24h Le Mans
We’ve crunched the numbers for you! Here are the statistics of the 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, won by the Toyota Gazoo Racing #7 Toyota TR010 Hybrid.
They were ready and waiting before the engines even started. The 1,963 track marshals posted around the 13.626-kilometre 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit ensured the security of the 186 drivers who took part in the race.
Throughout the day, and night, in the sunshine and in the darkness, these women and men are the trackside eyes and arms of Race Control. Their presence is vital.
This year’s race included 29,446 overtakes. And 101 of those passes enabled a competitor to take the overall lead. The remainder illustrates the exceptionally dense traffic generated by the cohabitation of 62 LMGT3s and prototypes on the track.
At Le Mans, every lap involves juggling speed with track conditions and traffic.
Replace four tyres. Fill the fuel tank. Adjust a setting. Change drivers. In total, the 62 teams made 1,849 pit stops in 24 hours.
Behind the number are thousands of millimetre-perfect actions. Seconds gained or lost can be the difference between winning and losing.
The safety cars were deployed twice during the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans. In all, the race was run under safety car conditions for 2 hours, 16 minutes and 24 seconds.
Race neutralisation is an integral part of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It sometimes reshuffles the cards by closing gaps between cars, sparking new battles when the course is declared green. The pecking order is never set in stone, even after several hours.
Slow zones keep everyone safe while a specific portion of the circuit is being cleared, usually of debris.
There were four this year, totalling 20 minutes and 50 seconds. A trifle. However, team engineers and strategists see these periods as windows of opportunity, or potential traps. Either way, slow zones can be game changers.
Eight full course yellow procedures were called during the race, affecting racing for 32 minutes.
During a full course yellow, competitors must keep to a speed limit on the whole circuit. This safety measure requires concentration and discipline, even when adrenaline is in full flow.
Even when tiredness sets in, drivers continue, lap after lap, with the same degree of precision.
This year, Will Stevens, driver of the #12 Cadillac V-Series.R entered by Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA spent most time at the wheel. The British driver completed 177 laps in the Hypercar. That’s 2,400 kilometres driving at very high speed.
His performance is the perfect illustration of the physical and mental demands of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Maxime Martin on the other hand, was only able to complete ten laps of the Iron Lynx #61 Mercedes-AMG before a suspension failure ended its race. That’s also a familiar scenario at Le Mans. Sometimes, the 24 hours are cut short by a mechanical failure, despite months of preparation.
The classification table shows winners and points attributed. Statistics tell the real story.
The 29,446 overtakes, 1,849 pit stops and the 1,963 marshals convey the true scale of this one-of-a-kind event. Drivers, mechanics, engineers, officials, marshals and spectators all contribute to the legend of Le Mans. This race is a tale of speed, stamina, superb teamwork and strong feelings.
