The 24 hours of Le Mans
For those of you who don't know yet: Le Mans is a sports car race, it's the biggest and most famous endurance sports car race on this planet. But actually it's much more than just a race, with 200,000 - 300,000 people watching it and the Woodstock-type atmosphere you will find each June at the Sarthe calling it a festival is much closer to reality.
The first edition of this race was started in 1923. The concept of driving around the clock and especially at night was something new at that time; the idea behind it was to test not only the chassis and engines for reliability but also accessories like headlights, which were in the early stages of development. This basic idea hasn't changed that much until nowadays because besides speed it's still reliability which gets you on the podium, but the headlights are usually not that decisive any more...
Pre-war years were dominated by manufacturers like Bugatti, Bentley and Alfa Romeo, in the first decades after the war Ferrari, Mercedes and Jaguar were very successful. In those early years, drivers had to service their cars by themselves at the pits. Unfortunately Le Mans is also known for the worst accident in the history of motor racing. During the 1955 race Pierre Levegh's Mercedes struck the rear of an Austin Healey driven by Lance Macklin on the pit straight. The car rammed the bank, exploded, and its engine flew into the packed grandstand, killing more than 80 and leaving hundreds of spectators injured. Levegh died instantly and the entire Mercedes team was withdrawn, including Stirling Moss and Juan-Manuel Fangio. After this disaster Mercedes Benz retired completely from motor racing and it took more than 30 years before they came back to the scene.
1967: Downhill from Dunlop bridge to the "Esses", © Derek Appleyard
The Sixties gave Le Mans an enormous boost in publicity, especially with the big battles fought between Ford and Ferrari. The Ford GT40 was actually built for the express purpose of defeating Ferrari, after Enzo Ferrari backed out of a deal to sell his company to Henry Ford II. In 1966 Henry Ford himself travelled to Le Mans to arrange his cars for a picturesque 1-2-3 win. This was followed by 3 more wins for the GT40. 1969 saw the closest finish ever, with just about 100 metres gap between the winning Ford GT40 of Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver and the Porsche 908 driven by Hermann and Larousse. The same year saw also the end of the famous Le Mans starts where drivers had to run over the track, jump into their cars and start them. Belgian Jacky Ick considered this start method unsafe and instead of running across the track to his car, he slowly walked, then entered in his car and locked the safety belts properly. Even though he got away last from the grid, he won it. Since then it's a lap behind a pace car and a rolling start.
The Seventies saw a lot of smiling local spectators, with French success 1971-1973 (Matra with local hero Henri Pescarolo) and in 1978 (Renault). Since 1977 teams have been allowed to put 3 drivers in a car, before that there were just 2 of them who had to share the driving and even solo driving was permitted in the early years.
The most successful manufacturer in the history of this race is Porsche, with 16 overall wins between 1970 and 1998, the first one with the legendary 917. Their most successful driver was the Belgian Jacky Ickx, who scored 4 of his 6 Le Mans wins behind the wheel of Porsche cars. Porsche also became famous for producing one of the most long-lasting race cars, the 956/962 model which scored consecutive wins 1982-1987, after that Mercedes (1989) and Jaguar (1988, 1990) restored some former glory. Since 2000 German manufacturer Audi dominates at Le Mans with 7 overall wins, 2 of them with a Diesel-engine powered car.
The race track: The "Circuit des 24 Heures" is a non-permanent track using local roads that remain open to the public most of the year. In the original configuration, the race track was 17.26 km (10.73 miles) long, and it has subsequently been shortened on several occasions. The most dramatic modifications happened in 1990, when the famous 7 km long Mulsanne straight was divided by 2 chicanes to cut down the top speeds which were close to 400 km/h at that time. The length of the current race track is 13.65 km (approx. 8.5 miles).
The drivers: Hermann Lang, Phil Hill, Bruce McLaren, Jacky Ickx, Graham Hill: the list of the winners shows a lot of famous big names in Motorsport, especially during the Sixties and Seventies when it was common that Grand Prix drivers did some sports car racing as well. This has changed in the last 2 decades, in the age of exclusive contracts and regular overlapping with the Grand Prix calendar you won't find active Formula One drivers on the grid any more. But beside the experienced old hands of sportscar racing there is always a lot of young talent to watch. Grand Prix drivers like Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard, Mark Webber (Mercedes SLK flight captain in 1999) and Alex Wurz (youngest winner ever in 1996) earned some merits at Le Mans already before they went into Grand Prix racing. Current record holder at Le Mans is the Dane Tom Kristensen with 7 overall victories!
Sporting regulations - as of 2008
The start
- The starting grid will be in a staggered 2 x 2 formation, after one lap behind the pace car there will be a "flying" or "rolling" start.
- The fastest driver in the team shall start the race.
- If a car can't make it to the starting grid, it is allowed to start from the pits. There is a maximum of 1 hour after the actual start to do so, after which the car will be excluded from the race.
Pit stops
- The engine must be switched off at the start of the pit stop; once the pit stop is finished it must be restarted without any additional device or outside assistance.
- During refuelling no one is allowed to work on the car (except for driver changes and windscreen cleaning), the car cannot be jacked up.
- For tyre changes and repairs in the pit lane a maximum of 4 mechanics are allowed to work on the car. Should the car be pushed back into its garage, more people can work on it.
- Speed limit within the pit lane is 60 km/h.
- It is strictly forbidden to spin the wheels when leaving the pits!
Repairs
- Chassis and engine block cannot be changed and since the famous Audi 4-minute-gearbox-changes the same rule applies to the gearbox casing and the differential casing.
- Reserve cars are not permitted, so if a car is totalled during practice or warm up, the team is out!
End of race / classification
- Le Mans is an endurance race! You'll only be classified if you have covered at least 70% of the race distance of the winner in your class and if you pass the chequered flag at the end of race. Leading the race for 23 hours and 55 minutes and retiring e.g. with a blown engine 5 minutes prior to race end won't get you on the podium, even if you have already done more laps than the subsequent winner.
Time penalties
- If you have been a naughty boy (or girl) the race marshals will show you the black flag and give you a time or drive-through penalty. When this happens, you can do a maximum of 4 more laps before coming into the pit lane for your penalty. These penalties cannot be combined with a pit stop.
Drivers
- A maximum of 3 drivers is allowed for each car. Drivers are not allowed to change to another car during the race, not even within the same team.
- During practice sessions, drivers must achieve a lap time at least equal to 125% of the average of the 3 best laps set by 3 cars of different makes, and at least equal to 115% of the best time achieved by the fastest car in each of the 4 classes. Furthermore, they have to do a minimum of 3 laps during night time practice sessions.
- A driver is only allowed to drive a maximum of 4 hours within a 6 hour time frame (minus pit stop time).
- Maximum total drive time for a driver is 14 hours.
En route
- If a car stops on the race track and the driver leaves it and walks further than 10 metres away from his car then the car will be excluded from the race. No outside assistance is allowed; only the driver can carry out repairs using tools and spares carried aboard. Supplying with fuel, water, oil, etc., is prohibited on and along the track.
- Drivers are not allowed to push their cars.
- Headlights must be on at all times: on the track and in the pit lane.
- One of the silliest rules and difficult to enforce at night time: drivers are not allowed to cross the white lines marking the race track or use the kerbs.
Fuel
- All teams have to use the fuel provided by the race organizer.
Tyres
- Can be changed anytime and as often as the team likes.
Overall winners since 1923
| Year | Car | Driver (Nationality) | ||
| 1923 | Chenard & Walcker | André Lagaché (F), René Leonard (F) | ||
| 1924 | Bentley 3-Litre | John Duff (GB), Francis Clement (GB) | ||
| 1925 | La Lorraine | Gérard De Courcelles (F), André Rossignol (F) | ||
| 1926 | La Lorraine | Robert Bloch (F), André Rossignol (F) | ||
| 1927 | Bentley 3-Litre | Dudley Benjafield (GB), Sammy Davis (GB) | ||
| 1928 | Bentley 4.5 | Woolf Barnato (GB), Bernard Rubin (GB) | ||
| 1929 | Bentley Six Speed | Woolf Barnato (GB), Sir Henry Birkin (GB) | ||
| 1930 | Bentley Six Speed | Woolf Barnato (GB), Glen Kidston (GB) | ||
| 1931 | Alfa Romeo 8C-2300sc | Earl Howe (GB), Sir Henry Birkin (GB) | ||
| 1932 | Alfa Romeo 8C-2300sc | Raymond Sommer (F), Luigi Chinetti (I) | ||
| 1933 | Alfa Romeo 8C-2300sc | Raymond Sommer (F), Tazio Nuvolari (I) | ||
| 1934 | Alfa Romeo 8C-2300sc | Luigi Chinetti (I),Phillipe Etancelin (F) | ||
| 1935 | Lagonda M45R | J.S. Hindmarsh (GB), Louis Fontes (RA) | ||
| 1936: Race was cancelled | ||||
| 1937 | Bugatti S7Gsc | Jean-Pierre Wimile (F), Robert Benoist (F) | ||
| 1938 | Delhaye 135M | Eugène Chaboud (F), Jean Tremoulet (F) | ||
| 1939 | Bugatti S7Gsc | Jean-Pierre Wimile (F), Pierre Veyron (F) | ||
| 1940-1948: Races were cancelled | ||||
| 1949 | Ferrari 166MM | Luigi Chinetti (USA), Lord Selsdon (GB) | ||
| 1950 | Talbot-Lago | Louis Rosier (F), Jean-Louis Rosier (F) | ||
| 1951 | Jaguar C-Type | Peter Walker (GB), Peter Whitehead (GB) | ||
| 1952 | Mercedes-Benz 300SL | Hermann Lang (D), Fritz Reiss (D) | ||
| 1953 | Jaguar C-Type | Tony Rolt (GB), Duncan Hamilton (GB) | ||
| 1954 | Ferrari 375 | Juan Froilan Gonzales (RA), Maurice Trintignant (F) | ||
| 1955 | Jaguar D-Type | Mike Hawthorn (GB), Ivor Bueb (GB) | ||
| 1956 | Jaguar D-Type | Ron Flockhart (GB), Ninian Sanderson (GB) | ||
| 1957 | Jaguar D-Type | Ron Flockhart (GB), Ivor Bueb (GB) | ||
| 1958 | Ferrari 250TR58 | Olivier Gendebien (B), Phil Hill (USA) | ||
| 1959 | Aston Martin DBR1 | Caroll Shelby (USA), Roy Salvadori (GB) | ||
| 1960 | Ferrari 250TR59/60 | Olivier Gendebien (B), Paul Frère (B) | ||
| 1961 | Ferrari 250TR61 | Olivier Gendebien (B), Phil Hill (USA) | ||
| 1962 | Ferrari 250P | Olivier Gendebien (B), Phil Hill (USA) | ||
| 1963 | Ferrari 250P | Ludovico Scarfiotti (I), Lorenzo Bendini (I) | ||
| 1964 | Ferrari 275P | Jean Guichet (F), Nino Vaccarella (I) | ||
| 1965 | Ferrari 250LM | Jochen Rindt (A), Masten Gregory (USA) | ||
| 1966 | Ford GT40 Mk II | Chris Amon (NZ), Bruce McLaren (NZ) | ||
| 1967 | Ford GT40 Mk IV | Dan Gurney (USA), A.J. Foyt (USA) | ||
| 1968 | Ford GT40 | Pedro Rodriguez (MX), Lucien Bianchi (B) | ||
| 1969 | Ford GT40 | Jacky Ickx (B), Jackie Oliver (GB) | ||
| 1970 | Porsche 917 | Hans Hermann (D), Richard Attwood (GB) | ||
| 1971 | Porsche 917 | Helmut Marko (A), Gijs van Lennep (NL) | ||
| 1972 | Matra-Simca MS670 | Henri Pescarolo (F), Graham Hill (GB) | ||
| 1973 | Matra-Simca MS670B | Henri Pescarolo (F), Gérard Larousse (F) | ||
| 1974 | Matra-Simca MS670B | Henri Pescarolo (F), Gérard Larousse (F) | ||
| 1975 | Mirage-Ford M8 | Jacky Ickx (B), Derek Bell (GB) | ||
| 1976 | Porsche 936 | Jacky Ickx (B), Gijs van Lennep (NL) | ||
| 1977 | Porsche 936 | Jacky Ickx (B), Jurgen Barth (D), Hurley Haywood (USA) | ||
| 1978 | Renault-Alpine A442 | Jean-Pierre Jaussaud (F), Didier Pironi (F) | ||
| 1979 | Porsche 935 | Klaus Ludwig (D), Bill Whittington (USA), Don Whittington (USA) | ||
| 1980 | Rondeau-Ford M379B | Jean-Pierre Jausxaud (F), Jean Rondeau (F) | ||
| 1981 | Porsche 936-81 | Jacky Ickx (B), Derek Bell (GB) | ||
| 1982 | Porsche 956-82 | Jacky Ickx (B), Derek Bell (GB) | ||
| 1983 | Porsche 956-83 | Vern Schuppan (AUS), Hurley Haywood (USA), Al Holbert (USA) | ||
| 1984 | Porsche 956B | Klaus Ludwig (D), Henri Pescarolo (F) | ||
| 1985 | Porsche 956B | Klaus Ludwig (D), Paolo Barilla (I), "John Winter" (D) | ||
| 1986 | Porsche 962C | Derek Bell (GB), Hans Stuck (D), Al Holbert (USA) | ||
| 1987 | Porsche 962C | Derek Bell (GB), Hans Stuck (D), Al Holbert (USA) | ||
| 1988 | Jaguar XJR-9LM | Johnny Dumfries (GB), Jan Lammers (NL), Andy Wallace (GB) | ||
| 1989 | Sauber-Mercedes C9 | Jochen Mass (D), Stanley Dickens (S), Manuel Reuter (D) | ||
| 1990 | Jaguar XJR-12 | Martin Brundle (GB), John Nielsen (DK), Price Cobb (USA) | ||
| 1991 | Mazda 787B | Johnny Herbert (GB), Bertrand Gachot (B), Volker Weidler (D) | ||
| 1992 | Peugeot 905 | Derek Warwick (GB), Yannick Dalmas (F), Mark Blundell (GB) | ||
| 1993 | Peugeot 905B | Geoff Brabham (AUS), Eric Helary (F), Christophe Bouchut (F) | ||
| 1994 | Dauer Porsche 962LM | Yannick Dalmas (F), Hurley Haywood (USA), Mauro Baldi (I) | ||
| 1995 | McLaren F1 GTR | Yannick Dalmas (F), J.J. Lehto (SF), Masanori Sekiya (J) | ||
| 1996 | Porsche WSC95 | Manuel Reuter (D), Alex Wurz (A), Davy Jones (USA) | ||
| 1997 | Porsche WSC95 | Michele Alboreto (I), Stefan Johannson (S), Tom Kristensen (DK) | ||
| 1998 | Porsche 911 GT1 | Allan McNish (GB), Stéphane Ortelli (F), Laurent Aiello (F) | ||
| 1999 | BMW V12 LMR | Yannick Dalmas (F), Jo Winkelhock (D), Pierluigi Martini (I) | ||
| 2000 | Audi R8 | Frank Biela (D), Tom Kristensen (DK), Emanuele Pirro (I) | ||
| 2001 | Audi R8 | Frank Biela (D), Tom Kristensen (DK), Emanuele Pirro (I) | ||
| 2002 | Audi R8 | Frank Biela (D), Tom Kristensen (DK), Emanuele Pirro (I) | ||
| 2003 | Bentley EXP Speed 8 | Rinaldo Capello (I), Tom Kristensen (DK), Guy Smith (GB) | ||
| 2004 | Audi R8 | Rinaldo Capello (I), Tom Kristensen (DK), Seiji Ara (J) | ||
| 2005 | Audi R8 | Tom Kristensen (DK), JJ Lehto (SF), Marco Werner (D) | ||
| 2006 | Audi R10 | Frank Biela (D), Marco Werner (D), Emanuele Pirro (I) | ||
| 2007 | Audi R10 | Frank Biela (D), Marco Werner (D), Emanuele Pirro (I) | ||