The 2007 Le Mans Crash
The ultimate test of endurance and innovation.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an endurance sports car race held annually near the city of Le Mans, France. First run in 1923, it is the oldest active endurance racing event in the world and is widely considered one of the world's most prestigious races.
Quick Facts
- Year
- 2007
- Winner
- Audi Sport Team Joest
- Winning car
- Audi R10 TDI (No. 9)
- Key technology
- Diesel Engine (First LMP1 Diesel Win)
- Total cars started
- 56
Lore & Background
The race is organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and held on the Circuit de la Sarthe. Unlike fixed-distance races, the winner is the car that covers the greatest distance in 24 hours. The race was part of the World Sportscar Championship from 1953 until 1992, except during the 1956, 1975–1979, and 1989–1990 seasons. In 2011, it was part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, and since 2012 it has been part of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Reader's Guide
The most recent running of the event, the 94th 24 Heures du Mans, ran from 13 to 14 June 2025. The race is held in mid-June, near the summer solstice. Modern competitors often cover well over 5000 km; the record is 2010's 5410 km. Current regulations mandate three drivers per car, with individual limits of no more than 4 hours in a 6-hour period and no more than 14 hours total. The race comprises three classes: Hypercar, LMP2, and LMGT3.
Did You Know?
- The 2025 race attracted 332,000 spectators.
- Cars on the track can achieve speeds of 366 kph, and reached 407 kph on the main straight in 1988, leading to the addition of more chicanes.
- The race is part of two informal Triple Crown series: the Triple Crown of Motorsport and the Triple Crown of endurance racing.
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