Le Mans Circuit
Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe
RACE TRACK FRANCE
Le Mans Circuit
Technical Information
Length Approximately 13.626 km
Configuration The circuit combines public roads and dedicated racing sections, which are used exclusively during the 24-hour race.
The circuit continues to be a hub for various motorsport events, including endurance racing and motorcycle competitions, attracting teams and fans from around the globe.
Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe
Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe is 13.6 km, 21 turns, clockwise.
The Le Mans Circuit, officially known as the Circuit de la Sarthe, is a famous motorsport track in Le Mans, France, primarily known for hosting the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. It features a mix of public roads and dedicated racing sections, making it one of the longest circuits in the world at approximately 13.626 km (8.467 miles).
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the quintessential endurance race event, one of the most important competitions in Motorsports, held every year since 1929 (with a 10-year pause from 1939 to 1949) at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.
The winner is the team that covers the most distance in 24 hours.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans (French: 24 Heures du Mans is an endurance sports car race held annually near the city of Le Mans, France.
First run in 1923, it is the oldest active endurance racing event in the world and is widely considered one of the world's most prestigious races. It is part of two informal "Triple Crown" series: the Triple Crown of Motorsport (with the F1 Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500) and the Triple Crown of endurance racing (with the Florida-based 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring).
Unlike fixed-distance races whose winner is determined by minimum time, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is won by the car that covers the greatest distance in 24 hours. The cars on this track are able to achieve speeds of 366 km/h (227 mph), and reached 407 km/h (253 mph) on the main straight in 1988 – instigating the addition of more chicanes to the track to reduce speed reached. Racing teams must balance the demands of speed with the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without mechanical failure.
The race is organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). It is held on the Circuit de la Sarthe, composed of closed public roads and dedicated sections of a racing track.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans was often part of the World Sportscar Championship from 1953 until that series' final season in 1992. In 2011, it was a part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. Since 2012, the race has been a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship.[6] A 10-hour American version of the race, called Petit Le Mans, has been held annually since 1998.
Le Mans Bugatti
Le Mans Bugatti is 4.2 km, 11 turns, clockwise.
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.