Le Mans Bugatti

Circuit de la Sarthe's Bugatti configuration delivers 4.185 kilometers of permanent road course racing through 11 turns, constructed in 1965 within the 24 Hours of Le Mans facility and named after Ettore Bugatti to provide a standalone circuit for events beyond the annual endurance classic.

This clockwise layout incorporates iconic Le Mans sections including the main pit straight, Ford Chicane, and Dunlop bridge area before diverging through a tight hairpin section running parallel to the 24 Hours circuit back toward the paddock village, creating a compact technical challenge contrasting the 13.626-kilometer full Le Mans layout's high-speed character.

The Bugatti Circuit's 2.6-mile distance with 11-meter elevation gain emphasizes tight corners and technical precision over sustained 300+ kph speeds, making it suitable for MotoGP motorcycle racing, club events, and series requiring shorter lap times than the full 24 Hours configuration permits.

Le circuit Bugatti

Built in 1965 within the grounds of the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit of which it shares 1,500 meters of track the Bugatti Circuit, originally intended for use by the racing school, quickly proved its versatility.

The Bugatti Circuit is a permanent motorsports track located south of the city of Le Mans in France. Although it hosts car and truck races, it is best known for its motorcycle races. It is also used for non-motorized endurance events such as the 24 Hours of Roller Skating and the 24 Hours of Cycling.

Its name comes from the brand a two-time winner at Le Mans in 1937 and 1939 founded by Ettore Bugatti, whose son and heir, Jean Bugatti, died shortly after the second victory.

It should not be confused with the 24 Hours circuit, a temporary track with which it shares the pits and about one-third of its route.

History

Built in 1965 under the leadership of Jacques Finance, chairman of the sports commission of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), and Jean-Marie Lelièvre, president of the ACO, the Bugatti Circuit has undergone numerous modifications; the “Garage Vert” was the first turn to undergo a slight modification in the late 1970s.

The 4,185-meter-long circuit features a 600-meter climb with a gradient ranging from 3.5% to 7% between the pits and the Dunlop Bridge, followed by a 1,000-meter descent with a 2% gradient. It is entirely closed to the public and fully lit at night.

The circuit is used for the French Motorcycle Grand Prix, the 24 Hours of Motorcycles, the 24 Hours of Trucks, as well as historic races such as LM Story (Le Mans Classic takes place on the 13.626 km track). It also kicks off the French Superbike Championship season.

The Bugatti circuit shares a section with the 13.626-km 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit used for the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race. This section extends from the Raccordement turn to the Chapelle turn, including the grandstand straight and the Dunlop chicane.

Today, the Bugatti is also the venue for numerous competitions

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