24 Hours of Le Mans

Lore & Background

Unlike fixed-distance races whose winner is determined by minimum time, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is won by the car that covers the greatest distance in 24 hours. The race is organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). It is held on the Circuit de la Sarthe, composed of closed public roads and dedicated sections of a racing track. The race was often part of the World Sportscar Championship from 1953 until that series' final season in 1992. In 2011, it was a part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. Since 2012, the race has been a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. A 10-hour American version of the race, called Petit Le Mans, has been held annually since 1998.

In Their Own Story

Inside, the V12 didn't just run; it screamed, a mechanical shriek that vibrated through the driver's spine—a raw, visceral sound distinct from the high-pitched whine of any Grand Prix car. Outside, the French night was biting cold, but the cabin was an inferno of heat and exhaust fumes. The Ford GT40s were no longer threats; they were ghosts in the rearview mirror, their blue paint gleaming under the floodlights as the Ferrari held its ground. For hours, the suspension fought the circuit's brutal undulations while pit whispers drifted over the radio like prayers. As dawn broke over Sarthe, painting the sky in bruised hues of orange and purple, the checkered flag finally waved. The car crawled to a halt, the engine ticking as it cooled into silence, leaving the driver slumped back—exhausted, soot-stained, but victorious against impossible odds.

Reader's Guide

The race is held in mid-June, near the summer solstice. The race begins in mid-afternoon and finishes the following day at the same hour. Modern competitors often cover well over 5,000 km. The record is 2010's 5,410 km. Current regulations mandate that three drivers share each competing vehicle, with individual limits of driving no more than 4 hours in a 6-hour period, and no more than 14 hours total. Competing teams race in groups called 'classes'. Today, the race comprises three classes: Hypercar (LMH or LMDh), LMP2, and LMGT3.

Did You Know?

• The cars on this track reached 405 km/h on the main straight in 1988, instigating the addition of more chicanes to the track to reduce speed.
• The 2025 race attracted 332,000 spectators.
• Concept cars may participate under the 'Garage 56' banner, which debuted in 2012.