24 Hours of Le Mans
| FIA World Endurance Championship | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Circuit de la Sarthe |
| Location | Le Mans, France 47°57′00″N 00°12′27″E / 47.95000°N 0.20750°E |
| First race | 1923 |
| First WEC race | 2012 |
| Last race | 2025 |
| Distance | 1 lap: 13.626 km (8.467 mi) |
| Duration | 24 hours |
| Most wins (driver) | Tom Kristensen (9) |
| Most wins (team) | Joest Racing (13) |
| Most wins (manufacturer) | Porsche (19) |
The 24 Hours of Le Mans (French: 24 Heures du Mans; French pronunciation: [vɛ̃t.katʁ‿œʁ dy mɑ̃]) 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 the Triple Crown of Motorsport, along with the Monaco Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500, and of the informal Triple Crown of endurance racing, with the 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 Mulsanne 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. A 10-hour American version of the race, called Petit Le Mans, has been held annually since 1998.