24h Le Mans
The Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans isn’t just a race course, it’s the main character in an epic tale. A stretch of asphalt that takes on a life of its own for 24 hours. From the pits to the Mulsanne Straight, Arnage to the Porsche Curves, every section plays a role in the drama. If you’re coming to the race this year, here’s what to expect.
You don’t just watch the 24 Hours of Le Mans. You interact with it. Every turn has its own personality. Its own stumbling block. Its own tune. And its own life story. To drivers, the circuit is a continuous challenge. To spectators, it’s a succession of emotions. Come onboard with us for a complete lap of the track before the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans. Strap yourself in, we’re ready for the off.
Here is the place silence is broken.
The hush before the start gives you goose bumps. Then, the deafening roar as the field sets off for a testing 24 hours. At that precise moment, the circuit quakes. And hearts flutter.
It’s the best place to be during the surge of adrenaline of the first few laps. All three classes – Hypercar, LMP2 and LMGT3 – set off around the 13.626-kilometre long course, huge by today’s standards.
Meanwhile, the pit lane is the scene of meticulous preparation. Mechanics are as primed for speed as the drivers. Seconds gained or lost in the garage can make the difference between triumph and defeat.
It’s the first turn, and it’s not an easy start. The Dunlop Curve is a right-hander, and very, very fast. It requires complete engagement, and a driver brimming with confidence. To perfect this turn, you need a perfectly balanced car. Downforce counts. Drivers brush with the limits in the first seconds of the lap. Le Mans doesn’t break you in gently.
The Dunlop Chicane comes after the curve of the same name. It’s tricky, technical and demanding.
Kerbs are both friends and foes. Ride them too much and you damage the car. Avoid them entirely and you lose time. The sweet spot is a few centimetres wide.
The Forest Esses are like a fast-flowing meandering river. The car dips down to the left, then right, and takes the ups and downs at great speed. It’s spectacular to watch. And tough to negotiate.
A good exit is essential to be able to take Tertre Rouge Corner correctly. There’s danger all around: a little crest, the car pulling to the left, and grass that will not forgive the slightest mistake. Many a race has been cut short here.
This right-hand turn is one of the circuit’s most tactical. Simply because it leads to the world’s most famous stretch of road: the Mulsanne Straight. Drivers must exit as fast as possible. The cleaner the exit, the faster they hit top speed. Which for the Hypercars is up to 345 kph. Tertre Rouge is the catapult.
The Daytona Chicane is halfway down the straight. Braking is harsh, and deceleration brutal. Right turn. And off again.
Drivers brake 150 metres before the chicane, drop to third or second gear and then accelerate away as fast as possible. Just time to breathe in… and vroom.
This is the second chicane on the straight, a left-hand turn. Same set-up, same tension. Here again, braking is difficult due to the low downforce. The car comes in light, fast and unstable. And braking needs to be late, and the steering precise to exit well.
At Le Mans, you lose time on the corners and on the straights too.
Having taken the Mulsanne Straight at full tilt, the corner at the end requires some of the most impressive braking seen on the course.
From top speed to first gear. Without jamming the wheels. Mistakes can happen. The right-hand corner is deceptive. It looks slow, but the exit must be quick, so it demands finely-tuned driving.
Indianapolis is striking in its landscape. First a righthand kink, taken quickly and purposefully. Then longer braking as you dip down to the left on a bank that helps retain pace. It’s fluid, brutal, yet elegant. The corner sums up the complexity of Le Mans.
Arnage is the slowest corner on the circuit. But that doesn’t make it easy.
After the speed of Indianapolis, you have to brake sharply, break the rythmn, turn right in a short space – all without blocking the rear. There are pitfalls on entry. And on exit too!
It’s a fascinating vantage point from which to observe driver skills.
If this circuit were to have a hallmark, this would be it. The quick right, left, right is a delight to all. Drivers approach this section at speed, and accelerate out. The Porsche Curves require talent, courage and absolute confidence in your car. Space is tight. There’s no room for error. And it all happens so fast. At the wheel, this is when you realise what being a Le Mans driver really means.
No respite. The Karting Esses keep the pressure on in at the end of the lap, with two quick turns, first right, then left.
Cars keep their downforce. Drivers must be very precise and wary of overstepping the track limits to avoid the wrath of Race Control! This is where any tiredness will show.
On the surface, the last section looks simple. Left-right, a short straight then another left-right. However, this section requires dexterity Drivers must strike the right balance between cutting corners and maintaining pace. Too agressive and the car will misbehave. Too careful and you lose precious time. Then comes the Motul Turn. And suddenly, the pit straight is ahead. One lap down. On to the next..
The Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans is 13.626 kilometres of endless possibilities. It’s where speed meets stamina, engineering meets emotion, and where every turn is a new beginning. The circuit is ready. Are you?
