The invitees list to the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans released last week includes several female drivers set to compete in the LMP2 and LMGTE classes at this year's running. Here are some historical stats involving women at the race.

• Since 1923, the year of the first running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 59 women drivers have participated, some even more than once. These 59 female drivers represent 132 starts and 68 finishes. 
• The record for number of women at the start reached 10 in 1935. Trailing close behind were eight in 1975, seven in 1937 and six in 1938-1974-1976-1977. 
• The record for number of women at the checkered flag is shared by the 1974 and 1976 editions when six out of six women finished the race. A close second goes to the 1935 running when out of 10, seven made it to the finish.
• Best classification of a female driver: fourth in 1932 for Odette Siko.
• The record for female participations goes to Annie-Charlotte Verney with 10.
• All-female driver line-ups: since 1923, of the 4,298 crews to take the start, only 23 were entirely female, and the best classification for an all-female line-up is seventh in 1930.

Last year, an all-women driver line-up of Gostner/Frey/Gatting (our photo with their team manager, Deborah Mayer) competed at the 24 Hours, finishing 39th. No all-female had crew had made it to the checkered flag since 1977.

At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the power of women is much more than behind the wheel. They carry out vital roles as marshals, doctors, mechanics, strategists and engineers (to name a few), like Audi's Leena Gade who was crucial in the three wins clinched by Lotterer/Fässler/Tréluyer. A first!

PHOTO: Leena Gade, an Audi engineer, has her share of 24 Hours of Le Mans trophies.