RTS Historic Lemans Fuel Depot
Description
The Historic Shell Fuel Depot at Le Mans
The historic Shell fuel depot at Le Mans, located in the Zone Sud de la Foucaudière (Chemin de la Foucaudière, 72100 Le Mans), has served as a key storage and distribution hub for petroleum products in the Sarthe department since the mid-20th century. Established amid the post-World War II economic boom, it supported local industry, agriculture, and the burgeoning motorsport scene, including the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans race—where Shell has been the official fuel supplier since 1929, powering legendary victories like Bentley’s 1-2 finish that year and Audi’s diesel triumph in 2006 using Shell’s biodiesel blends. With a capacity exceeding 40,000 m³ across multiple tanks, the depot features pipeline connectivity for efficient supply chains. It gained notoriety in 2019 during the French gilets jaunes protests, when it was blockaded by frustrated business owners, briefly disrupting regional fuel deliveries. Today, managed by Société des Dépôts Pétroliers de la Sarthe (SDPS), it remains a vital logistical node, blending industrial legacy with modern sustainability efforts in fuel innovation.