Circuit de la Sarthe is a legendary racing venue in Le Mans, France, best known as the home of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s oldest active endurance sports car race, first run in 1923. The circuit combines permanent racetrack sections with public roads that are closed to traffic on race weekend, creating one of motorsport’s most demanding and storied tracks.
The modern circuit runs 13.626 km (8.467 miles) with 38 turns, including the famous Mulsanne Straight, Tertre Rouge corner, and the Ford and Dunlop chicanes. Since the current configuration took shape in 2018, prototype cars have posted average lap speeds above 240 km/h (150 mph), with up to 85% of each lap spent at full throttle.
Stats at a Glance
- Event(s): 24 Hours of Le Mans (WEC)
- Location: Le Mans, Sarthe, France
- Opened: May 26, 1923
- Length: 13.626 km (8.467 mi), 38 turns
- Capacity: About 35,000 permanent grandstand seats; race weekend attendance often tops 300,000
- Notable fact: Site of the 1955 Le Mans disaster, motorsport’s deadliest accident
The Ride Experience
Watching the 24 Hours of Le Mans at Circuit de la Sarthe is unlike attending a typical stadium event. Fans spread across dozens of grandstands and public viewing areas that trace the massive road-and-track hybrid layout, from the pit straight grandstands opposite the garages to the fast, sweeping run through Tertre Rouge. The Mulsanne Straight, once nearly 6 km of flat-out running before chicanes were added for safety in 1990, remains one of the most iconic stretches in racing.
Because the race runs continuously for a full 24 hours, the atmosphere shifts constantly: packed grandstands and fan villages during the day give way to a smaller but dedicated crowd watching headlights streak through the French countryside overnight, before the grounds fill again for Sunday’s finish.
History and Legacy
The circuit has been continuously modified since 1923 to improve safety, most notably after the 1955 Le Mans disaster, when a car crashed into a packed grandstand and killed more than 80 spectators, prompting major changes to circuits worldwide. The track’s shorter permanent loop, the Bugatti Circuit, was built in 1965 and today hosts motorcycle racing including MotoGP.
Now in its second century, Circuit de la Sarthe remains the centerpiece of endurance racing, drawing manufacturer teams from Toyota, Ferrari, Porsche, Cadillac and others each June, with total event attendance regularly exceeding 300,000 spectators.
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Circuit de la Sarthe FAQs
Where is Circuit de la Sarthe located?
It’s located in Le Mans, in the Sarthe department of northwestern France, roughly 200 km southwest of Paris.
How long is the Circuit de la Sarthe track?
The current 24-hour race configuration is 13.626 km (8.467 miles) long with 38 turns, combining permanent racing sections with public roads closed for the event.
What race is held at Circuit de la Sarthe?
It hosts the 24 Hours of Le Mans, first run in 1923 and now part of the FIA World Endurance Championship, along with the shorter Bugatti Circuit hosting motorcycle races.
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Photo: Willag / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.