The biggest race in the world? The 24 Hours of Le Mans is this weekend

More than 350,000 spectators will watch 62 cars compete, day and night, in the 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. First held in 1923, the event mixes permanent track and public roads and remains a proving ground for road-relevant technology—disc brakes, hybrid systems, brake-by-wire, direct injection, and advanced headlights all found early tests here.

The top Hypercar class features factory teams and all-professional lineups in closed-roof, mid-engined prototypes, many of them hybrids. Some manufacturers built LMH cars with front-axle hybrid systems usable above 93 mph, while most entrants use LMDh designs based on carbon-fiber spines from a handful of constructors and shared transmission and hybrid components; balance of performance limits output to 670 hp.

LMP2 is a step below Hypercar: spec Gibson 4.0 L V engines make about 600 hp, there is no hybrid system, and the class mixes professional and amateur drivers—this year including several tech-industry entrants.

France, Le Mans

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