The Incredible History Of 24 Hours Of Le Mans

The Ultimate Prize Of Endurance Racing

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the oldest and most prestigious car races in the world. Unlike the races on the F1 Grand Prix and NASCAR circuits, it is a battle of endurance over speed as drivers compete to see who can cover the most distance in a 24-hour time period. The race rewards the drivers’ stamina, reflexes, and resourcefulness at the wheel of a fast and durable car.

One Third Of Two Racing Triple Crowns

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is commonly regarded as one of the three most prestigious races in the world, along with the Monaco Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500. It is also a third of the unofficial endurance racing Triple Crown with its counterparts the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

PA Images, Getty Images

Oldest In The World

Run annually since 1923 (with notable interruptions), the Le Mans race is the oldest endurance race in the world. Surviving and evolving through national and international political upheaval, it has built a proud and colorful history over the decades.

The Mirror of Sports, Wikimedia Commons

A Marathon, Not A Sprint

The environment of auto racing in the early 1920s emphasized speed, with car builders focused on winning a short dash to the finish line. The Le Mans race was devised as a test of a car and driver’s endurance through a complex course over a 24-hour period in a variety of conditions—this meant that car designers had to consider other performance aspects such as fuel economy and wear on parts.

D.A.S. (Germany), Wikimedia Commons

Classic Road Course

The road course of Le Mans—or Circuit de la Sarthe as it is called in French—is a mixture of designated racetracks and public roads that totals 13.63 km (8.47 mi) in length. Le Mans cars must be built to withstand the rigors of publicly-driven roads as well as the smooth, carefully maintained tracks.

Agence Rol, Wikimedia Commons