of
24 hours
This year’s
leading contenders
Overview
of the race
Le Mans
of
24 hours
Le Mans
What is the 24 hours of Le Mans?
What does it take
to win the 24 hours
of Le Mans?
Since 1923, teams of drivers have flocked to the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France to see who can complete the most laps in a 24-hour period.
/10
Improvements to car design and team strategy have seen the distance covered by the winners increase significantly over time.
of
24 hours
Le Mans
The race is mostly driven at full throttle, putting an immense amount of stress on the cars and drivers alike.
To prevent fatigue at least three people must drive each car, with drivers permitted a maximum of 240 minutes behind the wheel in a 6-hour period.
Since the first race in 1923, the furthest distance travelled has more than doubled.
Progression of the record distance covered, to the nearest kilometre
1923
1925
1926
1928
1929
1930
1931
1933
1937
1939
1950
1951
1952
1953
1955
1957
1961
1963
1964
1966
1967
1971
2010
In the inaugural race the winning team drove far enough to reach the modern Russian border from the circuit.
2,210
2,234
2,552
2,669
2,844
2,931
3,018
3,144
3,288
3,355
3,465
3,611
3,734
4,088
4,135
4,397
4,477
4,562
4,695
4,843
5,233
5,335
5,411
Race distance
Earl Howe’s team became the first to drive 3,000km - far enough to reach Moscow with time to spare.
Jaguar became the first team
to break the
4,000km barrier.
Scuderia Ferrari became the first team to drive at least twice as far as the original winning distance.
Shelby-American became the first team to travel at least 5,000km during the race.
Audi Sport North America set the current record - a distance almost sufficient to reach the Chinese border.
Martini Racing set a record that would stand for 39 years.
of
24 hours
Le Mans
of
24 hours
Le Mans
There are 12 teams competing this year who have managed to complete the race at least five times in the last decade.
Who could win the
24 hours of Le Mans in 2021?
Here they are in descending order of their average finishing position.
Toyota Gazoo Racing
Average finishing position
2.5
Best 3 finishes
1st
1st
1st
Most laps completed
388
72.7%
Races
finished
(8/11)
1st-10th, 11th-20th, 21st-30th, 30+
Toyota Gazoo Racing have won all of the last three stagings of the 24 hours of Le Mans, also finishing second on three occasions
and third once.
United Autosports
10.3
Average finishing position
370
Most laps completed
7th
5th
5th
Best 3 finishes
85.7%
Races
finished
(6/7)
G-Drive Racing
14.7
Average finishing position
369
Most laps completed
11th
9th
6th
Best 3 finishes
50.0%
Races
finished
(6/12)
of
24 hours
Le Mans
Corvette Racing
19.9
Average finishing position
338
Most laps completed
19th
13th
11th
Best 3 finishes
70.0%
Races
finished
(7/10)
Porsche GT Team
24.3
Average finishing position
344
Most laps completed
20th
16th
15th
Best 3 finishes
83.3%
Races
finished
(10/12)
AF Corse
25.8
Average finishing position
346
Most laps completed
20th
17th
15th
Best 3 finishes
66.7%
Races
finished
(24/36)
Aston Martin Racing
27.0
Average finishing position
346
Most laps completed
19th
17th
17th
Best 3 finishes
57.6%
Races
finished
(19/33)
Dempsey-Proton Racing
29.6
Average finishing position
339
Most laps completed
25th
25th
22nd
Best 3 finishes
63.6%
Races
finished
(7/11)
JMW Motorsport
29.9
Average finishing position
Most laps completed
27th
26th
24th
Best 3 finishes
88.9%
Races
finished
(8/9)
335
United Autosports and G-Drive Racing are the only other two teams to have completed the race five times in the last decade and recorded at least one top-10 finish.
Proton Competition
32.7
Average finishing position
334
Most laps completed
35th
29th
21st
Best 3 finishes
75.0%
Races
finished
(6/8)
Team Project 1
35.0
Average finishing position
339
Most laps completed
34th
31st
27th
Best 3 finishes
100.0%
Races
finished
(5/5)
Gulf
Racing
35.6
Average finishing position
337
Most laps completed
38th
33rd
29th
Best 3 finishes
55.6%
Races
finished
(5/9)
Team Project 1 are the only competitors this year to have entered at least five cars in the last decade and had them all complete the race.