The Magic of Le Mans: Why the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the Pinnacle of Motorsport

The second weekend in June is very special for motorsport fans. This is the weekend of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, one of the most special events in the racing calendar, which puts cars and drivers to the ultimate endurance test.

In June, in northeast France, where Le Mans is situated, the days are the longest, and the weather (sometimes!) is settled. Fans can watch cars blaze around the track in normal daylight conditions, but at night, the cars look even more spectacular as the pace never lets up.

What makes the 24 Hours of Le Mans so special? Is it the race over 100 years old, the different types of cars competing, or the fact that the cars do race throughout the night?
Strap yourself in and join us as we take you on our guide to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and uncover:

1. The History Of Le Mans
2. The Track
3. Race Car Categories
4. Who Are The Most Successful Teams
5. Who Are The Most Successful Le Mans Drivers

1: The History Of Le Mans

The first race at Le Mans took place in 1923 and was organised by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. The race was designed to be different from Grand Prix racing, which was gaining a strong foothold across Europe.

Where Grand Prix cars were designed for outright speed, Le Mans tested race cars differently. Endurance was the main focus; race cars would have to be designed to produce fast times while managing their engines, tyres, and fuel efficiency.

The race would also see teams have two or three drivers able to race for up to four hours at a time while the other drivers rested, waiting for their turn.

The early history of the race was seen as the domain of the “Gentleman Driver” going wheel to wheel for victory. Cars became more technically advanced with every passing year and witnessed ever faster lap times.

The safety of drivers and spectators was tragically highlighted in the 1955 race when French racer Pierre Levegh took evasive action to avoid Mike Hawthorn, who was entering the pits and collided with Lance Macklin. Levegh’s Mercedes was flipped into the air, striking a sandbank where the car disintegrated, sending burning debris through the nearby packed main grandstand. Levegh and 83 spectators lost their lives in the single worst racing accident at Le Mans.

1966 saw one of the most famous races in Le Mans history. Ferrari had dominated Le Mans in previous years, but Ford, still smarting from a failed attempt to buy Ferrari, beat them in their own backyard by claiming the top three positions with their iconic GT40 Mk II, creating a synchronised crossing on the finishing line.

Coming into more modern times, 1995 saw an unlikely race victory for the McLaren F1 GTR. The victory was unlikely as it was the car’s debut at Le Mans. It was also all the more unlikely as the GTR wasn’t much different from the F1 road car under the skin. The cars the GTR was competing against were full-blown purpose-built race cars.

The win in 95 for McLaren also harked back to the race’s origins, when competitors would drive to and from the race in the car they had competed in.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is part of a racing calendar comprising different races held around the world. From 1953, this was known as the World Sportscar Championship, which ran until 1992. There have been several iterations leading up to 2012 when the 24 Hours of Le Mans became part of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

2: The Track

The Circuit de la Sarthe, to give the track its official title, is 13.626 km (8.467 miles) in length and is a mixture of permanent track and public roads.

The track tests driver and car to the limit through fast-flowing turns, technical sections, and straights that see cars reach their maximum speeds. Cars run at 85% full throttle on track; engines and drivetrain components bear the burden of being on full throttle for so long. Tyre wear and fuel must be managed effectively to ensure cars can run for 24 hours and challenge for honours. Brakes also take a pounding, especially in sections like the Mulsanne Straight.

The Mulsanne Straight is one of the most famous sections of the Circuit de la Sarthe. The original Mulsanne Straight ran to a length of 6 km (3.7 miles). As cars became more aerodynamically proficient and engines got more powerful, the maximum speeds recorded on the Mulsanne Straight increased each year, with Roger Dorchy’s WM P88-Peugeot setting a new benchmark top speed of 407 km/h (253 mph) in 1988.

The FIA had different ideas regarding the ever-increasing speeds on the Mulsanne Straight, as they felt there was more risk to the drivers. In 1990, a new rule was put in place by motorsport’s governing body meant that for a track to be legal, the maximum length a straight could be was 2km (1.2 miles) long. The organisers built two chicanes in the Mulsanne Straight to comply with the new rule, effectively turning it into three small straights. Since adding the chicanes, the maximum speed recorded on the reconfigured Mulsanne Straight was 366 km/h (226.9 mph).
Sadly, there have still been some major crashes, with 1999 seeing the most spectacular as Mark Webber and Peter Dumbreck experienced their Mercedes CLR race cars getting airborne and somersaulting through the air.

Luckily, both drivers were able to walk away from their crashed cars.

Some areas of the race track have been vastly updated and modernised to maintain safety standards. Still, sections such as the Dunlop Bridge, Dunlop Curves, Forest Esses, Indianapolis, and Arnage Corner can trace their routes back to the first race in 1923.

Along with the introduction of the chicanes on the Mulsanne Straight, the Porsche Curves, replacing the old Maison Blanche curve, were introduced in 1972.

Tertre Rouge leads into the Mulsanne Straight, a highly important corner for any car to carry momentum onto. At the opposite end of the Mulsanne Straight is the Mulsanne Corner, a tight right-hander that requires precision braking as cars slow down from the last section of the Mulsanne Straight.

3: Race Car Categories

For the 2024 race,62 cars were on the starting grid. The cars are split into different categories, allowing competitive racing throughout the field. For 2024, the race categories are:
● Hypercar
● LMP2
● LMGT3

Hypercar

The pinnacle series raced at Le Mans, the Hypercar class, was introduced in 2021 to replace the Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1) car.

The Hypercar class is divided into two categories: LMH and LMDh. Cars must weigh a minimum of 1030 kg and feature closed cockpits. Maximum power is restricted to 785hp, with hybrid technology providing up to 200kw.

Hypercars are the fastest and most aerodynamic of all the cars; their expected lap times around Le Sarthe is 3 minutes 30 seconds.

Manufacturers like Ferrari, BMW, Lamborghini, Porsche, Alpine, Peugeot, and Toyota compete in the Hypercar series.

LMP2

Four chassis are available from Dallara, ORECA, Ligier, and Multimatic/Riley. The series uses a standard 4.2-litre V8 engine.

The commonality of components is an effort to keep costs down to allow private teams to enter into this category.

LMP2 cars are expected to be ten seconds per lap slower than the Hypercars.

LMGT3

New for 2024, LMGT3 replaces the LMGTE Am series.

The cars competing in this series are the closest to their road-going equivalents. Cars can race with front, mid, or rear engine layouts and must comply with the FIA’s GT3 rules.

This category is still where amateurs can race, keeping true to the traditions of Le Mans.

Although LMGT3 cars can’t be used on public roads, you’ll see very familiar shapes from manufacturers such as Lamborghini, Porsche, Ferrari, Toyota, Aston Martin, Ford, and McLaren competing.

4: Who Are The Most Successful Teams?

Le-Mans has attracted some of the most illustrious car manufacturers to compete in the race. Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Ferrari, Ford, Mercedes Benz, and Porsche have all competed at one time or another during the race’s history.

Porsche

One name stands out when looking at the teams that have had the most success at Le Mans. Porsche has recorded 19 victories starting in 1970 with the Porsche 917KH Coupe in its famous Gulf livery. Porsche dominated during the 80s, with seven consecutive wins starting in 1981, but it would be 28 years before Porsche claimed its next victory in 2015 with the 919 Hybrid. The 919 Hybrid would claim victories in the 2016 and 2017 races, the last Porsche victory.

Audi

Audi comes second, recording 13 victories during a dominant spell between 2000 and 2014. Only Bentley (2002) and Peugeot (2009) broke the German manufacturer’s stranglehold on the podium’s top step. Audi’s winning streak included the first-ever diesel-powered victory at Le Mans with the 2006 R10 TDI and the first victory for a car using hybrid technology, as seen in the 2011 R18 TDI. The R18 TDI was also striking in its design as it was the first closed-cockpit car from Audi.

Ferrari

Ferrari has 11 wins at Le Mans, their first coming in 1949 with the 166MM. Ferrari was victorious in 1954 and 1958, but the real sweet spot for the Maranello team came in the 1960s when they dominated the early part of the decade with consecutive wins from 1960 to 1965 with cars such as the 250 TR, 330, and 275P. Ferrari’s dominance abruptly ended in 1966 when Ford recorded its famous 1,2,3.

After 1966, Ferrari switched its attention entirely to its Formula One cars, and the Works Ferrari team didn’t compete at Le Mans again until 2023. Ferrari’s entrant, the 499P, took the chequered flag and followed up with another win this year.

Porsche’s overall success makes Germany the country with the most manufacturer wins, with 34, followed by the United Kingdom, with 17 victories across six manufacturers, and France third, with 15 victories spread across nine manufacturers.

5: Who Are The Most Successful Le Mans Drivers?

Tom Kristensen

Tom Kristensen holds the current record for most wins, with a total of nine earning him the nickname ‘Mr Le Mans’.

Kristensen’s first victory came in 1997, driving with the Joest Racing Team. Kristensen’s successive win came in 2000 after joining Audi, and it was followed up with further victories in 2001 and 2002.

Kristensen joined Team Bentley in 2003, but the race’s outcome didn’t change. Kristensen chalked up another win in the Speed 8.

Kristensen recorded wins in 2004, 2005, and 2008 when returning to Audi. His final victory came in 2013, racing the Audi R18 E-TRON Quattro car.

Jacky Ickx

Ickx has six victories to his name, with his first Le Mans title coming in 1969, driving the Ford GT-40 Mk 1 for the British racing outfit J.W. Automotive Engineering.

Ickx won in three consecutive years, starting in 1975, driving a Mirage GR8, before winning the 1976 and 1977 editions in Porsche 936 Spyders.

It was four years before Ickx visited the top step of the podium at Le Mans, powering to victory in a Porsche 936. His final victory came the following year, in 1982, when he also drove a Porsche, this time in the highly successful 956 model.

Derek Bell

The British driver had a long and successful career at Le Mans, recording five wins between 1970 and 1996.

Bell’s first three wins were recorded alongside Jacky Ikcx in 1975, 1981, and 1982. Bell won again in 1986 and 1987 at the wheel of a Porsche 962.

Britain has produced the most successful drivers at Le Mans, with 34 victors; France is second with 28, and Germany is third with 18 winners.

Frank Biela/Emmanuale Pirro

Both drivers were part of the Audi team that dominated the 2000s and clocked up five wins a piece at Le Mans. Biela and Pirro were teammates of Tom Kristensen, reeling off consecutive victories in 2000, 2001, and 2002, piloting the Audi R8.

Biela and Pirro were teammates when they won the 2006 and 2007 races with Marco Werner in the Audi R10 TDI.

In Summary

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the pinnacle of motorsport. Its history is littered with some of the most famous automotive manufacturers competing wheel to wheel in the ultimate endurance race.

The race tests cars, drivers, and mechanics to the maximum in a way not seen in any other form of motorsport, and it will continue to offer the same test for years to come.
Le Mans is the ultimate example of a race instead of a sprint.