In the original configuration, the race track used was 10.73 miles (17.26 km) long, and has subsequently been shortened on several occasions. The traditional start, where drivers ran across the track to their race cars, was last used in 1969.
The worst ever motorsport accident unfortunately occured during the 1955 Le Mans race. Having voiced his unease at the narrowness of the straight in front of the pits, Pierre Levegh's Mercedes struck the rear of an Austin Healey driven by Lance Macklin on the pit straight. The car rammed the bank, exploded, and its engine flew into the packed grandstand, killing 80. Levegh died instantly, and the entire Mercedes team was withdrawn, including Stirling Moss and Juan-Manuel Fangio. This precipitated the complete withdrawal from motorsport for Mercedes.
Le Mans 24 Hrs past winners
Year Car Drivers Distance Speed
(miles) (mph)
Circuit - 10.726 miles
1923 Chenard & Walcker A.Lagache, R.Leonard (F) 1372.9 57.21
1924 Bentley 3 litre J.Duff, F.Clement (GB) 1290.8 53.78
1925 La Lorraine G.de Courcelles, A.Rossignol (F) 1388.1 57.84
1926 La Lorraine R.Bloch, A.Rossignol (F) 1586.0 66.08
1927 Bentley 3 litre D.Benjafield, S.Davis (GB) 1472.5 61.34
1928 Bentley 4.5 W.Barnato, B.Rubin (GB) 1658.6 69.11
Circuit - 10.153 miles
1929 Bentley 6 speed W.Barnato, Sir H.Birkin (GB) 1767.1 73.63
1930 Bentley 6 speed W.Barnato, G.Kidston (GB) 1821.0 75.88
1931 Alfa Romeo 8C2300 E.Howe, Sir H.Birkin (GB) 1875.1 78.13
Circuit - 8.475 miles
1932 Alfa Romeo 8C2300 R.Sommer, L.Chinetti (F,I) 1835.6 76.58
1933 Alfa Romeo 8C2300 R.Sommer, T.Nuvolari (F,I) 1953.6 81.40
1934 Alfa Romeo 8C2300 L.Chinetti, P.Etancelin (I,F) 1793.9 74.74
1935 Lagonda M45R JS Hindmarsh, L.Fontes (GB,RA) 1868.3 77.85
1936 Race cancelled
1937 Bugatti 57G JP Wimille, R.Benoist (F) 2043.0 85.13
1938 Delahaye 135M E.Chaboud, J.Tremoulet (F) 1976.5 82.36
1939 Bugatti 57G JP Wimille, P.Veyron (F) 2084.5 86.69
1940-48 Race cancelled
1949 Ferrari 166MM L.Chinetti, Lord Selsdon (USA,GB) 1974.9 82.28
1950 Talbot-Lago L.Rosier, JL Rosier (F) 2153.1 89.71
1951 Jaguar C-Type P.Walker, P.Whitehead (GB) 2243.9 93.50
1952 Mercedes-B.300SL H.Lang, F.Riess (D) 2320.1 96.67
1953 Jaguar C-Type T.Rolt, D.Hamilton (GB) 2540.2 105.84
1954 Ferrari 375 F.Gonzalez, M.Trintignant (RA,F) 2523.5 105.15
1955 Jaguar D-Type M.Hawthorn, I.Bueb (GB) 2569.6 107.07
Circuit - 8.364 miles
1956 Jaguar D-Type R.Flockhart, N.Sanderson (GB) 2507.2 104.47
1957 Jaguar D-Type R.Flockhart, I.Bueb (GB) 2732.2 113.85
1958 Ferrari 250TR58 O.Gendebien, P.Hill (B,USA) 2548.8 106.20
1959 Aston Martin DBR1 C.Shelby, R.Salvadori (USA,GB) 2701.7 112.57
1960 Ferrari 250TR59/60 O.Gendebien, P.Frere (B) 2620.6 109.19
1961 Ferrari 250TR61 O.Gendebien, P.Hill (B,USA) 2781.6 115.90
1962 Ferrari 330LM/TR O.Gendebien, P.Hill (B,USA) 2765.9 115.24
1963 Ferrari 250P L.Scarfiotti, L.Bandini (I) 2834.5 118.10
1964 Ferrari 275P J.Guichet, N.Vaccarella (F,I) 2917.5 121.56
1965 Ferrari 250LM J.Rindt, M.Gregory (A,USA) 2906.2 121.09
1966 Ford GT40 Mk2 C.Amon, B.McLaren (NZ) 3009.4 125.39
1967 Ford GT40 Mk4 D.Gurney, AJ Foyt (USA) 2630.2 135.48
Circuit - 8.369 miles
1968 Ford GT40 P.Rodriguez, L.Bianchi (Mex,B) 2766.9 115.29
1969 Ford GT40 J.Ickx, J.Oliver (B,GB) 3105.6 129.40
1970 Porsche 917 H.Herrmann, R.Attwood (D,GB) 2863.2 119.30
1971 Porsche 917 H.Marko, G.van Lennep (A,NL) 3315.2 138.13
Circuit - 8.475 miles
1972 Matra-Simca MS670 H.Pescarolo, G.Hill (F,GB) 2915.1 121.45
1973 Matra-Simca MS670B H.Pescarolo, G.Larrousse (F) 3016.1 125.67
1974 Matra-Simca MS670B H.Pescarolo, G.Larrousse (F) 2862.4 119.27
1975 Mirage-Ford M8 J.Ickx, D.Bell (B,GB) 2855.6 118.98
1976 Porsche 936 J.Ickx, G.van Lennep (B,NL) 2963.9 123.49
1977 Porsche 936 J.Ickx,J.Barth,H.Haywood(B,D,USA) 2902.8 120.95
1978 Renault Alpine JP Jaussaud, D.Pironi (F) 3134.5 130.60
Circuit - 8.467 miles
1979 Porsche 935 K.Ludwig,B & D.Whittington (D,USA) 2590.9 108.10
1980 Rondeau Ford M379B JP Jaussaud, J.Rondeau (F) 2861.4 119.23
1981 Porsche 936-81 J.Ickx, D.Bell (B,GB) 2998.3 124.93
1982 Porsche 956-82 J.Ickx, D.Bell (B,GB) 3044.2 126.84
1983 Porsche 956-83 V.Schuppan, H.Haywood, A.Holbert (A,USA,USA) 3136.5 130.70
1984 Porsche 956B K.Ludwig, H.Pescarolo (D,F) 3045.0 126.88
1985 Porsche 956B K.Ludwig, P.Barilla, J.Winter (D,I,D) 3157.9 131.76
Circuit - 8.51 miles
1986 Porsche 962C D.Bell, H.Stuck, A.Holbert (GB,D,USA) 3088.1 128.66
Circuit - 8.45 miles
1987 Porsche 962C D.Bell, H.Stuck, A.Holbert (GB,D,USA) 2977.0 124.06
1988 Jaguar XJR-9LM J.Dumfries, J.Lammers, A.Wallace (GB,NL,GB) 3313.2 137.72
1989 Sauber Mercedes C9 J.Mass, S.Dickens, M.Reuter (D,S,D) 3269.6 136.23
Circuit - 8.45 miles (with Mulsanne Chicanes)
1990 Jaguar XJR-12 M.Brundle, J.Nielsen, P.Cobb (GB,DK,USA) 3040.7 126.69
1991 Mazda 787B J.Herbert, B.Gachot, V.Weidler (GB,B,D) 3058.9 127.45
1992 Peugeot 905 D.Warwick, Y.Dalmas, M.Blundell (GB,F,GB) 2992.0 124.66
1993 Peugeot 905B G.Brabham, E.Helary, C.Bouchut (AUS,F,F) 3168.8 133.34
1994 Dauer Porsche962LM Y.Dalmas, H.Haywood, M.Baldi (F,USA,I) 2912.2 121.33
1995 McLaren F1 GTR Y.Dalmas, JJ Lehto, M.Sekiya (F,SF,J) 2518.1 105.01
1996 Porsche WSC95 D.Jones, M.Reuter, A.Wurz (USA,D,A) 2991.3 124.65
1997 Porsche WSC95 M.Alboreto, S.Johansson, T.Kristensen (I,S,DK) 3050.5 126.88
1998 Porsche 911 GT1-98 A.McNish, S.Ortelli, L.Aiello (GB,F,F) 2966.0 123.85
1999 BMW V12 LMR Y.Dalmas, J.Winkelhock, P.Martini (F,D,I) 3084.3 128.51
2000 Audi A8 F.Biela, T.Kristensen, E.Pirro (D,DK,I) 3109.6 129.57
2001 Audi R8 F.Biela, T.Kristensen, E.Pirro (D,DK,I) 2712.4 113.09
Circuit - 8.483 miles
2002 Audi R8 F.Biela, T.Kristensen, E.Pirro (D,DK,I) 3181.3 132.42
2003 Bentley EXP Speed8 R.Capello, T.Kristensen, G.Smith (I,DK,GB) 3196.1 133.17
2004 Audi R8 S.Ara, T.Kristensen, R.Capello (J,DK,I) 3215.3 133.88
2005 Audi R8 JJ Lehto, T.Kristensen, M.Werner (SF,DK,D) 3075.8 128.16
2006 Audi R10 TDI F.Biela, E.Pirro, M.Werner (D,I,D) 3158.9 131.18
Circuit - 8.469 miles
2007 Audi R10 TDI F.Biela, E.Pirro, M.Werner (D,I,D) 3125.1 129.95
2008 Audi R10 TDI A.McNish, R.Capello, T.Kristensen (GB,I,DK) 3226.6 134.41
2009 Peugeot 908Hdi-FAP A.Wurz, D.Brabham, M.Gene (A,AUS,E) 3235.0 134.63
2010 Audi R15-plus TDI T.Bernhard, R.Dumas, M.Rockenfeller (D,F,D) 3361.2 139.95
2011 Audi R18 TDI B.Treluyer, M.Fassler, A.Lotterer (F,CH,D) 3006.4 125.06
2012 Audi R18 e-tron q. B.Treluyer, M.Fassler, A.Lotterer (F,CH,D) 3201.3 133.27
2013 Audi R18 e-tron q. A.McNish, T.Kristensen, L.Duval (GB,DK,F) 2947.1 122.69
2014 Audi R18 e-tron q. A.Lotterer, B.Treluyer, M.Fassler (D,F,CH) 3209.6 133.55
2015 Porsche 919 Hybrid N.Hulkenberg, E.Bamber, N.Tandy (D,NZ,GB) 3345.1 139.31
2016 Porsche 919 Hybrid N.Jani, R.Dumas, M.Lieb (CH,F,D) 3252.0 135.44
2017 Porsche 919 Hybrid T.Bernhard, E.Bamber, B.Hartley (D,NZ,NZ) 3108.0 129.39
2018 Toyota TS050Hybrid S.Buemi, K.Nakajima, F.Alonso (CH,J,E) 3285.1 136.80
2019 Toyota TS050Hybrid S.Buemi, K.Nakajima, F.Alonso (CH,J,E) 3259.7 135.81
2020 Toyota TS050Hybrid S.Buemi, K.Nakajima, B.Hartley (CH,J,NZ) 3276.7 136.36
2021 Toyota GR010Hybrid M.Conway, K.Kobayashi, J-M.Lopez (GB,J,RA) 3141.2 130.81
2022 Toyota GR010Hybrid S.Buemi, R.Hirakawa, B.Hartley (CH,J,NZ) 3217.4 133.86
2023 Ferrari 499P J.Calado, A.Pier Guidi, A.Giovinazzi (GB,I,I) 2895.6 120.63
See also Maison Blanche for Le Mans History and news.