sport.wikisort.org - Stadium

The Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans,[1] also known as Circuit de la Sarthe[2] (after the 1906 French Grand Prix triangle circuit) located in Le Mans, Sarthe, France, is a semi-permanent motorsport race course, chiefly known as the venue for the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race. Comprising private, race-specific sections of track in addition to public roads which remain accessible most of the year, its present configuration is 13.626 km (8.467 mi) long, making it one of the longest circuits in the world. The capacity of the race stadium, where the short Bugatti Circuit is situated, is 100,000. The Musée des 24 Heures du Mans is a motorsport museum located at the main entrance of the venue.

Circuit des 24 Heures

Circuit de la Sarthe
Location	Le Mans, Pays de la Loire, France
Time zone	CET (UTC+1) CEST (DST)
Coordinates	47°56′15.7″N 0°13′32.2″E
FIA Grade	2 (Endurance) 2 (Bugatti)
Owner	Automobile Club de l'Ouest Ville du Mans
Operator	Automobile Club de l'Ouest
Opened	1923
Major events	ACO / FIA WEC 24 Hours of Le Mans
Circuit de la Sarthe
Surface	Tarmac
Length	13.626 km (8.467 miles)
Turns	38
Race lap record	3:17.297 ( Mike Conway, Toyota TS050 Hybrid, 2019, LMP1)
Website	www.lemans.org/en/

Up to 85% of the 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 (200 mph) to around 100 km/h (62 mph) 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 put in place over the years, the Sarthe circuit is still known for being very fast, with prototype cars achieving average lap speeds in excess of 240 km/h (150 mph).

In the 1920s, the cars drove from the present pits on Rue de Laigné straight into the city, and after a sharp right-hand corner near the river Huisne Pontlieue bridge (a hairpin permanently removed from the circuit in 1929), before exiting the city again on the rather straight section now named Avenue Georges Durand after the race's founder. Then 17.261 km (10.725 mi) long and unpaved, a bypass within the city shortened the track in 1929, but the city was only bypassed completely in 1932, when the section from the pits via the Dunlop Bridge and the Esses to Tertre Rouge was added. This classic configuration was 13.492 km (8.384 mi) 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 (3.7 m) wide, further widened in 1956 after the tragedy, but the race track and pits were not separated for another 15 years.

Car speeds increased dramatically in the 1960s, pushing the limits of the "classic circuit" and sparking criticism of the track as being unsafe after several trials related fatalities occurred. In 1965, a smaller, but permanent, 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 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 917 Porsche. The circuit has been modified ten more times — 1971, a year when prototypes were averaging over 240 km/h (150 mph), was the last year the classic circuit was used. That year, Armco 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 was moved to the exit of the slow Mulsanne corner, and the track was resurfaced.

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 prior to 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 (290 km/h). Now they would be slowed to 110 mph (180 km/h).

Le Mans was most famous for its 6 km (3.7 mi) 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 (225 mph).[3] 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 (228 mph).[4] Speeds on the straight by the Group C prototypes reached over 400 km/h (250 mph) 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 (253 mph). 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 (6.0 km) 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.[5] The chicanes were also added because the FIA decreed it would no longer sanction a circuit which had a straight longer than 2 km (1.2 mi), [6] 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 (155.235 to 151.198 mph) 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 relocated 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 will be moved in approximately 200 m (220 yd) for safety reasons with new tyre barriers at the exit.[7] The current version of the track has been in use since 2018.

• 
  An on site map of the circuit
• 
  The area before the Dunlop bridge, modified for 2006
• 
  The Ford Chicanes
• 
  A large portion of the track still consists of Sarthe Route Départementale D338.
• 
  Circuit location between Le Mans and Mulsanne, France

Layout evolution of Circuit de la Sarthe

• 
  Circuit de la Sarthe (1906)
• 
  Circuit de la Sarthe (1911–1913)
• 
  Comparison of Circuit de la Sarthe layouts between 1906 and 1921
• 
  Circuit de la Sarthe (1921–1928)
• 
  Circuit de la Sarthe (1929–1931)
• 
  Circuit de la Sarthe (1932–1967)
• 
  Circuit de la Sarthe (1968–1971)
• 
  Circuit de la Sarthe (1972–1978)
• 
  Circuit de la Sarthe (1979–1985)
• 
  Circuit de la Sarthe (1986)
• 
  Circuit de la Sarthe (1987–1989)
• 
  Circuit de la Sarthe (1990–2001)
• 
  Circuit de la Sarthe (2002–present)
• 
  Layout evolution of Circuit de la Sarthe

Lap records

Years	Record year	Distance record	Average race speed	Lap record (in race)	Driver – car	Lap record (qualifying)	Driver – car
Circuit N°1 – 17.262 km (10.726 mi)
1923–1928	1928	2,669.27 km (1,658.61 mi) Bentley 4½ Litre	111.219 km/h (69.108 mph)	8:07 (127.604 km/h (79.289 mph)) in 1928	H.Birkin Bentley 4½ Litre
Circuit N°2 – 16.340 km (10.153 mi)
1929–1931	1931	3,017.654 km (1,875.083 mi) Alfa Romeo 8C	125.735 km/h (78.128 mph)	6:48 (144.362 km/h (89.702 mph)) in 1930	H.Birkin Bentley Blower
Circuit N°3 – 13.492 km (8.384 mi)
1932–1955	1955	4,135.38 km (2,569.61 mi) Jaguar D	172.308 km/h (107.067 mph)	4:06.6 (196.963 km/h (122.387 mph)) in 1955	M.Hawthorn Jaguar D
Circuit N°4 – 13.461 km (8.364 mi)
1956–1967	1967	5,232.9 km (3,251.6 mi) Ford Mk IV	218.038 km/h (135.483 mph)	3:23.6 (238.014 km/h (147.895 mph)) in 1967	M.Andretti & D.Hulme Ford Mk IV	3:24.04 (236.082 km/h (146.695 mph)) in 1967	B.McLaren Ford Mk IV
Circuit N°5 – 13.469 km (8.369 mi)
1968–1971	1971	5,335.31 km (3,315.21 mi) Porsche 917	222.304 km/h (138.133 mph)	3:18.4 (244.397 km/h (151.861 mph)) in 1971	J.Oliver Porsche 917	3:13.9 (250.069 km/h (155.386 mph)) in 1971	P. Rodríguez Porsche 917
Circuit N°6 – 13.640 km (8.476 mi)
1972–1978	1978	5,044.53 km (3,134.53 mi) Alpine-Renault A442 B	210.189 km/h (130.605 mph)	3:34.2 (229.244 km/h (142.446 mph)) in 1978	J.P.Jabouille Alpine-Renault A443	3:27.6 (236.531 km/h (146.974 mph)) in 1978	J.Ickx Porsche 936
Circuit N°7 – 13.626 km (8.467 mi)
1979–1985	1985	5,088.51 km (3,161.854 mi) Porsche 956	212.021 km/h (131.744 mph)	3:25.1 (239.169 km/h (148.613 mph)) in 1985	J.Mass Porsche 962	3:14.8 (251.815 km/h (156.471 mph)) in 1985	H.Stuck Porsche 962
Circuit N°8 – 13.528 km (8.406 mi)
1986	1986	4,972.73 km (3,089.91 mi) Porsche 962 C	207.197 km/h (128.746 mph)	3:23.3 (239.551 km/h (148.850 mph)) in 1986	K.Ludwig Porsche 956	3:15.99 (243.486 km/h (151.295 mph)) in 1986	J.Mass Porsche 962 C
Circuit N°9 – 13.535 km (8.410 mi)
1987–1989	1988	5,332.79 km (3,313.64 mi) Jaguar XJR9	221.665 km/h (137.736 mph)	3:21.27 (242.093 km/h (150.430 mph)) in 1989	A.Ferté Jaguar XJR9	3:15.04 (249.826 km/h (155.235 mph)) in 1989	J.L.Schlesser Sauber Mercedes C9
Circuit N°10 – 13.600 km (8.451 mi)
1990–1996	1993	5,100 km (3,200 mi) Peugeot 905	213.358 km/h (132.575 mph)	3:27.47 (235.986 km/h (146.635 mph)) in 1993	E.Irvine Toyota TS010	3:21.209 (243.329 km/h (151.198 mph)) in 1992	Ph.Alliot Peugeot 905
Circuit N°11 – 13.605 km (8.454 mi)
1997–2001	2000	5,007.98 km (3,111.81 mi) Audi R8	208.666 km/h (129.659 mph)	3:35.032 (227.771 km/h (141.530 mph)) in 1999	U.Katayama Toyota GT-One	3:29.93 (233.306 km/h (144.970 mph)) in 1999	M.Brundle Toyota GT-One
Circuit N°12 – 13.650 km (8.482 mi)
2002–2005	2004	5,169.97 km (3,212.47 mi) Audi R8	215.415 km/h (133.853 mph)	3:33.483 (230.182 km/h (143.028 mph)) in 2002	T.Kristensen Audi R8	3:29.905 (234.106 km/h (145.467 mph)) in 2002	R.Capello Audi R8
Circuit N°13 – 13.650 km (8.482 mi)
2006	2006	5,187 km (3,223 mi) Audi R10 TDI	215.409 km/h (133.849 mph)	3:31.211 (232.658 km/h (144.567 mph)) in 2006	T.Kristensen Audi R10 TDI	3:30.466 (233.482 km/h (145.079 mph)) in 2006	R.Capello Audi R10 TDI
Circuit N°14 – 13.629 km (8.469 mi)
2007–2017	2010	5,410.71 km (3,362.06 mi) Audi R15 TDI plus	225.228 km/h (139.950 mph)	3:17.475 (248.459 km/h (154.385 mph)) in 2015	A.Lotterer Audi R18 e-tron quattro	3:14.791 (251.882 km/h (156.512 mph)) in 2017	K. Kobayashi Toyota TS050 Hybrid
Circuit N°15 - 13.626 km (8.467 mi)
Since 2018	2018	5,286.88 km (3,285.11 mi) Toyota TS050 Hybrid	220.015 km/h (136.711 mph)	3:17.297 (248.6 km/h (154.5 mph) in 2019	M. Conway Toyota TS050 Hybrid	3:15.267 (251.21 km/h (156.09 mph) in 2020	K. Kobayashi Toyota TS050 Hybrid

Fastest race laps of Circuit de la Sarthe

The official fastest race lap records at the Circuit de la Sarthe for different classes are listed as:

Category	Time	Driver	Vehicle	Date
Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.626 km (2018–present)
LMP1	3:17.297[8]	Mike Conway	Toyota TS050 Hybrid	2019 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP2	3:27.200[9]	Nathanaël Berthon	Oreca 07	2018 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMH	3:27.607[10]	Brendon Hartley	Toyota GR010 Hybrid	2021 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP3	3:46.374[11]	Laurents Hörr	Duqueine M30 D-08	2021 Road to Le Mans
LM GTE	3:47.501[10]	Alexander Sims	Chevrolet Corvette C8.R	2021 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT3	3:54.340[12]	Charles Weerts	Audi R8 LMS Evo	2021 Road to Le Mans
Ferrari Challenge	4:00.189[13]	Adam Carroll	Ferrari 488 Challenge	2019 Le Mans Ferrari Challenge Europe round
JS P4	4:05.688[14]	Gillian Henrion	Ligier JS P4	2022 Le Mans Ligier European Series round
JS2 R	4:18.803[14]	Hugo Rosati	Ligier JS2 R	2022 Le Mans Ligier European Series round
Carrera Cup	4:34.690[15]	Larry ten Voorde	Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup	2020 Le Mans Porsche Carrera Cup France round
Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.629 km (2007–2017)
LMP1	3:17.475[16]	André Lotterer	Audi R18	2015 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP2	3:28.632[17]	Ho-Pin Tung	Oreca 07	2017 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT1 (GTS)	3:48.969[18][19]	Tomáš Enge[20]	Aston Martin DBR9	2007 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP3	3:50.576[21]	Yann Ehrlacher	Norma M30	2017 Road to Le Mans
LM GTE	3:50.950[17]	Daniel Serra	Aston Martin Vantage GT2	2017 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT3	3:56.040[22]	Benjamin Barker	Porsche 911 (991) GT3 R	2017 Road to Le Mans
Ferrari Challenge	4:05.134[23]	Jeff Segal	Ferrari 458 Challenge	2013 Le Mans Ferrari Challenge Europe round
Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.650 km (2006)
LMP1	3:31.211[24]	Tom Kristensen	Audi R10 TDI	2006 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP2	3:35.883[25]	William Binnie	Lola B05/40	2006 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT1 (GTS)	3:51.531[25]	Stéphane Sarrazin	Aston Martin DBR9	2006 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT2	4:04.426[26]	Romain Dumas	Porsche 911 (996) GT3-RSR	2006 24 Hours of Le Mans
Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.650 km (2002–2005)
LMP900	3:33.483[27]	Tom Kristensen	Audi R8	2002 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP1	3:34.264[28]	Jamie Davies	Audi R8	2005 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMGTP	3:35.529[29]	Johnny Herbert	Bentley Speed 8	2003 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP675	3:37.221[27]	Mark Blundell	MG-Lola EX257	2002 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP2	3:47.601[28]	Warren Hughes	MG-Lola EX264	2005 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT1 (GTS)	3:51.422[28]	Darren Turner	Aston Martin DBR9	2005 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT2	4:06.306[30]	Sascha Maassen	Porsche 911 (996) GT3 RSR	2004 24 Hours of Le Mans
Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.605 km (1997–2001)
LMGTP	3:35.032[31]	Ukyo Katayama	Toyota GT-One	1999 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP900	3:37.359[32]	Allan McNish	Audi R8	2000 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT1 (Prototype)	3:41.809[33]	Martin Brundle	Toyota GT-One	1998 24 Hours of Le Mans
WSC	3:45.068[34]	Tom Kristensen	Porsche WSC-95	1997 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP675	3:52.156[32]	Jean-Christophe Boullion	Reynard 2KQ	2000 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT1 (GTS)	3:58.862[32]	Ron Fellows	Chevrolet Corvette C5-R	2000 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT	4:16.660[32]	Christophe Bouchut	Porsche 911 (996) GT3-R	2000 24 Hours of Le Mans
Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.600 km (1990–1996)
Group C1	3:27.470[35]	Eddie Irvine	Toyota TS010	1993 24 Hours of Le Mans
WSC	3:46.958[36]	Eric van de Poele	Ferrari 333 SP	1996 24 Hours of Le Mans
IMSA GTP	3:47.330[37]	Volker Weidler	Mazda 787B	1990 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT1	3:48.778[38]	Yannick Dalmas	Porsche 911 GT1	1996 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP2	3:51.410[39]	Patrick Gonin	WR LM94	1995 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group C2	3:58.270[37]	Charles Zwolsman	Spice SE90C	1990 24 Hours of Le Mans
GT2	4:12.074[38]	Ralf Kelleners	Porsche 911 (993) GT2	1996 24 Hours of Le Mans
Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.535 km (1987–1989)
Group C1	3:21.270[40]	Alain Ferté	Jaguar XJR-9	1989 24 Hours of Le Mans
IMSA GTP	3:28.520[40]	Takashi Yorino	Mazda 787B	1989 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group C2	3:41.730[40]	Nick Adams	Spice SE89C	1989 24 Hours of Le Mans
Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.528 km (1986)
Group C1	3:23.300[41]	Klaus Ludwig	Porsche 956B	1986 24 Hours of Le Mans
Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.626 km (1979–1985)
Group C1	3:25.100[42]	Jochen Mass	Porsche 962C	1985 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group 6	3:34.000[43]	Hurley Haywood	Porsche 936/81	1981 24 Hours of Le Mans
IMSA GTP	3:36.600[42]	Bob Tullius	Jaguar XJR-5	1985 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group C2	3:47.700[42]	David Leslie	Ecosse C285	1985 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group B	4:02.300[42]	Harald Grohs	BMW M1	1985 24 Hours of Le Mans
IMSA GTO	4:13.300[44]	Jean-Marie Alméras	Porsche 930	1984 24 Hours of Le Mans
Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.640 km (1972–1978)
Group 6	3:34.200[45]	Jean-Pierre Jabouille	Renault Alpine A443	1978 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group 5	3:39.600[46]	François Cevert	Matra-Simca MS670B	1973 24 Hours of Le Mans
Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.469 km (1968–1971)
Group 5	3:18.400[47]	Jackie Oliver	Porsche 917L	1971 24 Hours of Le Mans
Group 6	3:38.100[48]	Rolf Stommelen	Porsche 908	1968 24 Hours of Le Mans
Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.461 km (1956–1967)
Group 4	3:23.600[49]	Mario Andretti[lower-alpha 1] Denny Hulme[lower-alpha 1]	Ford GT40 Mk IV[lower-alpha 1]	1967 24 Hours of Le Mans
Circuit de la Sarthe: 13.492 km (1932–1955)
Sports prototype	4:06.600[50]	Mike Hawthorn	Jaguar D-Type	1955 24 Hours of Le Mans
Circuit de la Sarthe: 16.340 km (1929–1932)
Sports prototype	6:48.000[51]	Henry Birkin	Bentley Blower	1930 24 Hours of Le Mans
Circuit de la Sarthe: 17.262 km (1923–1928)
Sports prototype	8:07.000[52]	Henry Birkin	Bentley 4½ Litre	1928 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 (250 mph) 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 (253 mph). The Peugeot retired shortly after that (on lap 59) with an overheating engine. By then it had outlasted two other Group C1 entrants.[53]

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 (252 mph), but Dorchy's best run down the Mulsanne straight was clocked at 407 km/h (253 mph).[53]

Bugatti Circuit

Bugatti Circuit

Location	Le Mans, Pays de la Loire, France
Time zone	CET (UTC+1) CEST (DST)
FIA Grade	2
Owner	Automobile Club de l'Ouest Ville du Mans
Operator	Automobile Club de l'Ouest
Opened	1965
Major events	Current: Grand Prix motorcycle racing French motorcycle Grand Prix (1969–1970, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989–1990, 1994–1995, 2000–present) 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–present) MotoE (2020–present) Former: World SBK (1988, 1990) DTM (2006, 2008) World Series by Renault (2005–2006, 2008–2009, 2015) FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship (2014–2019) F3 Euro Series (2003, 2006, 2008) F3000 (1986–1991) Formula One French Grand Prix (1967)
Bugatti Circuit (2002–present)
Surface	Tarmac
Length	4.185 km (2.600 miles)
Turns	14
Race lap record	1:22.981 ( Matthieu Vaxivière, Dallara T12, 2015, Formula Renault 3.5)
Bugatti Circuit (1989–2001)
Length	4.430 km (2.753 miles)
Turns	11
Race lap record	1:33.210 ( Philippe Gache, Lola T89/50, 1990, F3000)
Bugatti Circuit (1986–1988)
Length	4.240 km (2.635 miles)
Turns	11
Race lap record	1:29.200 ( Emanuele Pirro, March 86B, 1986, F3000)
Bugatti Circuit (1965–1985)
Length	4.422 km (2.748 miles)
Turns	8
Race lap record	1:36.620 ( Pierre Petit, Martini MK31, 1981, Formula Three)
Website	www.lemans.org/en/

Bugatti Circuit is a 4.185 km (2.600 mi) 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

The official fastest race lap records at the Bugatti Circuit are listed as:

Category	Time	Driver	Vehicle	Date
Bugatti Circuit: 4.185 km (2002–present)
Formula Renault 3.5	1:22.981[54]	Matthieu Vaxivière	Dallara T12	2015 Le Mans Formula Renault 3.5 Series round
LMP900	1:30.518[55]	Tom Kristensen	Audi R8	2003 1000 km of Le Mans
DTM	1:30.713[56]	Mika Häkkinen	AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2006	2006 Le Mans DTM round
Formula Three	1:30.946[57]	Nico Hülkenberg	Dallara F308	2008 Le Mans Formula 3 Euro Series round
MotoGP	1:31.778	Francesco Bagnaia	Ducati Desmosedici GP22	2022 French motorcycle Grand Prix
LMP3	1:32.664[58]	Mathias Beche	Norma M30	2018 Le Mans V de V Sports Challenge Endurance round
Formula Renault 2.0	1:33.846[59]	Martin Kodrić	Tatuus FR2.0/13	2015 Le Mans Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 round
LMP675	1:34.380[55]	Jon Field	Lola B01/60	2003 1000 km of Le Mans
GT1 (Prototype)	1:35.236[55]	David Saelens	Panoz Esperante GTR-1	2003 1000 km of Le Mans
GT3	1:36.195[60]	Soheil Ayari	Ferrari 458 Italia GT3	2014 Le Mans FFSA GT round
FIM EWC	1:36.195[61]	Gregg Black	Suzuki GSX-R1000	2022 24 Heures Moto
Moto2	1:36.276	Augusto Fernández	Kalex Moto2	2022 French motorcycle Grand Prix
250cc	1:37.594	Randy de Puniet	Aprilia RSV 250	2005 French motorcycle Grand Prix
GT1 (GTS)	1:38.530[55]	Darren Turner	Ferrari 550 Maranello	2003 1000 km of Le Mans
Moto3	1:41.690	Celestino Vietti	KTM RC250GP	2020 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Eurocup Mégane Trophy	1:41.853[62]	Dimitri Enjalbert	Renault Mégane Renault Sport	2009 Le Mans Eurocup Mégane Trophy round
GT	1:42.011[55]	Andrea Montermini	Ferrari 360 Modena GTC	2003 1000 km of Le Mans
125cc	1:42.651	Andrea Dovizioso	Honda RS125R	2004 French motorcycle Grand Prix
MotoE	1:43.465	Niki Tuuli	Energica Ego	2020 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Stock car racing	1:45.816[63]	Ander Vilariño	Chevrolet SS NASCAR	2014 Le Mans NASCAR Whelen Euro Series round
Truck racing	2:05.220[64]	Sascha Lenz	MAN TGS	2017 Le Mans ETRC round
Bugatti Circuit: 4.430 km (1989–2001)
F3000	1:33.210[65]	Philippe Gache	Lola T89/50	1990 Le Mans F3000 round
Formula Three	1:37.806[66]	Ryō Fukuda	Dallara F399	2001 Le Mans French F3 round
WSC	1:37.954[67]	Emmanuel Collard	Ferrari 333 SP	1998 Le Mans Autumn Cup
500cc	1:39.954	Max Biaggi	Yamaha YZR500	2001 French motorcycle Grand Prix
250cc	1:41.473	Daijiro Kato	Honda NSR250	2001 French motorcycle Grand Prix
World SBK	1:46.210[68]	Jamie James	Ducati 851	1990 Le Mans World SBK round
GT1	1:47.620[69]	Carl Rosenblad	Ferrari F40 GTE	1995 4 Hours of Le Mans Autumn Cup
125cc	1:47.766	Lucio Cecchinello	Aprilia RS125R	2001 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Bugatti Circuit: 4.240 km (1986–1988)
F3000	1:29.200[65]	Emanuele Pirro	March 86B	1986 Le Mans F3000 round
Formula Three	1:37.640[70]	Yannick Dalmas	Martini MK49	1986 Le Mans French F3 round
World SBK	1:56.790[71]	Fabrizio Pirovano	Yamaha FZ750	1988 Le Mans World SBK round
500cc	1:59.290[72]	Randy Mamola	Yamaha YZR500	1987 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Bugatti Circuit: 4.422 km (1965–1985)
Formula Three	1:36.620[73]	Pierre Petit	Martini MK31	1981 Le Mans French F3 round
F1	1:36.700[65]	Graham Hill	Lotus 49	1967 French Grand Prix
500cc	1:37.500	Freddie Spencer	Honda NS500	1983 French motorcycle Grand Prix
250cc	1:43.600	Kork Ballington	Kawasaki KR250	1979 French motorcycle Grand Prix
350cc	1:44.600	Walter Villa	Harley-Davidson RR350	1976 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Formula Two	1:45.000	Denny Hulme	Brabham BT18	1966 Trophée Craven 'A'
125cc	1:49.700	Ángel Nieto	Minareli 125cc GP	1979 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Sidecar (B2A)	1:52.800	Rolf Biland	Yamaha sidecar	1976 French motorcycle Grand Prix
50cc	2:11.200	Rudolf Kunz	Kreidler 50 GP	1976 French motorcycle Grand Prix

Layout evolution of Bugatti Circuit

• 
  Bugatti Circuit (1965–1985)
• 
  Bugatti Circuit (1989–1996)
• 
  Bugatti Circuit (2008–present)
• 
  Layout evolution of Bugatti circuit from 1965 to 2008

Events

Current

• April: FIM Endurance World Championship 24 Heures Motos, Sidecar World Championship, Fun Cup
• May: Grand Prix motorcycle racing French motorcycle Grand Prix, MotoE World Cup
• June: FIA World Endurance Championship 24 Hours of Le Mans, Michelin Le Mans Cup, Ligier European Series
• July: Le Mans Classic
• September: European Truck Racing Championship 24 Heures Camions Le Mans
• October: Porsche Sprint Challenge France

Former

• Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2006, 2008)
• FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship (2014–2019)
• FFSA GT Championship (1998–1999, 2001–2006, 2012–2015)
• French F4 Championship (2012–2016)
• Formula 3 Euro Series (2003, 2006, 2008)
• Formula One French Grand Prix (1967)
• Grand Prix motorcycle racing Vitesse du Mans motorcycle Grand Prix (1991)
• International Formula 3000 (1986–1991)
• International Sports Racing Series (1998)
• NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (2009–2014)
• Superbike World Championship (1988, 1990)
• World Series by Renault (2005–2006, 2008–2009, 2015)

Race results

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.

Notes

References

Sources

• Fuller, Michael J. (2010), "Mulsanne's Corner: Maximum Speeds at Le Mans, 1961-1989", Mulsanne's Corner, technical analysis of contemporary sports prototype racing cars
• RC staff (2015), "Le Mans", RacingCircuits.info, archived from the original on 2016-12-08, retrieved 2015-04-11
• Speedhunters staff (13 June 2008), "Temple Of Speed>> The Mulsanne Straight", Speedhunters

External links

• Official website
• RacingCircuits.info's history of Circuit de la Sarthe Archived 2016-12-08 at the Wayback Machine
• Trackpedia's guide to driving Le Mans
• Satellite Picture by Google Maps
• History and track maps 1921–2006
• Trackpedia's guide to Le Mans Bugatti
• Track Reviewers reviews of Le Mans

---