Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans)

The spiritual home of sports car racing… Le Mans. First run on cobbled, dusty roads in the south of the French city of Le Mans, few from those early pioneering days could have imagined how the demanding 24-hour race would evolve and grow in appeal the world over.

100 years later, those same ingredients of man and machine versus the circuit, weather and the clock are at the forefront in mid-June every summer, as the world’s best drivers and biggest automotive manufacturers do battle for supremacy twice around the clock.

The longest circuit on the FIA World Endurance Championship calendar conjures up many different challenges, from technical corners such as Indianapolis and Arnage to the high-speed Mulsanne straight. There are countless iconic moments over the last century which can be recalled.

Look back to 2023

An exciting, new, golden era for the FIA WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans began in 2023 – and it did not disappoint! Billed as the battle of century, the Centenary edition of the world-famous race lived up to all expectations.

Toyota had enjoyed five consecutive wins previously and, with all their experience, they would be a force to be reckoned with. Up stepped Ferrari, in its first Le Mans as a factory team for 50 years, who promptly locked out the front row in qualifying. Let battle commence!

With rain in the opening few hours of the race, and again during the night, it was a battle of adhesion in the wet and tricky conditions as Toyota, Porsche, Peugeot, Cadillac, JOTA and Ferrari either led or fought for the race win.

As night became day, it would be the #51 Ferrari against the #8 Toyota in a two-horse race for victory.