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24 Hours of Le Mans facts for kids

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Circuit de la Sarthe track map
Map of track at 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest active sports car race in endurance racing. The race happens each year near the town of Le Mans, France. It was first run in 1923.

The cars must run for 24 hours without mechanical damage. It is important to manage the cars' consumables, mostly fuel, tires and braking materials. The driver goes over two hours behind the wheel before stopping in the pits. Then a relief driver takes over the driving duties. Drivers then eat and rest before returning to drive. Today it is a rule that three drivers share each car.

At the end of the 24 hours, the car which has driven the most laps of the track wins the race. Different types of cars race in different categories. Currently there are four different categories, with the fastest cars racing in the 'LMP1' category.

The race is held in June. This can lead to very hot conditions for the drivers. The race begins in mid-afternoon. The drivers race through the night and following morning. They then finish at the same time the race started, the following day.

Tom Kristensen has won the race 8 times. This is the most of any driver. Porsche cars have won 16 times. This is the most of any car manufacturer.

Coordinates: 47°56′30″N 0°13′30″E / 47.94167°N 0.225°E / 47.94167; 0.225


Images for kids

  • Le Mans Race Control

    The pits in the day time

  • Le Mans Pits at Night

    The pits at night

  • GT's Climbing up the hill to the Dunlop Bridge (48126931781)

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  • United autosports le mans 2018 tuesday-01 (28896068288)

    Drivers photograph from 2018

  • United-autosports-le-mans-2018-169 (41048826150)

    Fly-over with the tricolor

  • United-autosports-le-mans-2018-141 (41019577000)

    Driver parade in Le Mans in 2018

  • Jaguar Heritage Racing (7151624983)

    Jaguar D-Type in 1956

  • Peugeot905 evo1ter 1993

    Peugeot 905 from 1993

  • Le mans F40 1

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  • Audi R8 LMP, Le Mans 2000 (museum mobile 2013-09-03)

    Audi R8

  • 24 Hours of Le Mans 2010 - Audi Sport Team Joest 8

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  • Porsche 919 Hybrid - Audi R18 e-tron quattro (18866096545)

    Porsche 919 Hybrid in the front of Audi R18 in 2015

  • 1950 Cadillac "Le Monstre" (44400201204)

    The 1950 Cadillac Le Monstre

  • Hall of fame Le Mans-winners 2013

    Tom Kristensen in the Walk of fame Le Mans-Winners 2013

  • Helicopter -Aérospatiale AS 355N Ecureuil 2 - F-GMBA (48207349146)

    A helicopter that provided aerial coverage for 2019 race

  • Ford GT40 (1965) - Chevrolet Corvette (1960) (18243362094)

    Ford GT40 alongside Chevrolet Corvette in 2015 Le Mans Legend

  • DSC03817-Le Mans Classic 2018

    Le Mans Start at Le Mans Classic 2018

  • Lemans Circuit Bugatti

    The permanent pits and pit straight for both the Circuit de la Sarthe and Bugatti Circuit

  • 1923Lemans

    A poster for the 1923 24 Hours of Le Mans

  • Renault Alpine A443 Donington 2007

    Renault Alpine A443 from 1978

  • Porsche 962 1988 Le Mans at Silverstone 2007

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  • Audi R10 1

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  • Porsche 908 Langheck am 1981-08-15

    A 1969 Porsche 908 Langheck

  • 1929 Bentley front 34 left 2

    A 1929 supercharged Bentley

  • Tom Kristensen 2014-06-10 001

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