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Circuit de la Sarthe

Race course in Le Mans, France

Circuit de la Sarthe

Race course in Le Mans, France

Ville du Mans FIA WEC 24 Hours of Le Mans (1923–1935, 1937–1939, 1949–present) Le Mans Classic (intermittently 2002–2018, 2021–2023, 2025) Former: World Sportscar Championship (1953–1955, 1957–1974, 1980–1989, 1991–1992)

The Circuit de la Sarthe, known for its Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans variation after the 24 hours semi-permanent circuit, located in Le Mans, Sarthe, France, is a permanent auto sport circuit. Host of the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race and widely known as the site of the 1955 Le Mans disaster, the most deadly event in motorsport history.

The track comprises a combination of private, race-specific sections of track in addition to public roads used only during the 24 Hours of Le Mans which remain accessible most of the year. Its present 24 hour configuration is 13.626 km long, making it one of the longest circuits in the world. The capacity of the permanent race track the short Bugatti Circuit is 100,000. The Musée des 24 Heures du Mans is a motorsport museum for the 24 hours of Le Mans located at the main entrance of the venue.

Up to 85% of the 24 hour circuit lap time is spent on full throttle, putting immense stress on engine and drivetrain components. Additionally, the times spent reaching maximum speed also mean tremendous wear on the brakes and suspension as cars must slow from over 322 km/h to around 100 km/h for the sharp corner at the village of Mulsanne.

Track modifications

The road racing track, which was a triangle from Le Mans down south to Mulsanne, northwest to Arnage, and back north to Le Mans, has undergone many modifications over the years, with CIRCUIT N°15 being in use since 2018. Even with the modifications over the years, the Sarthe circuit remains very fast, with prototype cars achieving average lap speeds in excess of 240 km/h.

In the 1920s, the cars drove from the present pits on Rue de Laigné straight into the city, then took a sharp right-hand corner near the river Huisne Pontlieue bridge (a hairpin removed from the circuit in 1929). They left the city on the rather straight section now named Avenue Georges Durand after the race's founder. Then 17.261 km long and unpaved, a bypass within the city shortened the track in 1929. The city was bypassed completely in 1932 with the addition of the section from the pits via the Dunlop Bridge and the Esses to Tertre Rouge. This classic configuration was 13.492 km long and remained almost unaltered even after the 1955 tragedy. Its frighteningly narrow pit straight was further narrowed to make room for the pits and was part of the road itself, without the road becoming wider around the pits, and no separation. The pit straight then was about 12 ft wide, further widened in 1956 after the tragedy, but the race track and pits were not separated for another 15 years.

Dunlop Bridge in 1977

Car speeds increased dramatically in the 1960s, pushing the limits of the "classic circuit" and sparking criticism of the track as being unsafe after drivers died during trials. In 1965, a smaller Bugatti Circuit was added which shares the pit lane facilities and the first corner (including the famous Dunlop bridge) with the full "Le Mans" circuit. For the 1968 race, the Ford chicane was added before the pits to slow down the cars. The circuit was fitted with Armco barriers for the 1969 race. The "Maison Blanche" kink was particularly harrowing, claiming many cars over the years (including three Ferrari 512 variants) and several lives, including the legendary John Woolfe in 1969 behind the wheel of a Porsche 917. The circuit has been modified ten more times — 1971, a year when prototypes were averaging over 240 km/h, was the last year the classic circuit was used. That year, an Armco barrier was added to the pit straight to separate the track from the pits. In 1972, the race track was considerably revamped, at a cost of 300 million francs, with modification of the pit area and the first and final straights, the addition of the quick Porsche curves bypassing "Maison Blanche", the signalling area being moved to the exit of the slow Mulsanne corner, and the track being resurfaced.

The esses after the Dunlop Bridge

In 1979, due to the construction of a new public road, the profile of "Tertre Rouge" had to be changed. This redesign led to a faster double-apex corner and saw the removal of the second Dunlop Bridge. In 1986, construction of a new roundabout at the Mulsanne corner demanded the addition a new portion of track in order to avoid the roundabout. This created a right hand kink before Mulsanne corner. In 1987, a chicane was added to the very fast Dunlop curve, where cars would go under the Dunlop bridge at 180 mph. Now they would be slowed to 110 mph.

Part of the [[Mulsanne Straight

Le Mans was most famous for its 6 km long straight, called Ligne Droite des Hunaudières, a part of the route départementale (for the Sarthe département) D338 (formerly Route Nationale N138). As the Hunaudières leads to the village of Mulsanne, it is often called the Mulsanne Straight in English, even though the proper Route du Mulsanne is the one from or to Arnage.

After exiting the Tertre Rouge corner, cars spent almost half of the lap at full throttle, before braking for Mulsanne Corner. The Porsche 917 long tail, used from 1969 to 1971, had reached 362 km/h. After engine size was limited, the top speed dropped until powerful turbo engines were allowed, like in the 1978 Porsche 935, which was clocked at 367 km/h. Speeds on the straight by the Group C prototypes reached over 400 km/h during the late 1980s. At the beginning of the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans race, Roger Dorchy driving for Welter Racing in a "Project 400" car, which sacrificed reliability for speed, was clocked by radar travelling at 407 km/h. Jean-Louis Lafosse and Jo Gartner would ultimately suffer from fatal high speed accidents in 1981 and 1986, respectively, leading to concerns with the growing speeds on the 3.7 mi straight.

As the combination of high speed and high downforce caused tyre and engine failures, two roughly equally spaced chicanes were consequently added to the Mulsanne Straight before the 1990 race to limit the maximum achievable speed. The chicanes were also added because the FIA decreed it would no longer sanction a circuit which had a straight longer than 2 km, which is roughly the length of the Döttinger Höhe straight at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The fastest qualifying lap average speed though only dropped from 249.826 to 243.329 km/h in 1992. In 1994, the Dunlop chicane was tightened.

In 2002, the run to the Esses was reconfigured in the wake of renovations to the Bugatti Circuit. The Le Mans circuit was changed between the Dunlop Bridge and Esses, with the straight now becoming a set of fast sweeping turns. This layout allowed for a better transition from the Le Mans circuit to the Bugatti circuit. This layout change would also require the track's infamous carnival to be moved near the Porsche curves, and in 2006, the ACO redeveloped the area between the Dunlop Curve and Tertre Rouge, moving the Dunlop Chicane in even tighter to create more run-off area, while also turning the area after the Dunlop Chicane into an even larger set of fast, sweeping turns, known as the Esses en route to Tertre Rouge. As part of the development, a new extended pit lane exit was created for the Bugatti Circuit. This second pit exit re-enters the track just beyond the Dunlop Chicane and before the Dunlop Bridge.

Following the fatal crash of Danish driver Allan Simonsen at the 2013 race at the exit of Tertre Rouge into D338, Tertre Rouge was re-profiled again. The radius was moved in approximately 200 m for safety reasons with new tyre barriers at the exit. The current version of the track has been in use since 2018.

Image:Circuit De La Sarthe map.JPG|An on site map of the circuit Image:Dunlop curves 2006 run off modifications.JPG|The area before the Dunlop bridge, modified for 2006 Image:Circuit de la Sarthe Ford Chicanes.jpg|The Ford Chicanes Image:Mulsanne Le Mans.jpg|A large portion of the track still consists of Sarthe Route Départementale D338. Image:Le Mans location map.jpg|Circuit location between Le Mans and Mulsanne, France

Layout evolution of Circuit de la Sarthe

File:Circuit-de-la-sarthe-1906-(openstreetmap).png|Circuit de la Sarthe (1906) File:Circuit-de-la-sarthe-1911-1913-(openstreetmap).png|Circuit de la Sarthe (1911–1913) File:Circuit-de-la-sarthe-1906-1921-(openstreetmap).png|Comparison of Circuit de la Sarthe layouts between 1906 and 1921 File:Circuit de la Sarthe Le Mans 1921-1928.png|Circuit de la Sarthe (1921–1928) File:Circuit de la Sarthe Le Mans 1929-1931.png|Circuit de la Sarthe (1929–1931) File:Circuit de La Sarthe Le Mans 1932-1967.png|Circuit de la Sarthe (1932–1967) File:Circuit de la Sarthe Le Mans 1968-1971.png|Circuit de la Sarthe (1968–1971) File:Circuit de la Sarthe Le Mans 1972-1978.png|Circuit de la Sarthe (1972–1978) File:Circuit de la Sarthe Le Mans 1979-1985.png|Circuit de la Sarthe (1979–1985) File:Circuit de la Sarthe Le Mans 1986.png|Circuit de la Sarthe (1986) File:Circuit de la Sarthe Le Mans 1987-1989.png|Circuit de la Sarthe (1987–1989) File:Circuit de la Sarthe Le Mans 1990-2001.png|Circuit de la Sarthe (1990–2001) File:Circuit de la Sarthe track map.svg|Circuit de la Sarthe (2002–present) File:Le Mans Circuit comparison.png|Layout evolution of Circuit de la Sarthe

Lap records

YearsRecord yearDistance recordAverage race speedLap record (in race)Driver – carLap record (qualifying)Driver – carCircuit N°1 – 17.262 km1923–1928Circuit N°2 – 16.340 km1929–1931Circuit N°3 – 13.492 km1932–1955Circuit N°4 – 13.461 km1956–1967Circuit N°5 – 13.469 km1968–1971Circuit N°6 – 13.640 km1972–1978Circuit N°7 – 13.626 km1979–1985Circuit N°8 – 13.528 km1986Circuit N°9 – 13.535 km1987–1989Circuit N°10 – 13.600 km1990–1996Circuit N°11 – 13.605 km1997–2001Circuit N°12 – 13.650 km2002–2005Circuit N°13 – 13.650 km2006Circuit N°14 – 13.650 km2007–2017Circuit N°15 - 13.626 kmSince 2018
19282,669.27 km
Bentley 4½ Litre111.219 km/h8:07 (127.604 km/h)
in 1928H.Birkin
Bentley 4½ Litre
19313,017.654 km
Alfa Romeo 8C125.735 km/h6:48 (144.362 km/h)
in 1930H.Birkin
Bentley Blower
19554,135.38 km
Jaguar D172.308 km/h4:06.6 (196.963 km/h)
in 1955M.Hawthorn
Jaguar D
19675,232.9 km
Ford Mk IV218.038 km/h3:23.6 (238.014 km/h)
in 1967M.Andretti & D.Hulme
Ford Mk IV3:24.04 (236.082 km/h)
in 1967B.McLaren
Ford Mk IV
19715,335.31 km
Porsche 917222.304 km/h3:18.4 (244.397 km/h)
in 1971J.Oliver
Porsche 9173:13.9 (250.069 km/h)
in 1971P. Rodríguez
Porsche 917
19785,044.53 km
Alpine-Renault A442 B210.189 km/h3:34.2 (229.244 km/h)
in 1978J.P.Jabouille
Alpine-Renault A4433:27.6 (236.531 km/h)
in 1978J.Ickx
Porsche 936
19855,088.51 km
Porsche 956212.021 km/h3:25.1 (239.169 km/h)
in 1985J.Mass
Porsche 9623:14.8 (251.815 km/h)
in 1985H.Stuck
Porsche 962
19864,972.73 km
Porsche 962 C207.197 km/h3:23.3 (239.551 km/h)
in 1986K.Ludwig
Porsche 9563:15.99 (243.486 km/h)
in 1986J.Mass
Porsche 962 C
19885,332.79 km
Jaguar XJR9221.665 km/h3:21.27 (242.093 km/h)
in 1989A.Ferté
Jaguar XJR93:15.04 (249.826 km/h)
in 1989J.L.Schlesser
Sauber Mercedes C9
19935,100 km
Peugeot 905213.358 km/h3:27.47 (235.986 km/h)
in 1993E.Irvine
Toyota TS0103:21.209 (243.329 km/h)
in 1992Ph.Alliot
Peugeot 905
20005,007.98 km
Audi R8208.666 km/h3:35.032 (227.771 km/h)
in 1999U.Katayama
Toyota GT-One3:29.93 (233.306 km/h)
in 1999M.Brundle
Toyota GT-One
20045,169.97 km
Audi R8215.415 km/h3:33.483 (230.182 km/h)
in 2002T.Kristensen
Audi R83:29.905 (234.106 km/h)
in 2002R.Capello
Audi R8
20065,187 km
Audi R10 TDI215.409 km/h3:31.211 (232.658 km/h)
in 2006T.Kristensen
Audi R10 TDI3:30.466 (233.482 km/h)
in 2006R.Capello
Audi R10 TDI
20105,410.71 km
Audi R15 TDI plus225.228 km/h3:17.475 (248.459 km/h)
in 2015A.Lotterer
Audi R18 e-tron quattro3:14.791 (251.882 km/h)
in 2017K. Kobayashi
Toyota TS050 Hybrid
20185,286.88 km
Toyota TS050 Hybrid220.015 km/h3:17.297 (248.6 km/h
in 2019M. Conway
Toyota TS050 Hybrid3:15.267 (251.21 km/h
in 2020K. Kobayashi
Toyota TS050 Hybrid

Fastest race laps of Circuit de la Sarthe

As of June 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuit de la Sarthe for different classes are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEventCircuit de la Sarthe: 13.626 km (2018–present)Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.629 km (2007–2017)Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.650 km (2002–2006)Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.605 km (1997–2001)Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.600 km (1990–1996)Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.535 km (1987–1989)Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.528 km (1986)Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.626 km (1979–1985)Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.640 km (1972–1978)Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.469 km (1968–1971)Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.461 km (1956–1967)Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.492 km (1932–1955)Circuit de la Sarthe: 16.340 km (1929–1931)Circuit de la Sarthe: 17.262 km (1923–1928)
LMP13:17.297Mike ConwayToyota TS050 Hybrid2019 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMDhtitle=FIA WEC - 93o Edition des 24 Heures du Mans - Race - Provisional Classification by Driver Fastest Lapurl=https://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/14_2025/04_LE%20MANS/600_FIA%20WEC/202506141600_Race/24_Hour%2024/07_FastestLapByDriver_Race_Hour%2024.PDFpublisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)website=fiawec.alkamelsystems.comdate=15 June 2025access-date=15 June 2025}}Sébastien BourdaisCadillac V-Series.R2025 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMH3:26.562Robert KubicaFerrari 499P2025 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP23:27.200Nathanaël BerthonOreca 072018 24 Hours of Le Mans
Garage 563:37.066Matthieu LahayeAssociation SRT412021 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP33:46.374Laurents HörrDuqueine M30 D-082021 Road to Le Mans
LM GTEtitle=FIA WEC - 89o Edition des 24 Heures du Mans - Race - Final Classification by Categoryurl=http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/10_2021/04_LE%20MANS/378_FIA%20WEC/202108211600_Race/24_Hour%2024/05_ClassificationByCategory_Race_Hour%2024.PDFpublisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)website=fiawec.alkamelsystems.comdate=22 August 2021access-date=11 June 2022}}Alexander SimsChevrolet Corvette C8.R2021 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT33:54.340Charles WeertsAudi R8 LMS Evo2021 Road to Le Mans
Lamborghini Super Trofeo3:56.694Amaury BonduelLamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo 22024 Le Mans Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe round
Ferrari Challenge3:59.985Thomas NeubauerFerrari 488 Challenge2023 Le Mans Ferrari Challenge Europe round
Porsche Carrera Cup4:00.181Alessandro GhirettiPorsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup2023 Le Mans Porsche Carrera Cup France round
JS P4title=2022 Ligier European Series - 90o Edition des 24 Heures du Mans - Race 1 - Provisional Classification by Categoryurl=http://ligiereuropeanseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/05_ClassificationByCategory_Race-1-1.pdfdate=10 June 2022access-date=10 June 2022}}Gillian HenrionLigier JS P42022 Le Mans Ligier European Series round
GT44:09.985Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport2025 1st Le Mans Porsche Sprint Challenge France round
JS2 R4:18.803Hugo RosatiLigier JS2 R2022 Le Mans Ligier European Series round
Mustang Challenge4:19.559Robert NoakerFord Mustang Dark Horse R2025 Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational
LMP13:17.475André LottererAudi R182015 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP2title=FIA WEC - 85o Edition des 24 Heures du Mans - Race - Final Classification by Classurl=http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/07_2017/03_LE%20MANS/171_FIA%20WEC/201706171500_Race/24_Hour%2024/05_ClassificationByClass_Race.PDFpublisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)website=fiawec.alkamelsystems.comdate=5 November 2017access-date=11 June 2022}}Ho-Pin TungOreca 072017 24 Hours of Le Mans
Garage 563:45.737Michael KrummDeltaWing2012 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT1 (GTS)3:48.969Tomáš EngeAston Martin DBR92007 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP33:50.576Yann EhrlacherNorma M302017 Road to Le Mans
LM GTE3:50.950Daniel SerraAston Martin Vantage GT22017 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT33:56.040Ben BarkerPorsche 911 (991) GT3 R2017 Road to Le Mans
Porsche Carrera Cup4:04.514Kévin EstrePorsche 911 (991 I) GT3 Cup2014 Le Mans Porsche Cup
Ferrari Challenge4:05.134Jeff SegalFerrari 458 Challenge2013 Le Mans Ferrari Challenge Europe round
LMP13:31.211Tom KristensenAudi R10 TDI2006 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP900title=Le Mans 24 Hours 2002url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Le_Mans-2002-06-16.htmldate=16 June 2002access-date=11 June 2022}}Tom KristensenAudi R82002 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMGTP3:35.529Johnny HerbertBentley Speed 82003 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP2title=74th Le Mans 24 Hours - Hours 22, 23 & 24url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/archive/subscribers/lemans/2006/race/race_2224.htmdate=18 June 2006access-date=14 November 2022}}William BinnieLola B05/402006 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP6753:37.221Mark BlundellMG-Lola EX2572002 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT1 (GTS)title=Le Mans 24 Hours 2005url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Le_Mans-2005-06-19.htmldate=19 June 2005access-date=11 June 2022}}Darren TurnerAston Martin DBR92005 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT24:04.426Romain DumasPorsche 911 (996) GT3-RSR2006 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT24:06.306Sascha MaassenPorsche 911 (996) GT3 RSR2004 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMGTP3:35.032Ukyo KatayamaToyota GT-One1999 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP900title=Le Mans 24 Hours 2000url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Le_Mans-2000-06-18.htmldate=18 June 2000access-date=11 June 2022}}Allan McNishAudi R82000 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT1 (Prototype)3:41.809Martin BrundleToyota GT-One1998 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP6753:52.156Jean-Christophe BoullionReynard 2KQ2000 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT1 (GTS)3:58.862Ron FellowsChevrolet Corvette C5-R2000 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT4:16.660Christophe BouchutPorsche 911 (996) GT3-R2000 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group C13:27.470Eddie IrvineToyota TS0101993 24 Hours of Le Mans
WSC3:46.958Eric van de PoeleFerrari 333 SP1996 24 Hours of Le Mans
IMSA GTPtitle=Le Mans 24 Hours 1990url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Le_Mans-1990-06-17.htmldate=17 June 1990access-date=11 June 2022}}Volker WeidlerMazda 7871990 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT1title=Le Mans 24 Hours 1996url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Le_Mans-1996-06-16.htmldate=16 June 1996access-date=10 January 2023}}Yannick DalmasPorsche 911 GT11996 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP23:51.410Patrick GoninWR LM941995 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group C23:58.270Charles ZwolsmanSpice SE90C1990 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT24:12.074Ralf KellenersPorsche 911 (993) GT21996 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group C1title=Le Mans 24 Hours 1989url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Le_Mans-1989-06-11.htmldate=11 June 1989access-date=11 June 2022}}Alain FertéJaguar XJR-91989 24 Hours of Le Mans
IMSA GTP3:28.520Takashi YorinoMazda 767B1989 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group C23:41.730Nick AdamsSpice SE89C1989 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group C1title=Le Mans 24 Hours 1986url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Le_Mans-1986-06-01.htmldate=1 June 1986access-date=11 June 2022}}Klaus LudwigPorsche 956B1986 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group C1title=Le Mans 24 Hours 1985url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Le_Mans-1985-06-16.htmldate=16 June 1985access-date=12 June 2022}}Jochen MassPorsche 962C1985 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group 63:34.000Hurley HaywoodPorsche 936/811981 24 Hours of Le Mans
IMSA GTP3:36.600Bob TulliusJaguar XJR-51985 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group C23:47.700David LeslieEcosse C2851985 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group B4:02.300Harald GrohsBMW M11985 24 Hours of Le Mans
IMSA GTO4:13.300Jean-Marie AlmérasPorsche 9301984 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group 6title=Le Mans 24 Hours 1978url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Le_Mans-1978-06-11.htmldate=11 June 1978access-date=12 June 2022}}Jean-Pierre JabouilleRenault Alpine A4431978 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group 53:39.600François CevertMatra-Simca MS670B1973 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group 53:18.400Jackie OliverPorsche 917L1971 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group 6title=Le Mans 24 Hours 1968url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Le_Mans-1968-09-29.htmldate=29 September 1968access-date=12 June 2022}}Rolf StommelenPorsche 9081968 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group 43:23.600Mario Andretti
Denny HulmeFord GT40 Mk IV1967 24 Hours of Le Mans
Sports prototype4:06.600Mike HawthornJaguar D-Type1955 24 Hours of Le Mans
Sports prototype6:48.000Henry BirkinBentley Blower1930 24 Hours of Le Mans
Sports prototype8:07.000Henry BirkinBentley 4½ Litre1928 24 Hours of Le Mans

Speed record

In 1988, Team WM Peugeot were well aware of their slim chance of winning the 24-hour endurance race outright, but they knew that their Welter Racing designed car had exceptional straight line aerodynamics. Thus they nicknamed their 1988 entry "Project 400" (aiming to be the first car to achieve a speed of 400 km/h on the famous straight), although the official team entry was named WM Secateva.

Roger Dorchy and Claude Haldi would be the drivers of car 51 while Pascal Pessiot and Jean-Daniel Raulet would drive the team's other car (#52). The latter lasted only 22 laps, and car 51 went into the pits around 17:00 in the afternoon with engine problems. After spending 3.5 hours in the pits, the team had the car back on the track and they decided to go for it. The plan worked: with Roger Dorchy behind the wheel the WM P87 achieved the speed of 407 km/h. The Peugeot retired shortly after that (on lap 59) with an overheating engine. By then it had outlasted two other Group C1 entrants.

Since Peugeot had just launched its new model 405, the team agreed to advertise the new record as "405". This has led to many people mistakenly stating the record as only 405 km/h, but Dorchy's best run down the Mulsanne straight was clocked at 407 km/h.

Bugatti Circuit

Ville du Mans Grand Prix motorcycle racing French motorcycle Grand Prix (1969–1970, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989–1990, 1994–1995, 2000–present) Vitesse du Mans motorcycle Grand Prix (1991) FIM EWC 24 Hours of Le Mans Moto (1978–present) ETRC 24 Heures Camions Le Mans (2003–present) Sidecar World Championship (1969–1970, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989–1991, 1995, 2007–2019, 2021–2022, 2024–present) Former: World SBK (1988, 1990) DTM (2006, 2008) World Series by Renault (2005–2006, 2008–2009, 2015) F3000 (1986–1991) Formula One French Grand Prix (1967)

Bugatti Circuit is a 4.185 km permanent race track located within Circuit des 24 Heures, constructed in 1965 and named after Ettore Bugatti. The circuit uses a part of the larger circuit and a separate, purpose-built section. The sections of track on the Bugatti Circuit that are on the Circuit des 24 Heures include the Ford Chicane at the end of the lap, the pit complex, and the straight where the Dunlop Tyres bridge is located. At this point in the overlapping section of the tracks there is a left-right sweep that was added for motorcycle safety in 2002. Vehicles turning to the left continue onto the Circuit des 24 Heures, toward Tertre Rouge and Mulsanne, vehicles turning to the right at La Chapelle will continue the Bugatti Circuit. The infield section features Garage Vert, a back straight, the 'S' du Garage Bleu, and Raccordement, which joins back at the Ford chicane.

The track was home base for Pescarolo Sport, founded by famous French driver Henri Pescarolo. The circuit currently hosts the 24 Hours of Le Mans motorcycle race, and a round of the MotoGP Championship. The circuit also holds French motor club races and in the past has hosted rounds of the International Formula 3000 Championship and DTM (German Touring Car series).

In addition to motor racing, it is the venue for the 24 rollers, a 24h race on inline skates or quads.

The Bugatti Circuit was used for the 1967 French Grand Prix, though it would prove to be the only time the Formula One World Championship would use the circuit, and is the current host of the French motorcycle Grand Prix. It also forms the final round of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship, and was part of the World Series by Renault and 1988 Superbike World Championship seasons.

Fastest race laps of Bugatti Circuit

As of September 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Bugatti Circuit are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEventBugatti Circuit: 4.185 km (2002–present)Bugatti Circuit: 4.430 km (1989–2001)Bugatti Circuit: 4.240 km (1986–1988)Bugatti Circuit: 4.422 km (1965–1985)
Formula Renault 3.51:22.981Matthieu VaxivièreDallara T122015 Le Mans Formula Renault 3.5 Series round
Formula One1:26.367Earl GoddardBenetton B1942002 Le Mans EuroBOSS round
LMP900title=Le Mans 1000 Kilometres 2003url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Le_Mans-2003-11-09.htmldate=9 November 2003access-date=19 May 2022}}Tom KristensenAudi R82003 1000 km of Le Mans
DTM1:30.713Mika HäkkinenAMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 20062006 Le Mans DTM round
Formula Three1:30.946Nico HülkenbergDallara F3082008 Le Mans F3 Euro Series round
MotoGP1:31.107Enea BastianiniDucati Desmosedici GP242024 French motorcycle Grand Prix
LMP31:31.139Julian Kuwabara WaggLigier JS P3202021 Le Mans Ultimate Cup round
Sports prototype1:31.843Colin WhiteGinetta G572016 Le Mans V de V Endurance Series round
Renault Sport Trophy1:33.503Renault Sport R.S. 012015 Le Mans Renault Sport Trophy round
Formula Renault 2.01:33.846Martin KodrićTatuus FR2.0/132015 Le Mans Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 round
LMP6751:34.380Jon FieldLola B01/602003 1000 km of Le Mans
Moto21:34.941Barry BaltusKalex Moto22025 French motorcycle Grand Prix
GT31:35.166Bernard DelhezRenault R.S. 01 GT32021 Le Mans Ultimate Cup round
GT1 (Prototype)1:35.236David SaelensPanoz Esperante GTR-12003 1000 km of Le Mans
Superbike1:35.751Illia MykhalchykBMW M1000RR2023 24 Heures Moto
Formula 41:37.250Arthur DorisonMygale M21-F42025 Le Mans French F4 round
250cc1:37.594Randy de PunietAprilia RSV 2502005 French motorcycle Grand Prix
GT1 (GTS)1:38.530Darren TurnerFerrari 550 Maranello2003 1000 km of Le Mans
Supersport1:39.035Valentin DebiseYamaha YZF-R62022 Le Mans French Supersport round
MotoE1:39.736Andrea MantovaniDucati V21L2025 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Porsche Carrera Cup1:40.232Mathieu JaminetPorsche 911 (991 I) GT3 Cup2016 Le Mans Porsche Carrera Cup France round
Moto31:40.838Álvaro CarpeKTM RC250GP2025 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Eurocup Mégane Trophy1:41.853Dimitri EnjalbertRenault Mégane Renault Sport2009 Le Mans Eurocup Mégane Trophy round
GT1:42.011Andrea MonterminiFerrari 360 Modena GTC2003 1000 km of Le Mans
Formula Renault 1.61:42.201Joey MawsonSignatech FR 1.62014 Le Mans French F4 round
Silhouette racing car1:42.335Soheil AyariPeugeot 406 Coupé2004 Le Mans French Supertouring round
125cc1:42.651Andrea DoviziosoHonda RS125R2004 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Stock car racing1:45.816Ander VilariñoChevrolet SS2014 Le Mans NASCAR Whelen Euro Series round
Supersport 3001:52.502Adrien QuinetKawasaki Ninja 4002021 Le Mans French Supersport 300 round
Truck racing2:02.794Norbert KissMAN TGS2015 Le Mans ETRC round
F30001:33.210Philippe GacheLola T89/501990 Le Mans F3000 round
Formula Three1:37.806Ryō FukudaDallara F3992001 Le Mans French F3 round
WSC1:37.954Emmanuel CollardFerrari 333 SP1998 Le Mans Autumn Cup
500cc1:39.954Max BiaggiYamaha YZR5002001 French motorcycle Grand Prix
250cc1:41.473Daijiro KatoHonda NSR2502001 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Formula Renault 2.01:43.005Éric SalignonTatuus FR20002001 Le Mans French Formula Renault round
GT1 (GTS)1:44.739Dominique DupuyChrysler Viper GTS-R2001 Le Mans FFSA GT round
World SBK1:46.210Jamie JamesDucati 8511990 Le Mans World SBK round
GT11:47.620Carl RosenbladFerrari F40 GTE1995 4 Hours of Le Mans Autumn Cup
125cc1:47.766Lucio CecchinelloAprilia RS125R2001 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Porsche Carrera Cup1:48.200Timo BernhardPorsche 911 (996 I) GT3 Cup2000 Le Mans Porsche Carrera Cup Germany round
Silhouette racing car1:48.783Jean-Philippe DayrautOpel Astra Coupé Silhouette2000 Le Mans French Supertouring round
F30001:29.200Emanuele PirroMarch 86B1986 Le Mans F3000 round
Formula Three1:37.640Yannick DalmasMartini MK491986 Le Mans French F3 round
World SBK1:56.790Fabrizio PirovanoYamaha FZ7501988 Le Mans World SBK round
500cc1:59.290Randy MamolaYamaha YZR5001987 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Formula Three1:36.620Pierre PetitMartini MK311981 Le Mans French F3 round
Formula One1:36.700Graham HillLotus 491967 French Grand Prix
500cc1:37.500Freddie SpencerHonda NS5001983 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Formula Renault 2.01:42.550Philippe AlliotMartini MK201978 Le Mans French Formula Renault round
250cc1:43.600Kork BallingtonKawasaki KR2501979 French motorcycle Grand Prix
350cc1:44.600Walter VillaHarley-Davidson RR3501976 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Formula Two1:45.000Denny HulmeBrabham BT181966 Trophée Craven 'A'
125cc1:49.700Ángel NietoMinareli 125cc GP1979 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Sidecar (B2A)1:52.800Rolf BilandYamaha sidecar1976 French motorcycle Grand Prix
50cc2:11.200Rudolf KunzKreidler 50 GP1976 French motorcycle Grand Prix

Layout evolution of Bugatti Circuit

File:Circuit Le Mans Bugatti.png|Bugatti Circuit (1965–1985) File:Bugatti Circuit 1991-1996.png|Bugatti Circuit (1989–1996) File:Bugatti Circuit.svg|Bugatti Circuit (2002–present) File:Circuit Bugatti - Le Mans.jpg|Layout evolution of Bugatti circuit from 1965 to 2008

Events

; Current

  • March: Fun Cup France
  • April: FIM Endurance World Championship 24 Heures Motos, Sidecar World Championship,
  • May: Grand Prix motorcycle racing French motorcycle Grand Prix, Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
  • June: FIA World Endurance Championship 24 Hours of Le Mans, Le Mans Cup, Ligier European Series, Ferrari Challenge Europe, Porsche Cup Brasil
  • July: Le Mans Classic Le Mans Classic Legend, GT3 Revival Series
  • September: European Truck Racing Championship **, Porsche Sprint Challenge France, British Truck Racing Championship

; Former

  • Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2006, 2008)
  • EuroBOSS Series (2002–2004)
  • Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (1995, 1998, 2005–2006, 2008–2009, 2015)
  • Eurocup Mégane Trophy (2005–2006, 2008–2009)
  • Ferrari Challenge North America (2023)
  • FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship (2014–2019)
  • FFSA GT Championship (1998–1999, 2001–2006, 2012–2015)
  • Formula 3 Euro Series (2003, 2006, 2008)
  • Formula One
    • French Grand Prix (Bugatti Circuit) (1967)
  • Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup (1971–1972, 1975–2006, 2008–2009)
  • Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2005–2006, 2008–2009, 2015)
  • French F4 Championship (2012–2016, 2025)
  • French Formula Three Championship (1966–1967, 1980–1981, 1986–2002)
  • French Supertouring Championship (1976, 1978–1981, 1986, 1989–1994, 1998–2005)
  • GP Explorer (2022–2023, 2025)
  • Grand Prix motorcycle racing
  • IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge
    • Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational (2025)
  • International Formula 3000 (1986–1991)
  • International Sports Racing Series (1998)
  • Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe (2024)
  • MotoE World Championship
    • French eRace (2020–2025)
  • NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (2009–2014)
  • Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux (2017)
  • Porsche Carrera Cup France (1987, 1989–2000, 2002–2005, 2010–2011, 2013–2017, 2020, 2023)
  • Porsche Carrera Cup Germany (2000, 2006, 2020)
  • Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain (2014, 2017)
  • Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia (2023)
  • Renault Sport Trophy (2015)
  • Superbike World Championship (1988, 1990)

Weather and climate

Météo France runs a weather station in Le Mans, which exhibits an oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb). With both the 24-hour races and the French MotoGP round being run before the peak of summer, high-profile races often have cool temperatures both in terms of ambient and track conditions with rainfall being a potential factor. Although nights cool off, sometimes into the single-digits, during the 24-hour car race, air frosts have never been recorded in June. The weather station is located at the local airport just a few hundred metres from the main grandstand and pit lane of the circuit.

|Jan record high C = 17.2 |Feb record high C = 21.8 |Mar record high C = 25.6 |Apr record high C = 30.3 |May record high C = 32.4 |Jun record high C = 39.7 |Jul record high C = 41.1 |Aug record high C = 40.5 |Sep record high C = 35.0 |Oct record high C = 30.0 |Nov record high C = 22.2 |Dec record high C = 18.3 |year record high C = 41.1 |Jan avg record high C = 14.4 |Feb avg record high C = 16.2 |Mar avg record high C = 20.4 |Apr avg record high C = 24.8 |May avg record high C = 28.2 |Jun avg record high C = 32.4 |Jul avg record high C = 33.9 |Aug avg record high C = 34.0 |Sep avg record high C = 29.2 |Oct avg record high C = 23.5 |Nov avg record high C = 17.6 |Dec avg record high C = 14.3 |year avg record high C = 35.4 |Jan avg record low C = -6.1 |Feb avg record low C = -5.1 |Mar avg record low C = -3.0 |Apr avg record low C = -0.6 |May avg record low C = 2.7 |Jun avg record low C = 6.8 |Jul avg record low C = 8.8 |Aug avg record low C = 7.7 |Sep avg record low C = 4.5 |Oct avg record low C = 0.8 |Nov avg record low C = -2.8 |Dec avg record low C = -5.2 |year avg record low C = -8.0 |Jan record low C = -18.2 |Feb record low C = -17.0 |Mar record low C = -11.3 |Apr record low C = -4.9 |May record low C = -3.7 |Jun record low C = 1.6 |Jul record low C = 3.9 |Aug record low C = 3.2 |Sep record low C = -0.5 |Oct record low C = -5.4 |Nov record low C = -12.0 |Dec record low C = -21.0 |year record low C = -21.0 | access-date = 10 September 2023 | access-date = 9 January 2016}}

Notes

References

Sources

References

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