Le Mans: a History Lesson

Le Mans is one of the world’s most iconic endurance races, especially for us Europeans, known for its extremely competitive racing and gruelling 24-hour format. Since its first race in 1923, the event has become a staple of the international motorsports calendar, attracting the best drivers and teams from all corners of the world. The Le Mans 24 Hours is not only a race, but also an event that attracts hundreds of thousands of devoted fans every year, and has become a symbol of endurance and achievement in the world of motorsports – just ask Ford or Ferrari.

Early Years (1923-1939)

The first Le Mans race was held in 1923 on a 10.7 mile public road circuit just outside the town of, you guessed it, Le Mans in France. The race was designed to test the endurance of both drivers and cars, and quickly became popular with manufacturers looking to prove the engineering of their vehicles. The first race was won by the team of André Lagache and René Léonard in a Chenard et Walcker.

In the following years, the race grew in size and popularity, with more manufacturers and teams entering their cars. The format was changed in 1928 to a 24-hour endurance event, which has remained to this day. The pre-war era saw the dominance of the “Bentley Boys,” a group of well-to-do Brits who, unsurprisingly, drove Bentley’s to victory in five of the nine races held before World War II.

Post-War Era (1949-1960)

The now 24 Hours race resumed after the war in 1949, with a record-breaking victory by the French driver Jean-Pierre Wimille and his teammate Pierre Veyron in a Bugatti. The post-war era saw the introduction of new classes of cars, including the famous racing cars from Jaguar, Aston Martin, and Ferrari.

The ’50s saw the emergence of the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR and the Jaguar D-Type, which battled for supremacy in the race. In 1955, tragedy struck when a massive crash involving the Mercedes team killed over 80 spectators and a driver. The accident led to huge safety improvements in the race, including the installation of guardrails and the introduction of safety cars – again, something that is still used today.

Golden Age (1961-1971)

The 1960s saw the arrival of the “Golden Age” of Le Mans, with incredibly fierce competition between manufacturers and some of the greatest drivers in history. The Ford GT40 dominated the race in the mid-60s, winning four consecutive races from 1966 to 1969 and creating one of the most well known rivalries in racing. That being of course, Ford vs Ferrari.

1969 also marked the end of the infamous “Le Mans start”. A traditional method of starting the race, which was used from 1923. In this format, drivers would line up on one side of the track, while their cars were lined up on the other. At the sound of a horn, the drivers would run across the track, jump into their cars, and start the race. This type of start was known for its brilliantly dramatic and chaotic nature, as drivers often tripped or stumbled on their way to the cars, and accidents were not uncommon. The Le Mans start was eventually phased out due to safety concerns, and replaced with a rolling start format in which cars begin the race from a slow moving start on the track. The Le Mans start is still used today in 24 hour karting championships.

The 1970s saw new challengers try to take the throne, including the Porsche 917 and the Ferrari 512. The race became known for its dramatic battles between these two manufacturers, with the 1970 race in particular featuring a famous last-lap duel between the Porsche 917 and the Ferrari 512.

Modern Era (1972-1999)

The modern era of Le Mans has seen the continued evolution of the race, with improvements in technology and safety leading to faster speeds and more exciting racing for fans. The 1980s saw the dominance of Porsche with their 956 and 962 models, winning seven races in a row from 1981 to 1987.

The 1990s saw the arrival of new manufacturers, including Toyota and Mazda, and the continued success of Porsche. In 1991, Mazda became the first Japanese manufacturer to win the race with their glorious rotary-engined 787B.

Technology Era (2000-2019)

The 21st century has seen the continued growth and evolution of the race, with the arrival of hybrid technology with new and returning manufacturers such as Audi, Bentley, and Nissan. Audi dominated the race in the 2000s, winning 13 times between 2000 and 2014 with their diesel-powered cars. However, the introduction of hybrid technology in the early 2010s saw a shift in dominance towards Toyota and Porsche, who have battled for victories in recent years.

In 2014, the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) announced a major overhaul of the regulations for the top LMP1 class, aimed at reducing costs and making the category more competitive. The new rules included a maximum fuel-flow rate, limitations on the amount of energy that could be used per lap, and a cap on the number of engines that could be used per season – much like we see in F1 currently.

The 2014 race also saw the tragic death of Danish driver Allan Simonsen, who crashed on just the third lap of the race. The incident highlighted the dangers of racing that we all know and led to a further increase in safety measures, including the introduction of a slower speed limit in the pit lane.

The 2016 race saw the return of Ford to Le Mans, with the American manufacturer entering a team in the GTE Pro class to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their historic 1-2-3 finish in the 1966 race. Ford’s victory in the class was seen as a major triumph for the company and brought renewed interest to the event for those across the pond.

The 2018 race marked the end of an era, with Porsche announcing their withdrawal from the LMP1 category and the end of their successful four-year partnership with the 919 Hybrid. Toyota went on to win the race, marking their first victory at Le Mans after years of near-misses.

Future Era (2020-Present)

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the race from its traditional June date to September. The race was held without spectators for the first time in its history, with teams and personnel adhering to strict safety protocols (no kissing).

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the 2020 race was still a thrilling and closely contested event, with Toyota securing their third consecutive victory in the LMP1 category and United Autosports taking the top spot in the LMP2 class.

As Le Mans enters its second century, the race continues to be one of the most prestigious and exciting events on the calendar. With new technologies, new manufacturers, and ever-changing challenges on the horizon, the future of the race looks more exciting than ever.