The Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans
The Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans, also known as the Circuit de la Sarthe after the 1906 French Grand Prix triangle circuit, is a semi-permanent racing race course located in Le Mans, Sarthe, France. Its current configuration is 13.626 kilometers (8.467 mi) long, making it one of the world's longest circuits. It includes private, race-specific parts of the track as well as public roads that are open most of the year. The race stadium, where the short Bugatti Circuit is located, has a capacity of 100,000 people.
As one of the most intense race tracks in Europe, full throttle is used for up to 85% of the lap time, exerting enormous strain on engine and drivetrain components. Furthermore, the time spent reaching top speed causes significant wear on the brakes and suspension as cars must slow from over 322 km/h (200 mph) to roughly 100 km/h (62 mph) for the abrupt turn in Mulsanne.
It is well known as the site of the 24 Hours of Le Mans car race. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an endurance sports car race conducted each year near Le Mans, France. It is the world's oldest running endurance race. Unlike fixed-distance events where the winner is selected by the fastest time, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is won by the car that travels the greatest distance in the shortest amount of time. Cars on this track can attain speeds of up to 366 km/h (227 mph) and have previously reached speeds of 405 km/h (252 mph) prior to track changes. Racing teams must strike a balance between the need for speed and the cars' capacity to run for 24 hours without mechanical failure. From 1953 until its final season in 1992, the 24 Hours of Le Mans was a regular feature of the World Sportscar Championship. It took part in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in 2011. The race has been a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship since 2012. The 24 Hours of Le Mans was both the second and final event of the World Endurance Championship's super-season, which spanned from May 2018 to June 2019.
Location: Le Mans, Pays de la Loire, France
