The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the most famous and most brutal races in the world. It’s a special event for those who follow racing and every year fans gather all over the world to follow the race and often to bet on it as well.
What makes 24 Hours of Le Mans so special is its sheer size and the endurance it requires from the drivers involved. The speeds go beyond 200 mph making it an amazing display of engineering and sportsmanship.
What is it?
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world’s most prestigious sports car race. It lasts (as the name suggests) 24 hours. The race is also one of the oldest and longest-running racing events – it started in 23 and it was an annual event ever since, with an exemption of World War 2.The race is known for pushing the limits of both the drivers and the cars. Driving at such speeds and for such a long time requires the best possible performance of everyone involved. It’s a thrill for viewers from all over the world.
Where Does it Take Place?
The race takes place in Circuit de la Sarthe. It’s a semi-permanent track located near the city of Le Mans, France. The location is one of the reasons 24 Hours of Le Mans is so challenging and so popular. This circuit combines public roads with purpose-built sections. That’s what makes it so demanding on the drivers and their cars.Spectators gather from all over the world to follow the race and they make a spectacle out of it. The race is also followed online with live streams covering every minute and portion of it.
How to Bet?
Many sports betting sites with Bitcoin as a payment method allow their users to bet on 24 Hours of Le Mans. Bets can be made beforehand or during the event itself with the odds changing live as the race progresses.Since the race is so long and so complex there are many different bets you could make on it. The simplest one is to just bet on who will win and many do just that. Other bets are on the class winner, the fastest lap, or head-to-head bets where races are compared to one another.
A 24 Hour Race
The rice is aptly named and it actually lasts 24 hours. However, that doesn’t mean that one racer is driving for 24 hours at a time. Teams switch drivers to make sure they are well-rested and safe. A team needs to have at least two drivers, in most cases, there are three, and some players have more.The driver rotation is determined beforehand. For the most part, a driver’s stint lasts between one and three hours and there are mandatory rest periods. The race also determines the maximum race time for each driver before it starts.
Le Mans Start
The so-called Le Mans Start was the unique and interesting quirk of the race. In the early years of the race, drivers used to start the race by running across the track to their cars, jumping in, and taking off. It was an exciting and iconic beginning to an event and was very much appreciated by the crowd.However, due to safety reasons, the practice was discontinued in the 1960s. These days the race starts the same as any other, with all the players starting at the same time- what is known as a rolling start.
Record Distance
The record for the greatest distance covered in a single 24-hour race at Le Mans was set in 2010 when the Audi R15 TDI completed 3,362 miles (5,410 kilometers). The winning driver trio consisted of Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, and Mike Rockenfeller. It was a special race with perfect weather conditions, a great lineup of racers, and a bit of luck. All of these combined have led to the record being set and it continues to hold to this day.It was achieved by the Audi R15 TDI, a high-performance Le Mans Prototype (LMP1) sports car. The turbo diesel technology and the aerodynamic design of the car were a perfect fit for the race.
A Race of Multiple Classes
The multi-class structure of the 24 hours of Le Mans consists of two main classes: prototypes and GT (Grand Touring) cars.Prototypes are the premier category and they consist of cars that are purpose-made for racing in particular and in many cases for this particular race. They use cutting-edge technology when it comes to performance and aerodynamics.
GT cars are the regular production models. These include the two further subdivisions of cars: professional racing cars and amateur or gentlemen's vehicles.
There are also two types of victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, known as overall victories and class victories.
Notable Winners
Many famous drivers have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This includes:· Tom Kristensen: a Danish racing driver, holds the record for the most overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He won the race nine times.
· Ayrton Senna: The legendary Brazilian Formula 1 driver, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1988 driving a McLaren-Honda. Senna truly became a racing legend after winning 24 Hours of Le Mans.
· Jacky Ickx: Belgian racing driver won the 24 Hours of Le Mans six times. What’s interesting is that he did it with different manufacturers including Ford, Ferrari, and Porsche.
· Derek Bell: British racing driver is another Le Mans legend, having won the race five times.
Mulsanne Straight
Mulsanne Straight is one of the most iconic parts of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s a long section and one in which racers achieve the highest speeds. It’s about 6 km (3.7 miles) long. Racers achieve the highest speeds at this section. Racing cars routinely achieve a speed of over 200 miles (322 km) per hour.There’s a speed trap set at Mulsanne Straight, allowing the spectators to know the exact speed the vehicle's make. This presents a fascinating spectacle for the fans and a great opportunity to bet and win big if you can guess the exact speed. The highest speed ever driven here is 405 km/h.
Woodstock of Motorsport
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is often called the Woodstock of Motorsports. It refers to how passionate the fans of the race are. Since the race takes 24 hours it’s a great opportunity for fans to make an event out of it and spend a day along the road.The fans do tend to get more excited and more rowdy than at most other motorsports events and that’s half the fun.
To Sum Up
24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the most famous and most exciting racing events in the world. It’s a 24-hour-long race held annually. Both prototype cars and traditional racing cars take part in. Fans from all over the world follow and bet on the event, both online and by actually gathering along the route.Teams that take part in the race usually have three members that switch places, keeping everyone involved safe and rested, but allowing the race to actually last for 24 hours without stops.
