24 Hours of Le Mans

Held annually since 1923, the 24 Hours is the world’s oldest active sports car race in endurance racing.

Covered by journalists from over 160 countries, the world watches on as car makers including Porsche, Audi, Ferrari and Toyota hit the track full-throttle. Some 260,000 fans witness the sporting spectacle on site and enjoy the adrenaline rush.

The Circuit de Sarthe is a cross between a traditional racetrack and city route, with some sections of the course including public roads. The average speed achieved is 219 km/h, with cars reaching 400km/h on the Hunaudières straight. The winner is the car that travels the greatest distance in a 24-hour time period, around a circuit of roughly 8.5 miles (13.6 km) long.

Racing begins at 3pm, preceded by a series of exhibitions and activities totalling a whole week of entertainment. Organisers from the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) keep fans on their toes with concerts, access to pits, vintage car exhibitions and qualifying practice sessions.

Le Mans