Le Mans circuit guide

Watch the pros go full throttle at this iconic endurance race – the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This year, it once again marks race four of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship, where Hertz Team JOTA is taking on the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe in the fiercely competitive hypercar class.

With a route rich in motorsport history and world-class drivers pushing to cross the finish line, there’s never been a better time to explore the Le Mans racetrack. From the Le Mans track map to stats, facts, and other insights, we’ve got everything you need to know.

Ready to learn more? Hit the gas and let’s go.

Sarthe circuit for motorsport and autosport. French grand prix race track.

Jump to a section

Where is Le Mans?

Le Mans – Circuit de la Sarthe overview

Le Mans – Facts and stats

Where is Le Mans?

Also known as ‘the City of Art and History’, Le Mans is located in north-western France, nestled on the Sarthe River. A beautiful city, complete with a Gothic cathedral, medieval old town and quaint streets, it’s also home to the Le Mans race track.

Found just outside the city limits, this semi-permanent circuit has hosted the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1923. Interestingly, the racing roots here run deeper still – the first French Grand Prix took place in Le Mans in 1906. You can drive to the Le Mans 24-hour race in your rental car in less than three hours if you take a direct route from Paris via the A11. Once there, make sure you sample Rillettes du Mans – this shredded pork pate is the city’s signature dish.

Remember, although it’s named Le Mans, it’s the Circuit de la Sarthe where the race takes place. Don’t worry, it’s only around 17 minutes by rental car from Le Mans itself.

What is the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the world’s most prestigious endurance motorsport events, held annually at the Le Mans, France race track – the Circuit de la Sarthe. The race challenges teams to go the distance, testing speed, stamina, strategy and mechanical prowess over a full 24-hour period.

From the hypercars to the pit crews, every element must perform flawlessly under immense pressure. It’s not just a race – it’s a battle of endurance. Want a closer look at what goes on during the full 24 hours? Check out our hour-by-hour guide.

Le Mans circuit guide: Track layouts, history and highlights

24 Hours of Le Mans configuration

The Circuit de la Sarthe is one of the last remaining road courses that includes public roads usually open to standard traffic. The track has been extensively modified since 1923 for safety reasons and is currently around 8.4 miles (13.6km) long.

The Circuit de la Sarthe is one of the world’s most ruthless courses, where drivers can reach speeds upwards of 200 mph (322 km/h) down the Mulsanne straight.

Two chicanes were added to this nearly 3.7 mile (6km) long straight in 1990 to reduce the overall speed and stress on cars, which were driven pedal-to-the-metal for a full minute.

There are two main grandstand areas:

Grandstands T11 to T23 sit overlooking the start-finish straight.
The other main spectator area runs from outside the first turn through to the fifth. There are fantastic panoramic views of the opening sequence of corners from here.
Want to learn more about viewing the race? Discover the best viewpoints in Le Mans with Hertz.

The Porsche curves are considered by some to be the most exciting and demanding corners. Speeds on this sweeping first right-hander are staggering and a true test of grip, aerodynamics, and nerve.

Sunset and sunrise are special times to witness the Le Mans 24-hour race, especially sitting just past Dunlop Bridge, up on the hill at Tertre Rouge or the Porsche Curves.

2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe
Round 3 // Endurance Cup
Circuit Paul Ricard (France) - June 2nd - 4th, 2023
Photo: Michele Scudiero

Bugatti Circuit

The Bugatti Circuit is a permanent 2.6 mile (4.2km) layout built within the full Sarthe circuit and is most notably used for MotoGP’s French Grand Prix and other motorsport events. Unlike the Le Mans racetrack used for the 24-hour event, this shorter track doesn’t include the long public road sections like the Mulsanne Straight or Arnage Corner.

It shares the famous Dunlop Curve and Dunlop Chicane with the main circuit and includes tight, technical corners better suited to motorcycles and touring cars. It’s open year-round for events and training, playing a big role in French motorsport.

Maison Blanche

The Maison Blanche section is part of Le Mans' history. Once a high-speed portion of the original Le Mans circuit, it was removed for safety reasons and is no longer used for racing today. Its name, which means ‘White House’, lives on in motorsport lore, notorious for its narrow width and lack of runoff, which made it extremely dangerous to navigate at racing speeds.

While modern configurations have replaced it, Maison Blanche remains a symbol of endurance racing’s daring past. If you’re a motorsport history buff visiting Le Mans, France racetrack, take time to explore the legacy of this legendary layout.

2023 FIA World Endurance Championship Round 4
Le Mans, France
5th - 11th June 2023

Photo: Nick Dungan / Drew Gibson Photography

Le Mans track map and layout

The Le Mans, France, racetrack is a unique blend of permanent raceway and closed public roads. Shaped like a distorted triangle, it winds its way through the French countryside with a mixture of high-speed straights and technical corners that test precision, skill and bravery.

Famous sections include:

Tertre Rouge: A fast corner that leads onto the famous Mulsanne Straight
The Mulsanne Corner: This is a heavy braking zone that comes at the end of over a mile of flat-out driving
The Porsche Curves: These flowing curves are among the most iconic and unforgiving in motorsport
The Arnage hairpin: Tight, slow and easily one of the most challenging corners on the whole circuit

Each of these twists and turns has a story of its own, making the layout as historic as the race itself. Want the prime view? Discover the best viewpoints at Le Mans with Hertz.

Le Mans facts and stats

First race year in WEC: 2012 (24 Hours of Le Mans first ran in 1923)

Total length:13.626 km (8.467 miles)

Number of turns: 38

Overall duration: 24 hours

Typical number of pit stops: 27

Most winners (in WEC): Since 2012, when the WEC began, Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi has won the Le Mans four times between 2018 and 2022. The record for most Le Mans wins of all time belongs to Danish driver Tom Kristensen, who has won nine times – 1997, 2000-05, 2008 and 2013.

Fastest WEC race lap: 3:27.649 (current hypercar era) – Kamui Kobayashi (Japan), 3:17:297 (LMP1 era) – Mike Conway (Britain).

Top speed: 407 km/h, set by French driver Roger Dorchy in 1988, driving a WM-Peugeot.

Typical G force experienced: 3.5G

Let’s go!

The event draws over 200,000 spectators, so be ready for the large crowds, especially near the main grandstands and entrances. Facilities are good but spread out – so wear comfortable shoes and pack smart. Bring ear protection, sunblock and extra layers for the cool nights. Parking is available but it fills up fast, and traffic builds quickly after the race. Plan ahead and read our full Le Mans Circuit Visitor Guide and Best Places to Camp at Le Mans for the lowdown on making the most of your time at the race.

Reserve today