The History of Le Mans
From the first 24-hour race in 1923 to the modern Hypercar era—discover how Le Mans became the ultimate test of speed, endurance, and engineering excellence.
Birth of Endurance Racing
In the early 1920s, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) sought to create a race that would test not just speed, but reliability and efficiency. The idea was revolutionary: race for 24 hours straight.
On May 26-27, 1923, 33 cars lined up at the Circuit de la Sarthenear Le Mans, France. The race combined public roads with a permanent circuit, creating a unique challenge that persists to this day.
André Lagache and René Léonard won that first race in a Chenard & Walcker Sport, covering 2,209 kilometers at an average speed of 92 km/h. The concept proved so compelling that Le Mans became motorsport's most prestigious endurance event.
"Le Mans is not just a race. It's a 24-hour battle against the car, the track, the weather, and yourself."— Tom Kristensen, 9-time Le Mans winner
1923
First Race
Running to Glory
For decades, Le Mans featured the iconic "Le Mans start"—drivers lined up across the track from their cars, sprinting to their vehicles when the flag dropped. It was dramatic, dangerous, and unforgettable.
In 1969, Belgian driver Jacky Ickx famously walked to his Ford GT40 while others sprinted, protesting the dangerous practice of drivers racing with unbuckled seatbelts. He won the race—and the start procedure was eventually changed.
Today, Le Mans uses a rolling start behind a safety car, but the spirit of that original dash to the cars lives on in the race's DNA.
The Modern Start
Since 1971, Le Mans has used a rolling start. Cars are released in class order behind the safety car, with the green flag dropped as they cross the start/finish line at 4:00 PM on Saturday.
100 Years of Le Mans
The First 24 Hours
The inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place on May 26-27, 1923. André Lagache and René Léonard win in a Chenard & Walcker, covering 2,209 km. The race was conceived to test and improve automobile reliability and efficiency.
Bentley's Dominance
The "Bentley Boys" complete their incredible run with five victories in seven years (1924, 1927-1930). Woolf Barnato becomes the only driver to win Le Mans every time he entered, with three victories.
The Darkest Day
The worst disaster in motorsport history occurs when Pierre Levegh's Mercedes crashes into the crowd, killing 83 spectators. Mercedes withdraws from racing for 30 years. The tragedy leads to major safety reforms worldwide.
Ford vs Ferrari
Ford ends Ferrari's six-year winning streak with a historic 1-2-3 finish. The GT40 Mk II, driven by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, wins the first of four consecutive victories for Ford, immortalized in the 2019 film.
Porsche's First Victory
Porsche finally wins Le Mans outright with the 917K, driven by Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood. The 917 becomes legendary, and Porsche begins its journey to becoming the most successful manufacturer in Le Mans history.
The Fastest Le Mans
The Group C era reaches its peak. Jan Lammers, Johnny Dumfries, and Andy Wallace win in a Jaguar XJR-9LM, while the WM P88 Peugeot sets a still-standing top speed record of 405 km/h (252 mph) on the Mulsanne Straight.
Toyota's Heartbreak Begins
Toyota's GT-One leads with 90 minutes remaining before mechanical failure. This begins Toyota's 20-year quest for victory, marked by numerous heartbreaking near-misses that would become motorsport legend.
Audi's Era of Dominance
Audi revolutionizes endurance racing with the R8, R10 TDI (first diesel winner in 2006), and R18 e-tron quattro (first hybrid winner in 2012). Audi wins 13 times in 15 years, defining the modern prototype era.
Toyota's Redemption
After decades of heartbreak—including losing in the final minutes in 2016—Toyota finally wins Le Mans with Fernando Alonso, Sébastien Buemi, and Kazuki Nakajima. The victory ends one of motorsport's longest-running curses.
The Hypercar Era & Centenary
Le Mans celebrates its 100th anniversary with the new Hypercar class. Ferrari returns to the top class and wins on their first attempt with Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi—a fairytale centenary victory.
The Greatest Le Mans Drivers
These drivers conquered the 24 hours, etching their names into endurance racing immortality.
Tom Kristensen
9× Le Mans Winner
Mr. Le Mans. The Danish driver holds the all-time record with nine victories, including six consecutive wins from 2000-2005. His consistency and speed over two decades made him the greatest Le Mans driver ever.
Victories: 1997, 2000-2005, 2008, 2013
Jacky Ickx
6× Le Mans Winner
The Belgian master won six times across three decades. He famously walked to his car at the 1969 start to protest the dangerous running start, then won the race—leading to the start procedure change.
Victories: 1969, 1975-1977, 1981, 1982
Derek Bell
5× Le Mans Winner
The British gentleman driver won five times, forming legendary partnerships with Jacky Ickx and Hans-Joachim Stuck. His Porsche victories in the 1980s defined the Group C era.
Victories: 1975, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987
Fernando Alonso
2× Le Mans Winner
The two-time F1 World Champion added Le Mans to his Triple Crown quest. His back-to-back victories with Toyota brought global attention to endurance racing and ended Toyota's heartbreak.
Victories: 2018, 2019
Allan McNish
3× Le Mans Winner
The Scottish driver won three times across 15 years, becoming a key part of Audi's dominant era. His final victory came in the revolutionary R18 e-tron quattro hybrid.
Victories: 1998, 2008, 2013
Sébastien Buemi
4× Le Mans Winner
The Swiss driver became Toyota's talisman, winning four times including the emotional 2018 breakthrough. His combination of Formula E and WEC success makes him one of modern racing's most versatile champions.
Victories: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
The Marques That Made Le Mans
From Porsche's 19 victories to Ferrari's centenary triumph, these manufacturers have defined endurance racing excellence.
Porsche
🏆The most successful manufacturer in Le Mans history. From the 917 to the 919 Hybrid, Porsche has defined endurance racing with innovation and reliability across every era.
Audi
🔧Revolutionized Le Mans with diesel and hybrid technology. The R8, R10 TDI, and R18 e-tron quattro dominated from 2000-2014, bringing engineering excellence to endurance racing.
Ferrari
🐎Nine overall victories including the emotional 2023 centenary win. Ferrari's 1960s dominance with the 250 GTO and 330 P series defined the golden age of sports car racing.
Jaguar
🇬🇧Seven victories including five consecutive wins (1951, 1953, 1955-1957). The D-Type and XJR-9 represent British engineering excellence at its finest.
Toyota
🇯🇵After 20 years of heartbreak, Toyota finally conquered Le Mans in 2018. Their TS050 and GR010 Hypercars have dominated the modern era with reliability and speed.
Ford
🇺🇸Four consecutive victories (1966-1969) with the legendary GT40 ended Ferrari's dominance. The Ford vs Ferrari rivalry remains motorsport's greatest manufacturer battle.
The Cathedrals of Endurance
These legendary tracks host the world's greatest endurance races.
Circuit de la Sarthe
The home of the 24 Hours, combining permanent circuit sections with closed public roads. The Mulsanne Straight, Porsche Curves, and Arnage are legendary corners known to every racing fan.
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Host of the 24 Hours of Spa since 1924. Eau Rouge and Raidillon challenge drivers with elevation changes and unpredictable Ardennes weather.
Daytona International Speedway
The Rolex 24 at Daytona opens the endurance racing season. The combination of banking and infield road course creates unique challenges.
Nürburgring Nordschleife
The Green Hell hosts the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. With 154 corners and massive elevation changes, it's the ultimate test of car and driver.
Sebring International Raceway
The 12 Hours of Sebring is America's oldest sports car race. The bumpy concrete surface and Florida heat test man and machine to their limits.
Fuji Speedway
Japan's premier circuit hosts the 6 Hours of Fuji in the WEC. The 1.5 km main straight and views of Mount Fuji make it a fan favorite.
405 km/h: The Ultimate Straight
The Mulsanne Straight (Les Hunaudières) was once a 6-kilometer stretch of public road where cars reached unimaginable speeds. It became the ultimate test of aerodynamics and engine power.
In 1988, the WM P88 Peugeot set the all-time record of 405 km/h (252 mph)—a speed that will never be beaten at Le Mans. The car was specifically designed for this one attempt.
In 1990, two chicanes were added for safety, breaking up the straight into three sections. While top speeds dropped, the challenge of Le Mans remained as demanding as ever.
405
km/h record
6 km
original length
405
km/h
WM P88 Peugeot • 1988
The fastest speed ever recorded at Le Mans
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the 24 Hours of Le Mans start?
The first 24 Hours of Le Mans was held on May 26-27, 1923, at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France. The race was created by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) to test and improve automobile reliability and efficiency. André Lagache and René Léonard won the inaugural race in a Chenard & Walcker, covering 2,209.536 kilometers.
Who has won the most 24 Hours of Le Mans?
Tom Kristensen of Denmark holds the record with 9 overall victories at Le Mans (1997, 2000-2005, 2008, 2013). Known as "Mr. Le Mans," he won six consecutive races from 2000-2005 and is widely regarded as the greatest endurance racing driver of all time.
Which manufacturer has won Le Mans the most?
Porsche is the most successful manufacturer at Le Mans with 19 overall victories (1970-1971, 1976-1977, 1979, 1981-1987, 1994, 1996-1998, 2015-2017). Their success spans from the legendary 917 to the hybrid 919, making them synonymous with endurance racing excellence.
What is the Mulsanne Straight?
The Mulsanne Straight (Les Hunaudières) was a 6-kilometer straight section of the Le Mans circuit where cars reached speeds over 400 km/h. In 1990, two chicanes were added for safety, reducing the longest straight to approximately 2 kilometers. The WM P88 Peugeot still holds the record at 405 km/h (252 mph) set in 1988.
What is the Triple Crown of Motorsport?
The Triple Crown consists of winning the Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Only Graham Hill has achieved this feat (Monaco 1963-1965, 1968-1969; Indy 500 1966; Le Mans 1972). Fernando Alonso has won Monaco and Le Mans, needing only Indianapolis to complete the crown.
What is the current Le Mans format?
The modern 24 Hours of Le Mans features Hypercar (LMH/LMDh), LMP2, and GT classes. Hypercars produce around 680 horsepower with hybrid systems. Teams of 2-3 drivers share driving duties, with each stint typically lasting 2-4 hours. The race starts at 4:00 PM Saturday and finishes at 4:00 PM Sunday.
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