to be perfectly suited for the class regulations and the demands of endurance.

Their strategy, honed through the challenges of Daytona and Sebring, focused on consistent lap times, minimal pit stops, and flawless execution. They were not the fastest car outright, but they were consistently quick, incredibly reliable, and impeccably managed.

The victory wasn't just a notch in Multimatic’s belt; it was a seismic event in Canadian motorsports. In the 68-year history of the legendary French endurance classic, no Canadian organization had ever stood atop a Le Mans podium. This was a barrier shattered, a glass ceiling not just cracked but obliterated. It was a moment of immense national pride, a validation of years of tireless work and unwavering belief.

Looking to the Future: Can Multimatic Do It Again?

In the quarter-century since, Multimatic Motorsports has continued its strong legacy, accumulating wins and accolades across various North American and international series. Their name is now woven into the fabric of top-tier motorsport, a testament to their enduring excellence.

But for all their subsequent successes, the 2000 Le Mans victory remains unique. It was the first, and to this day, the only time a Canadian motorsports organization tasted victory at the greatest endurance race in the world.

But now, as we stand a quarter-century removed from that glorious day, the question inevitably arises: Can Multimatic do it again? Can they, 25 years later, recapture the magic and stand atop a Le Mans podium once more?

The landscape of endurance racing has changed dramatically. The LMP675 class is long gone, replaced by hyper-competitive categories in Hypercar, LMP2, and LMGT3. The level of financial and technological resources needed to compete at the highest level of Le Mans has significantly increased.

Manufacturers pour hundreds of millions into their programs, and the battle for overall victory is fiercer than ever.

Yet, Multimatic is not the same organization it was in 2000. They have grown, evolved, and cemented their position as a global leader in advanced engineering and manufacturing. Their involvement in programs like the Ford GT, both the road car and the victorious GTE Pro racer at Le Mans in 2016, showcases their enduring capability at the highest levels of motorsport. They are no longer just an upstart; they are an established force, respected for their expertise in chassis development, aerodynamics, and overall vehicle dynamics.

While a direct repeat of an LMP675 class victory is impossible due to class restructuring, Multimatic’s current involvement in significant Le Mans programs suggests that another victory, in a different class, is not just a pipe dream. Their engineering fingerprints are all over successful cars that have competed and won at La Sarthe in various categories.

Consider their recent performance in the 2025 season. Multimatic's technical partnership with Ford Performance has already borne fruit, notably with a dominant victory at the 2025 Daytona 24 Hours in the GTD PRO class with the Mustang GT3.

The #65 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Mustang GT3 not only secured the win but was joined by the #64 sister car in third place, demonstrating formidable pace and reliability right out of the gate. This double podium finish at a 24-hour endurance race—a direct descendant of their 2000 multi-race preparation—underscores their capacity for sustained performance and strategic execution.

The spirit of 2000—the meticulous engineering, the relentless pursuit of perfection, the quiet confidence that defined that victorious Lola—still permeates Multimatic. They may not be entering with their own named chassis in the same way, but their DNA is undeniably present in the machinery that contends for victory.

So, can Multimatic come away with a win at Le Mans 25 years later? Perhaps not in the exact same fashion or under the same spotlight of being the sole Canadian victor. The race has changed substantially in the last 25 years; it's gone from a reliability race to a full-on 24 hour sprint. It requires a different approach and strategy to win compared to in 2000.

But Multimatic's continued involvement at the sharp end of motorsport, their indispensable role in various factory programs, and their proven performance in the current 2025 season strongly suggest that the spirit of their 2000 triumph lives on.

Feature image: Multimatic