Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an annual car endurance race on the Sarthe road circuit near Le Mans, France. Created in 1923 and organized by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, it is the oldest active racing event of its kind. The annual Le Mans champion achieves victory by covering the most distance in 24 hours as opposed to a fixed-length race covered as quickly as possible.
Le Mans’ record for most distance occurred in 2010, with Audi R15+ TDI’s Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard, and Mike Rockenfeller covering 5,410 kilometers (3,360 mi). The driver with the most wins ever is Tom Kristensen, with nine victories from 1997–2014.
Participating cars are called Le Mans prototypes (LMPs). They must adhere to certain specifications to be eligible to race. LMPs are known for their aerodynamics, handling, and fuel economy.
Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Ferrari, Ford, Jaguar, Peugeot, Porsche, and Toyota have scored multiple wins in the legendary 24-hour event.
With its R8, R10, R15, and R18 e-tron, Audi boasts over a dozen victories. However, Porsche is the winningest manufacturer, notching 19 overall wins, including seven straight victories from 1981–87 and a three-year streak from 2015–17 with the hybrid 919.
About Audi | Ferrari | Ford | Jaguar | Porsche
Featured Articles:
- Top 5 Le Mans Winners That No Longer Race the 24 Hours
- Will We Ever See the Bugatti Bolide Race at Le Mans?
- Sophia Floersch Crash: Why She Was on the Phone During the 2021 Le Mans
- 1953 Jaguar C-Type Continuation: The Le Mans Legend Lives Again
Visit the Le Mans website.
