The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest and most prestigious endurance sports car race, held almost every year since 1923 on the Circuit de la Sarthe near the town of Le Mans in France. Part of the roughly 13.6 km lap runs on closed public roads.
The rules are simple in concept: the car that covers the greatest distance in 24 hours wins. Because no single driver can race for a full day and night, each car is shared by a crew of three drivers who take turns in stints, through the afternoon, the night and into the following day.
Winning demands a blend of speed and reliability — a fast car that breaks down is worthless over 24 hours. The event is the centrepiece of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and, alongside the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500, forms motorsport's unofficial Triple Crown. Its top Hypercar class has drawn manufacturers including Toyota, Ferrari, Porsche and others into fierce competition.