The first Grand Prix motor race is held at Le Mans.

The **Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans**, commonly known as the Le Mans circuit, is one of the world’s most famous motor racing venues. Located near the city of Le Mans in northwestern France, the track has hosted the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1923. Unlike permanent racing circuits, much of the 13.6-kilometre (8.5-mile) course consists of public roads that are closed for the race, giving the event a unique character. The circuit combines high-speed straights with demanding corners, testing the performance, reliability, and endurance of both cars and drivers over a full day and night of racing.

One of the circuit’s most iconic features was the long **Mulsanne Straight**, where racing cars once exceeded 400 km/h (250 mph). To improve safety, two chicanes were added to the straight in 1990, reducing the extreme speeds while still preserving its fast and challenging nature. Other famous sections of the track include the Dunlop Curve, the Esses, Tertre Rouge, Indianapolis, Arnage, and the Porsche Curves. The changing road surfaces, variable weather conditions, and the transition from daylight to darkness make Le Mans one of the most technically demanding circuits in motorsport.

Over the decades, the Le Mans circuit has become a proving ground for automotive engineering and innovation. Manufacturers such as Ferrari, Porsche, Audi, Toyota, and Ford have used the race to demonstrate advances in engine technology, aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, and hybrid powertrains. Winning at Le Mans is regarded as one of motorsport’s greatest achievements, and the circuit remains a symbol of endurance racing, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators and competitors from around the world each year.