24h Le Mans
For many reasons, it is the dream of race drivers to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.. The race is legendary because it runs through the night, and the circuit is unique: a true temple of speed! It owes much of its fame to the Mulsanne Straight (formerly almost six km long), its corners are also famous. Some of them are open to daily traffic and are named after nearby towns and villages such as Mulsanne and Arnage.
Here is a lap of the circuit taken corner by corner:
The Dunlop Curve
In earlier versions of the circuit, this was a test of the driver's courage, taken almost flat out. A chicane was added in 1987 but it is still a challenging corner. Incidents are common here, and it is the first braking zone after pit exit.
The forest 'esses' (Le « S » de la Forêt)
The famous Dunlop bridge marks the summit of a steep descent to a natural amphitheatre that is popular with spectators. At the foot of the drop are the 'esses', a part of the circuit that is almost unchanged since 1932 !
Tertre Rouge
A fast exit from Tertre Rouge is essential to maximise top speed in the first part of the Mulsanne Straight (ligne droite des Hunaudières). Brake discs can be seen glowing at night, making it a popular location for spectators and photographers.
Mulsanne corner
The part of the circuit furthest from the pit lane. There used to be 'signalling pits' here, on the exit of the corner. Although that tradition has been overtaken by more modern methods of communication, the period charm of the location still remains.
Indianapolis
This corner pays homage to the great American oval track. It is a braking zone where cars slow from 330 to 130 km/h, and is one of the most spectacular on the circuit… Thrills guaranteed!
Arnage
Just after Indianapolis, this corner is named after the nearby town of Arnage, and has hardly changed since the first “24 Heures du Mans” in 1923. Popular with fans, this slow corner is bordered by trees and grassy banks in an atmosphere conducive to family picnics!
Porsche curves
Drivers adore this! At top speed between unforgiving concrete walls. A fast pace through this section can mean the difference between pole and second position on the starting grid.
Ford Chicane (Le virage du Raccordement)
Stationed in the grandstands, the crowd point and cheer each time their favourite car passes by. While some drivers ride the curbs of the chicane to gain time, others dive into the pit lane to hand over to their team mates.
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| Pit straight | Dunlop Bridge | Forest esses |
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| Tertre Rouge | Mulsanne Straight ( ligne droite des Hunaudières) | Exit of Mulsanne corner |
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| Indianapolis and Arnage | Approaching the Porsche Curves | The Ford Chicane |
