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24 Hours of Le Mans
  1. MOTORSPORTS

24 Hours of Le Mans: Start date, circuit, history & more

Forming a third of the Triple Crown of Motorsport, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is regarded as one of the most prestigious races in the world.

A contest focused on endurance, the race has no fixed distance and rather than the winner being determined by the lowest time to complete a circuit, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is won by the car that achieves the greatest distance in 24 hours.

Travelling at speeds of up to 227mph, the race is the ultimate test of a driver’s mental fortitude and on the endurance of the car itself to go the greatest distance to beat the competition.

First raced all the way back in 1923, the event is one of the most highly-anticipated races in all of motorsport.

Most teams use three drivers over the course of this high-speed race, which draws the attention of fans from across the globe.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

24 Hours of Le Mans date

The 95th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place from 15:00 on Saturday 13th June to 15:00 on Sunday 14th June 2026.

It features as the headline of a whole weekend of action and parading, with the Circuit de la Sarthe opening on Wednesday 10th June.

24 Hours of Le Mans venue

The race will be run at the traditional venue at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.

Opened 101 years ago in May 1923, the current configuration of the track means the Circuit de la Sarthe is 8.467 miles in distance.

It consists of predominantly private sections of circuit, but there are a few public roads used exclusively for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Almost 85% of the circuit can be raced at full throttle, so the engines and drivetrains of the cars must be supremely reliable under stress.

24 Hours of Le Mans history

French duo of Andre Lagache and Rene Leonard were the very first winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for team Chenard & Walcker SA back in 1923. The duo drove 1372.942 miles in that time.

Danish driver Tom Kristensen holds the record for the most 24 Hours of Le Mans wins, having claimed the title nine times in his career.

The Dane's last title came back in 2013, as he claimed the victory alongside Scotland’s Allan McNish for Audi Sport Team Joest.

With 46 titles, the UK tops the standings when it comes to victories by nationality, while France is in second place with 42.

Germany has produced 31 winners, with Italy at 20 and the United States at 19.

2025 Le Mans Winners

The 2025 edition of Le Mans was won by AF Corse with their Number 83 Ferrari 499P.

Robert Kubica (POL), Yifei Ye (CHN) and Phil Hanson (GBR) were the three drivers who shared the racing throughout the 24 hours, marking a historic third consecutive victory for the Prancing Horse at La Sarthe.

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