9 Reasons Why Le Mans is The Best Race On Earth

1. The track is amazing

The Circuit de la Sarthe is an amazing semi-permanent race course that’s hosted the Le Mans 24 Hours since the very first race in 1923.

The 38-turn, 8.5-mile track takes around 3min 25sec to complete for LMP1 cars. It’s unbelievably quick and challenging, with tricky corners like the Porsche Curves and plenty of long straights. It’s one of the best and most famous race tracks in the world, so it’s no wonder that most drivers aspire to race on it.

2. The tech is insane

The front-running LMP1 cars are technical masterpieces. There are naturally-aspirated V8 engines, turbocharged V6 diesels, direct-injected turbocharged V4 engines, sophisticated hybrid systems and a car that’s even FWD!

Each vehicle is designed not only to be super-fast, but also to be super efficient to minimise time spent refuelling in the pits. The great thing is that much of the tech you see on this grid will slowly trickle down to our road cars, so it’s a little bit like looking into the future of what us mere mortals will get to drive.

Le Mans 24 Hours is an event that should be on the bucket list of every motorsport fan. As with N24, it’s like a massive festival for people who love fast cars, racing and the smell of burning rubber.

When the sun goes down, the race track really comes alive with glowing brake discs and headlights that bump up and down with every nuance of the surface. It’s slightly unnerving to watch the drivers going 100 per cent flat out in the dark, which is why it’s also insanely impressive.

With such a varied line up of cars, the noise you’ll hear on the run down to Turn 1 will be something you carry with you for the rest of your life. Drink it in!

6. Top drivers

Endurance racing isn’t just for drivers who have failed to make it to F1. This year’s talent includes Anthony Davidson, Timo Bernhard, Andre Lotterer, Alexander Wurz, Mark Webber, Nico Hulkenberg, Sebastien Buemi and Marcel Fässler. It even features a few former gamers too.

Because the track promotes overtaking, we’ve got some great battles to look forward to this year. Just look at this footage from 2012 where a Toyota and Audi battle it out for the lead.

Le Mans 24 Hours has taken place 82 times and is arguably the most well-known motor race in the entire world. If there’s only one racing event you have to attend in your life, this is it!

9. Watch it live!

There are loads of ways to follow Le Mans if you’re not there yourself. The official Le Mans 24 Hours and FIA WEC social media accounts will be posting updates throughout the race, and you can watch it live on Periscope too.

In the USA Fox Sports will be showing the full race, while in the UK it will be exclusively shown on British Eurosport. There will, of course, be coverage on Radio Le Mans and the race has its own online TV station. Clips will be posted every hour on the 24 Hours of Le Mans YouTube channel too.

And of course, we’ll be there this year to bring you behind-the-scenes Vlogs and Snapchats, and all the excitement as it happens. If you see us wandering around, make sure you come and say hi!