The Best Motor Race in The World: The Le Mans 24 Hour Race
Le Mans, in France, is famous for the 24-hour race, which is a favourite of many British car racing and classic car enthusiasts. Various classes of sports car compete in a battle of reliability, attrition, fuel efficiency and speed during one weekend a year in mid June (11-12 June 2011). It is a full weekend event; the race starts on the Saturday afternoon at 2pm and runs continuously for 24 hours, but for the average British person the fun begins some days before at the start of the road trip to France. And there are some races and testing in the days leading up to the race weekend. The race is organized by Automobile Club de l'Ouest and the official web site is www.lemans.org and is held at the Circuit de la Sarthe starting at 14:00
The Jaguar XKR GT2 represented Jaguar at the Le Mans 24 Hour Motor Race in France last year (12th to 13th June 2010) to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Jaguar Marque, which used to dominate the event about 50 years ago. The competition included BMW, Peugeot, Aston Martin and Audi
Tips for Surviving the Le Mans 24 Hours Race...Table of Contents: Le Mans 24 Hour Race
- The Road-Trip
- Map of Le Mans, France
- Books: Le Mans 24h
- LM 24
- The Race
- Le Mans Games
- Ferrari Books
- The Cars I Have Taken To Le Mans
- Things to do...
- Essential Photographic Equipment
- Cameras
- Current Weather in Le Mans, France
- Different Classes of Cars
- CafePress
- The Marcos Team
- Computer Games: Motor Racing
- Other European Road Trips and Destinations
- My Ferrari 308 GTS QV (1985)
- Le Mans 1999 Merceded CLR-GT1 (Crash)
- Conclusion
- My Other Classic Cars
- Who Won the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 2011?
- Who Won Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 2010?
- Who Won Le Mans 2009?
- Please Leave Some Feedback
- More Classic Cars
- About Me
- European Photo Gallery
The Road-Trip

I have been to this event several times, in a variety of classic and not so classic cars: the last few times I took my old Ferrari 308 (the Magnum car) or Alfa Spider (similar to the one Dustin Hoffman drove in The Graduate), but the majority of the British contingent have classic British sports cars. It is traditional to stock up with supplies (i.e. Beer and in my case a tent due to lack of boot space) at a local Supermarche, then camp with the cars near the race track and try to build a wall round the tents and cars out of small empty French beer bottles.
Map of Le Mans, France
Where is Le Mans?
Books: Le Mans 24h

LM 24
The Race

Despite the beer-fuelled hoards the atmosphere is generally jovial and good-natured. There is plenty to do before and during the race (including watching the cars go round if you like that sort of thing) There are fairground attractions and plenty of places to eat and drink, although food quality is generally fairly low by French standards and toilet facilities are very sub-standard and if you want a shower at one of the camp-sites you may have to queue for a while.
Le Mans Games
Ferrari Books
The Cars I Have Taken To Le Mans
Things to do...

Some people go to Le Mans 24 hr race to watch the cars and follow the various teams' performance and, even if you have been tempted by the culinary delights, Ferris wheel or dodgem cars, you can keep track of the progress on the local radio station which is broadcast in English for the benefit of their British guests.

Essential Photographic Equipment
Cameras
Compact Camera Suggestions
Digital SLR Camera Suggestions
Current Weather in Le Mans, France
What is the climate like in France?
Different Classes of Cars

There are usually some smaller races before the main event, but the actual 24 hour race is a fairly complex affair with several competitions between different classes of car all running on the same track at the same time: LMP1, LMP2, GT1 and GT2. The LMP cars are purpose built racing cars with very high top-speeds and the GT cars look like normal roads cars: Corvettes, Aston Martins, Jaguar XKRs etc. and the rules change each year. The race consists of some sections of normal road, closed to traffic for the event and some sections of racetrack complete with grandstands, pit-lanes etc. The object of the race is to go as far as possible during the 24 hours, so this is as much about fuel efficiency, reliability and just staying awake as it is about speed. The drivers can be swapped during pit stops.

The Marcos Team
Computer Games: Motor Racing
Other European Road Trips and Destinations

My Ferrari 308 GTS QV (1985)
Conclusion

This is a fun event, a bit like The Glastonbury Festival, but with less music and mud, and more cars. I would only recommend camping at the racetrack if you can survive without the finer luxuries (like a shower or clean toilets) but it is possible to stay in an hotel a few miles away, if you book some time in advance.
My Other Classic Cars
Who Won the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 2011?
Le Mans 24 Hour 2011 Results
After an eventful Le Mans 24 Hour race in which two time winner, Allan McNish had a spectacular crash near the start (He walked away unaided) and rain added to the difficulty of staying on the track the results were as follows:The number 2 Audi driven by Andre Lotterer won at the 79th 24 hours of Le Mans
Peugeot number 9 finishes second just 13 seconds behind the leader after 24 hours of racing
Who Won Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 2010?
Audi took the first four places.
Honda (Strakka Racing) won the LMP2 category.
Who Won Le Mans 2009?
Peugeot finish 1st and 2nd ahead of Audi
All of whom have driven in "Formula One" in the past
Peugeot 908s came in first and second ahead of an Audi R15. At their third attempt these diesel cars managed to beat the almost invincible Audis. The second place #8 Peugeot 908 driven by Sébastien Bourdais, Franck Montagny & Stéphane Sarrazin was just one lap behind the winning car.
In the other classes of car racing:
Please Leave Some Feedback
-
Reply
-
LaraineRose Feb 7, 2012 @ 6:14 pm | delete
- I am impressed by the notes you must have taken during your trip. Do you have a diary or trip book. My husband, also a photographer has a book where he writes down the date photo was taken and all sorts of notes. Hmmm. Will bought me a camera. I took my first batch of pictures with it last night. It was scary at first. I'm going to have to buy a little book to write down things too. (What I was wearing the day I took this picture or that picture.) I'm going to have to practice, practice. It's not at all like falling off a log!
Angel Blessings.
-
-
Reply
-
AndyPo
Feb 8, 2012 @ 5:06 pm | delete
- Thanks very much for the blessing. I have kept a travel diary in a Palm PDA, automatically updated from my computer calendar, for at least ten years and it has migrated from device to device and is now on my smartphone. I just add notes to the itinerary as I go along.
-
-
Reply
-
Three-Abreast
Oct 8, 2011 @ 1:15 am | delete
- Awesome lense! It is a dream of mine to take part in a 24 hour race. You know, bucket list type of thing.
-
-
Reply
-
LeMansGuy85
Aug 28, 2011 @ 3:39 pm | delete
- Hey awesome page I love it man great info. I myself am a big fan and dreamer of possibly racing in the LeMans in the future. I`ll be pressing your like button Please check out my page as well and like too if posssible. Well be blessed and cheers mate!! To Le Mans 2011!!
-
-
Reply
-
Squidoolinepro
Feb 4, 2011 @ 2:24 pm | delete
- *blessed by a squid angel*
-
-
Reply
-
Philippians468
Jan 23, 2011 @ 10:40 am | delete
- boy i've never driven for that length of time but it sure requires determination and strength! great lens! cheers
-
-
Reply
-
amandaquerque
Dec 15, 2010 @ 9:23 pm | delete
- I would love to experience one of these!! Or go overseas in general. Thank you for sharing your experience!! This lens has been blessed by a Squid Angel!
-
-
Reply
-
ChrisDay
Dec 15, 2010 @ 3:21 pm | delete
- Keep meaning to go!
-
-
Reply
-
Margo_Arrowsmith
Dec 4, 2010 @ 11:54 am | delete
- You can make anything interesting
-
-
Reply
-
AndyPo
Jun 13, 2010 @ 8:57 am | delete
- Audi won Le Mans 24 Hours Motor Race - Timo Bernhard driving 1st Audi R15
-
-
Reply
-
AndyPo
Jun 12, 2010 @ 10:43 am | delete
- Nigel Mansell crashes early in his Le Mans 24 Hour race debut. The British ex-Formula 1 driver was racing in a team consisting of him and his two sons went out after just 17 minutes, crashing into barriers after experiencing a puncture. He was taken away by ambulance, but apparently he is "fine" with just a "bump on the head"
-
-
Reply
-
AndyPo
Jun 12, 2010 @ 6:02 am | delete
- Le Mans 24 Hours 2010 Qualifying Times:
Peugeot have dominated the qualifying, taking poll position and the next three places, followed by Audi and Aston Martin.
The first ten cars (all LMP1)
1. Bourdais/Lamy/Pagenaud Peugeot Sport Total Peugeot 908 HDi (3min 19.711s)
2. Wurz/Gene/Davidson Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908 HDi (3min 20.317s)
3. Minassian/Sarrazin/Montagny Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908 HDi (3min 20.325s)
4. Panis/Lapierre/Duval Team ORECA Matmut Peugeot 908 HDi (3min 21.192s)
5. Rockenfeller/Bernhard/Dumas Audi Sport North America Audi R15 TDI (3min 21.981s)
6. Kristensen/Capello/McNish Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R15 TDI (3min 22.176s)
7. Lotterer/Fassler/Treluyer Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R15 TDI (3min 23.605secs)
8. Primat/Mucke/Fernandez Aston Martin Racing Lola-Aston Martin (3min 26.680secs)
9. Turner/Barazi/Hancock Aston Martin Racing Lola-Aston Martin (3min 26.747secs)
10. Ayari/Andre/Meyrick Team ORECA Matmut ORECA 01-AIM (3min 29.506secs)
-
-
Reply
-
AndyPo
Jun 10, 2010 @ 3:23 am | delete
- The first of the spectators will already have arrived at Le Mans circuit and set up their tents ready for several days of partying and even some motor racing.
The cars are split into two categories, this year: Grand Touring cars (race engineered road cars) and Prototypes designed specifically for endurance racing. Each of those categories are then divided into an upper and lower group.
The LMP1 category looks like it will be dominated by factory Audis and/or Peugeots. Looks like it could be a close run thing between those two teams. The LMP1 Aston Martin Lolas look good too, but for the British contingent the Zytek Ginetta driven by Nigel Mansell and his sons Leo and Greg will be the one to watch.
The second category is LMP2 - lower-powered prototypes. Teams: RML Racing, Strakka Racing and Bruichladdich
The top-class GTs: category LMGT1 are road cars highly modified for Le Mans, but with maximum power of 600bhp: Lamborghini Murcielago, Corvettes, Ford GTs and Saleen S7Rs
The second category GT cars are the LMGT2: Sports cars with up to 500bhp e.g. Ferrari 430s, BMW M3s, Porsche 911s, Corvette C6 Rs, Spyker C8s and Aston Martin Vantages.
My favourite is the Jaguar RSR: Celebrating 75 years of Jaguar racing, an XKR GT2
-
-
Reply
-
crk989 May 18, 2010 @ 3:37 pm | delete
- The Mercedes flipping was crazy! Great lens!
-
-
Reply
-
mulberry
May 10, 2010 @ 8:22 pm | delete
- Oh my, hubby is SUCH a fan of this race. He quizzes me every year, starting at least a couple of months before it occurs. He's convinced I will one day know the entire history of the race and it's drivers just as he does. I have seen the course once.
-
-
Reply
-
Norma_Budden
Apr 27, 2010 @ 4:28 pm | delete
- If you are in the mood to go on a little search, follow http://www.squidoo.com/purple-star-directory to see where your purple star lenses are featured. Thanks so much for submitting this lens to me!
-
-
Reply
-
Apr 1, 2010 @ 2:35 pm | delete
- This lens is awesome. I love it. I am going to tell my editors on my Thai News website to write something about this lens and probably feature it.
I will comment here again once we do.
Great Work
-
-
Reply
-
Upon-Request
Oct 19, 2009 @ 10:51 am | delete
- Sounds like an event not to be missed!
-
-
Reply
-
Nic
Sep 21, 2009 @ 1:34 am | delete
- WoW...I shopped around for a new DSLR for over a month and I ended up with this one because it is the best camera out right now for you're money. It is easy to use and lightweight compared to other dslr's. I feel I made a wise purchase and would recommend this camera to anyone on a tight budget but looking for a real dslr. It was just released on the market 3 days ago so you'll have a modern product. Buy this camera! www.moonsmiles.com
-
-
Reply
-
KimGiancaterino Jun 20, 2009 @ 7:43 pm | delete
- In August, my husband's racing club is doing "24 Hours of Le-Mons," a race with clunkers that cost under $500. I need to do a lens about it. Nice lens, as always. Congrats on the purple star. Squid Angel Blessed.
-
-
Reply
-
AndyPo
Jun 15, 2009 @ 10:00 am | delete
- Hi Shelly,
Thanks for all of the kind comments.
I don't think I could ever be a racing driver, although I have tried racing go-karts. Le Mans would be such a hard race. I have driven round the track (slowly) in a couple of my cars, which gives a good impression of what the drivers go through during a race.
I'm glad you enjoy the English English - The auto industry is one area where English English and American English are very different: Cars have boots instead of trunks; shock absorbers instead of dampers; silencers instead of mufflers; bonnet = hood; bumper=fender. What a colourful language we have - a huge catalogue of small variations.
[in reply to Shelly]
-
-
Reply
-
Shelly
Jun 13, 2009 @ 2:57 pm | delete
- I wonder with all your enthusiasm if this is something you would like to participate in some day--is it on your dream list? I've always found the Le Mans fascinating and have thought, "What a good reason to skip sleep.", everyone probably has a hard time getting any sleep for several hours after the race is over.
You're gradually teaching us your British lingo as in if one wants to shower, "you may have to queue for a while". queue: primarily British: A line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended of to proceed. Thank goodness for Webster's!
As ever, you provide an absolutely delightful AndyPo eye view to us!
-
-
Reply
-
sukkran
Jun 12, 2009 @ 10:18 pm | delete
- what a lovely lens. there is no way to give you more than 5*. selected it my fav and rolled in some of my lenses.
-
-
Reply
-
AbbasAbedi
Jun 8, 2009 @ 4:11 pm | delete
- Reminds me of a movie. 5*
-
-
Reply
-
Tipi
Jun 7, 2009 @ 10:13 pm | delete
- I just stopped by to see how in heck you are doing with this lens. Looks like its getting up there in rank a bit more. It is a great lens! :) - I really should check out more Auto Lenses one of these days, that would be a lot of fun. - Lensmasters just share so much about themselves too! - Its very good to know you!
Blessed by a Susie
-
-
Reply
-
spirituality
May 15, 2009 @ 9:21 am | delete
- Great lens - you've been blessed by a squidoo angel :)
-
-
Reply
-
ElizabethJeanAllen
May 4, 2009 @ 6:01 pm | delete
- What fun!
Thanks for sharing
Lizzy
-
-
Reply
-
Treasures-By-Brenda
May 1, 2009 @ 5:36 am | delete
- Oh, my gosh, Andy. I cannot believe it! Last night I put together a lens on the spur-of-the-moment -- Magnum's Hawaiian Shirt! Since you have THE car, you are definitely going to need THE shirt...if you don't already have it. (See what the women who commented on the lens have to say about the Magnum!)
I'm not a car person but I spent some time last night searching for Magnum's ferrari. Thank YOU for telling me which one it is. I want to close my page on The Jungle Bird shirt with a great poster of one.
Now I have to visit your Ferrari lens. Then I'll have to visit 'Bad guys drive Jags.' My husband drives one and he's not too bad...if ever he wanted to write a lens, I'm sure it is right now after I've told him you've been to Le Mans and you have a lens of that title!
Great work; blessed by an Angel
-
-
Reply
-
Tipi
Apr 27, 2009 @ 5:55 pm | delete
- Just as I expected, great content, pictures, and an excellent lens Andy! :)
My best wishes to you in all that you do, be safe!
-
-
Reply
-
Igeso
Apr 26, 2009 @ 3:29 am | delete
- Must be interesting to travel to race like this! 5* from me.
-
-
Reply
-
nancydmcconnell
Apr 25, 2009 @ 4:43 pm | delete
- Wow nice lens, I rate you 5*
-
-
Reply
-
OhMe
Apr 23, 2009 @ 9:08 pm | delete
- Sure looks like a fun thing to do. Great lens.
-
-
Reply
-
Sylviane_Nuccio
Apr 22, 2009 @ 10:56 pm | delete
- OH! The Mans 24 hour race! Even though this takes place every year in my own country... I've never been there to see a race. Great lens by the way!
-
-
Reply
-
nightbear
Apr 22, 2009 @ 10:35 pm | delete
- How fun to go to the races, and your essential photography equipment is hilarious. Hope you stay out of trouble with all that "equipment" lol
-
-
Reply
-
nightbear
Apr 22, 2009 @ 10:35 pm | delete
- How fun to go to the races, and your essential photography equipment is hilarious. Hope you stay out of trouble with all that "equipment" lol
-
-
Reply
-
poddys
Apr 22, 2009 @ 8:34 am | delete
- Nice lens Andy, I would love to go, and I am sure Debbie would enjoy it as she loves Formula One. 5***** I drove past Le Mans once on my way down to La Baulle but in my trip planning I didn't consider that it would be way after midnight when I got there, and having already driven from London and taken the ferry across the channel, I would be knackered! So we didn't stop, we pushed on for another hour or two and then slept for a few hours in the car before continuing the journey. Not recommended - my back was sore for a week afterwards...
-
-
Reply
-
sandyspider
Apr 20, 2009 @ 2:56 pm | delete
- I am not one for car racing. But I do like the cars. Nice lens.
-
More Classic Cars
About Me
by AndyPo
Hi, I am Andy. I live in the U.K. but have worked and travelled all over the world. I am a semi-professional wildlife and travel photographer (i.e. I sold... more »
- 262 featured lenses
- Winner of 15 trophies!
- Top lens » GIMP FREE Photo Editing Software
- This lens »
Won purple star

Explore related pages
- Car Reviews, Classic and Modern, Published on Helium Car Reviews, Classic and Modern, Published on Helium
- Ferrari 308 - Affordable classic (Magnum's car) Ferrari 308 - Affordable classic (Magnum's car)
- The Best Classic Cars and Future Classics The Best Classic Cars and Future Classics
- Bentley Turbo R T2 T-Series and Arnage Classic Cars Bentley Turbo R T2 T-Series and Arnage Classic Cars
- France in a Ferrari: Loire Valley, Brittany France in a Ferrari: Loire Valley, Brittany
- European Hotel Reviews European Hotel Reviews










