The 24 Hours of Le Mans, first held in 1923, is the world’s most famous endurance race. Teams of drivers race through a full day and night on the Circuit de la Sarthe in western France, which combines a permanent track with closed public roads — including the legendary Mulsanne Straight. Le Mans has produced some of motorsport’s greatest stories: the Bentley Boys in the 1920s, Ford’s 1966 victory over Ferrari, Porsche’s record number of wins, and in recent years the return of Ferrari to overall victory.

At a glance
First race 1923
Location Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France
Format 24 hours, teams of drivers sharing a car
Most wins (manufacturer) Porsche
Famous section The Mulsanne Straight

Great eras

  • 1920s: Bentley’s victories, driven by the Bentley Boys. Read the Bentley Boys.
  • 1950s: Jaguar’s C-Type and D-Type wins. Read the history of Jaguar.
  • 1960s: Ford’s GT40 ended Ferrari’s run with a 1966 one-two-three finish.
  • 1970s–80s: Porsche’s dominance began, including the 917 and 956/962.
  • 2000s–2010s: Audi’s diesel and hybrid era; Bentley’s 2003 return and win.
  • 2020s: A new hypercar era with multiple manufacturers.

The Mulsanne Straight

Before chicanes were added in 1990, cars reached extraordinary speeds on the straight. It gave its name to the Bentley Mulsanne. Read the Bentley Mulsanne.

Why endurance racing matters

Le Mans has driven innovation in reliability, aerodynamics, lighting, braking and efficiency — technology that often reaches road cars.

Ford vs Ferrari

In the 1960s, Henry Ford II set out to beat Ferrari at Le Mans after a failed attempt to buy the Italian company. The resulting Ford GT40 program culminated in a one-two-three finish in 1966, a story later dramatized in the film Ford v Ferrari (2019).

Racing through the night

Much of the challenge comes in darkness, when drivers rely on powerful headlights and memory of the track, and in unpredictable weather. Innovations in lighting — including LED and laser headlights — have been proven at Le Mans before reaching road cars. Read adaptive headlights.