24 Hours of Le Mans

Mythical and emblematic car race of the Sarthe, the 24 Hours of Le Mans promise thrills and adrenaline rush. Discover this unique event in the world which brings together 260,000 visitors each year. 

The biggest automotive event in the world

The “24 Hours of Le Mans” event is a 24-hour endurance car competition that takes place in June. Created in 1923, this mythical race follows a 13.6 km route on the departmental roads south of Le Mans and a section of the permanent Bugatti circuit. 

It remains one of the three most prestigious motor races in the world with the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500 miles. The most famous passages remain the bends of Tertre rouge, Mulsanne and Arnage. The Hunaudières straight line, almost 6 km long, records peaks of more than 350 km/h!

The 60 competition cars are divided into several categories between prototypes and Grand Touring Endurance road cars. Listen to the roar of the engines of iconic car manufacturers like Toyota Gazoo Racing, Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Corvette and Alpine. 

Plug in your headphones and discover the sound of the 24 Hours of Le Mans!

The new premier category, Le Mans HyperCar, should attract prestigious manufacturers in the years to come: Peugeot, Lamborghini, McLaren, Cadillac are on the starting blocks to join the legendary race.

A week full of entertainment and events 

Although the 24 Hours of Le Mans event takes place from Saturday to Sunday, the entire week preceding has a large number of events in store: funfair, concerts, autograph sessions, track baptisms, helicopter flights…

Different events follow one another at Le Mans:

• vehicle weighing
• free practice and qualifying
• pit discovery day for the public on the circuit
• concentrations of classic and prestige vehicles in surrounding towns
• The big parade of pilots in the city center of Le Mans
• The warm-up lap on Saturday morning before the start of the race at 4 p.m.

The village of the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Located on the circuit, the 24 Hours of Le Mans village offers an immersion zone with an official 400 m ² megastore , exhibitions and interactive stands. A stone’s throw away, a Fan Zone offers a wide choice of catering outlets, giant screens, a children’s area and the Young Driver’s Criteria.

After the morning entertainment and the support races, the pressure mounts during the last minutes before the start. The cars line up on the straight line of the pits, the silence is total. “Drivers, start your engines” orders the official “starter”, a distinguished guest chosen to give the start of the race. 

Starting signal

The cars set off for several warm-up laps then, at 4 p.m. sharp, the starter waves the French flag, the 260,000 spectators cheer the drivers:  Let’s go for 24 hours of thrills and emotions!

Live a “24 Hours of Le Mans” experience

For a safe introduction to the track or for intense improvement sessions, come and test the Proto Pescarolo from the Automobile Club de l’Ouest or the cars from the Porsche Experience Center.

A few meters from the Porsche bends of the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit, Le Mans Karting International offers 3 circuits and 4 tracks dedicated to competition and leisure. Accessible from the age of 7, it allows the little ones to live their first experience of motor sports! 

And for those who want to experience the 24 Hours of Le Mans as if they were there, simulators allow you to feel the sensations of an endurance driver. Come challenge your friends and fight against the clocks to put your name at the top of the tables!

The 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum

At the entrance to the Bugatti Circuit, discover an exceptional collection of more than 120 authentic motor racing vehicles!
From the 1924 Bentley 3L sport to the famous racing car designed by Jean Rondeau in 1980, the models exhibited at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum are legendary. All the big names in automotive brands such as Jaguar, Ford, Matra, Audi are represented there with their legendary models.

The permanent route plunges the visitor into the greatest endurance race in the world, to which are added 300 m² of temporary exhibitions. Regularly, thematic exhibitions highlight the great moments of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

With the help of a leaflet and an audio guide delivered to the reception of the museum, discover independently the circuit of the 24 hours of Le Mans outside the sporting events. From the Dunlop footbridge to the 24-hour village, the route takes you through the 9 essential infrastructures of the circuit.