History on the 24 hours Le Mans

The inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans event was in 1923, and both the race and festivities took place throughout the streets of Le Mans, France. Though popular from its very start, the race went on hiatus from 1940-1948 during World War II and the post-war French reconstruction. It was back by 1949, and has since continued to attract the best cars and drivers in motorsports.

There is a certain affinity between Formula 1 drivers and Le Mans – it’s common for F1 drivers to partake in endurance races. Such drivers include Nico Hülkenberg, part of the Le Mans 2015 winning team, and 2016 contender Mark Webber. And since there are several types of Le Mans entrants, there are many vehicles to choose from. The Le Mans Prototypes—or LMP1 and LMP2—have superior performance and are known for their cutting-edge technology. The LM GTE-PROs are developed for, and race exclusively in, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The LM GTE AMs are geared toward amateur drivers and must be at least one-year-old. As the different types of cars have evolved over the years, so have a few of the race’s rituals.

Le Mans has always had a distinctive set of traditions. The drivers race in teams, sharing just one vehicle. The famous “Le Mans Start” originally had drivers start outside their vehicles, run to their cars, start the engines, and drive off. This proved to be dangerous, so the procedure was changed in 1970. Drivers then began the race inside their vehicles with their safety harnesses already in place. In 1971, the rule changed again, with drivers beginning the race with a rolling start. This rule still stands today. Because of its treacherous course, Le Mans has become a test bed for road safety innovation, and it brings in the biggest field of automotive manufacturing companies. Some of the world’s most famous competitors from around the globe have come to Le Mans to take on its demanding course.

Since the 1970s, there has also been a celebrity fascination with the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Steve McQueen starred in the movie Le Mans, filmed on location during the race festivities in 1970. Paul Newman threw his racing hat in the ring and finished 2nd in 1979. Patrick Dempsey co-owns Dempsey-Proton, which finished 4th in 2014, placed 2nd in 2015. This year, Brad Pitt will kick off the race by waving the tricolor flag.