WEC News: Sanofi signs with McLaren for Le Mans 24 Hour race
Sanofi is fighting meningitis in partnership with McLaren Racing for a powerful activation alongside United Autosports, the official racing partner of McLaren Automotive.
This unique collaboration will see the Meningitis Flag — a powerful symbol of the global fight against the disease — proudly featured on the #59 McLaren competing in the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans. Beyond the car’s livery, the Meningitis Flag’s colors will also be worn by team drivers Grégoire Saucy, Sebastien Baud and James Cottingham, and showcased at multiple touchpoints throughout the race weekend.
Every 15 seconds, someone in the world contracts meningitis. Although largely preventable through vaccination, bacterial meningitis — the most severe form — can be fatal within just 24 hours. Despite ongoing efforts and progress in the last two decades, meningitis remains one of the world’s top infectious disease killers. The display of the Meningitis Flag aims to spark global awareness in response to the rise in meningitis cases since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.1 Through this evolved partnership with McLaren Racing, Sanofi is underscoring the critical importance of vaccination, early detection, and symptom awareness — because when it comes to meningitis, acting fast can save lives.
The McLaren #59 car, featuring its new colors and the Meningitis Flag, is unveiled today at Sanofi’s global headquarters in Paris. ©United Autosports
Thomas Triomphe
Executive Vice President, Vaccines, Sanofi, says:
“Le Mans is the ultimate race against time — just like our fight against meningitis. At Sanofi, we believe science is our engine, partnerships our fuel, and awareness our finish line. By bringing the Meningitis Flag to the world stage, we’re not just backing a car — we’re supporting a movement. Because when every second counts, we choose to race for lives.”
Louise McEwen
Chief Marketing Officer, McLaren Racing, adds:
“We’re proud to be working closely with Sanofi to support this exciting campaign 30 years since McLaren’s historic victory in 1995. I can’t wait to see the #59 car out on the iconic Le Mans track in support of this great cause.”
Vinny Smith
Chief Executive of Meningitis Research Foundation, declares:
“We are delighted to have co-created and supported the launch of the Meningitis Flag, ensuring it reflected the experiences and voices of people whose lives have been deeply impacted by this devastating and deadly disease. We hope this collaboration between Sanofi, McLaren Racing and United Autosports will spark conversation and awareness, helping us reach millions more people with life-saving information on meningitis, its signs and symptoms, the steps we can all take to protect ourselves, and why supporting survivors and their families is so important. For us, this is more than just a flag – it’s a call to action. When people see it, we want them to think fast and act fast, so lives all over the world can be saved.”
The Meningitis flag was co-created by Sanofi alongside para-athletes who have been affected by meningitis, and the world-leading Meningitis Research Foundation charity and its Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) member network. It is the global symbol uniting efforts in the fight against this devastating disease.
The partnership between McLaren Racing and Sanofi, which began in 2022, sees the racing team bring its digital and analytical expertise and skills to help Sanofi’s aims for excellence in manufacturing operations to help meet its patients’ needs around the world.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans race is the premier endurance racing event in the world, typically attended by more than 300,000 people with more than 140 million additional viewers from home.
