• Following an intense 24-hour battle, the Alpine Endurance Team crossed the finish line celebrating a remarkable top-six result at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. 
• However, the greatest victory extends far beyond the racetrack. To date, the "Race for Meals" campaign, in partnership with the global charity Mary’s Meals, has already secured vital school meals in a place of learning for 672 children in Malawi.
• But the campaign is still live. To achieve its goal, the Austrian driver has donated a unique custom motorcycle, which is now available in a prestigious charity auction.

A total of 381 laps were completed by the Alpine #35 during the incredible 24 Hours of Le Mans, allowing the racing driver Ferdinand Habsburg, great-grandson of Emperor Charles I of Austria, to secure one of the best results of his career on the renowned French circuit.

This achievement carries even greater significance because every completed lap was sponsored with at least €22 – the amount it costs the global charity Mary’s Meals to provide a child with one daily meal in their place of learning, which can contribute to a brighter future. The charity currently reaches more than 3 million children across 16 countries.

The race, however, is not over yet. This year, the Austrian driver has raised the bar with the ambitious goal of reaching even more children by supporting three schools in Malawi.

“My goal this year is to reach even more children and enable three schools to benefit from the school feeding programme, thanks to Race for Meals.” said Ferdinand Habsburg.

“I want to ensure that these children no longer have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. I know how much our support means for them, and I’m deeply committed to standing by their side.”

Before the start of the 2026 season, Habsburg visited Mary’s Meals’ school feeding programme in Malawi, where the charity has been serving daily school meals since 2003. During the visit, he met the pupils and teachers at the schools supported through last year’s campaign, witnessing first-hand the impact of the programme on children and their communities, while also gaining a deeper understanding of the significant challenges and unmet needs that remain across the country.

Today, more than a quarter of Malawi’s pre-primary and primary school children receive Mary’s Meals (1.3 million children).[1] This support is particularly significant as fewer than half of children in Malawi complete primary school, while many families continue to face food insecurity. Malawi is experiencing its worst food crisis in seven years, affecting more than four million people.[2]

To achieve the goal of supporting three schools in Malawi, the collective call to action continues with an extraordinary new fundraising initiative. A prestigious charity auction is now live, organised by Dorotheum, one of the oldest and most prestigious auction houses in the world.

Ferdinand Habsburg has generously donated a unique custom motorcycle based on the legendary BMW R 80. Widely regarded as the technical foundation of the later R 80 RT, the BMW R 80 is one of BMW’s most iconic boxer-engine models and was the first to be designed to run on unleaded fuel.

The online auction is open until 24 June and can be accessed here: BMW R 80 – Einzelstück mit österreichischem Typenschein - Motorrad von Ferdinand Zvonimir Habsburg-Lothringen 24.06.2026 - Startpreis: EUR 5.000 - Dorotheum

Mary’s Meals proudly celebrates the success of its Youth Ambassador, Ferdinand Habsburg, both on and off the track and renews its call for collective action to help support thousands of children in Malawi.

For more information, visit https://www.marysmeals.org/campaigns/habsburg-races-24-hours-of-le-mans-2026