Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit, also known as the Sarthe circuit, is a semi-permanent route used mainly for the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) since 1923. Located south of Le Mans and in the commune of Mulsanne, it uses temporarily closed public roads for competitions. Its origin dates back to the Grand Prix automobile de France 1906 and to the races organized in 1884 by the Union Vélocipédique de la Sarthe on the straight line of the Hunaudières.

The first edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, designed by Georges Durand in 1922 to promote technical progress, takes place on 26 and 27 May 1923 with thirty-three crews. The circuit constantly evolves for safety reasons, as in 1972 with the abandonment of the dangerous route of the White House, or in 1990 with the addition of chicanes on the straight line of the Hunaudières to limit the extreme speeds (up to 405 km/h recorded in 1988).

The current route, 13.626 km long, combines road portions and permanent sections, such as the Dunlop chicane or iconic bends (Red Tertre, Mulsanne, Indianapolis, Arnage). It shares infrastructure with the Bugatti circuit, created in 1966, and the White House circuit, used for training. Successive changes, such as the 2017 Porsche turn, aim to improve safety while preserving the historic spirit of the site.

The circuit is also a record place, such as Mike Conway's in 2019 (tour in 3 min 17 s) or the maximum speed of 405 km/h reached in 1988 by the WM P88. Beyond competitions, it hosts events such as the Mans Classic and houses modern equipment such as the Porsche Experience Center or the 24 Hours Museum, which was moved in 1991.

Culturally, the circuit is present in video games like Gran Turismo under the name of Circuit de la Sarthe, and its history is marked by figures such as Georges Durand or the Bollée brothers, pioneers of local races. Today, it remains a symbol of automotive innovation and endurance, ranked FIA grade 2.

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