Le Mans Explained: How a 24 Hour Race Works
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an endurance race in France, won by the car that covers the most distance in 24 hours. Several classes race at once, and at Le Mans they are Hypercar, LMP2 and LMGT3. In 2026 the overall winner was the No. 7 Toyota, which ended a three-year Ferrari winning streak.
Last updated: November 23, 2026
What is the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
It is the best-known race in endurance racing. Teams race around the clock on the Circuit de la Sarthe near the city of Le Mans, about 13.6 km (8.5 miles) long. The race is part of the FIA World Endurance Championship, and the winning car is the one that covers the most distance in 24 hours. Because the race runs through the night, reliability, pit stops and driver changes matter as much as speed.
When is the next 24 Hours of Le Mans?
The official Le Mans site lists the 2027 event from June 9 to 13 and shows a 16:00 start for the 95th edition. That is 4 p.m. in France, which is 10 a.m. Eastern Time on race day.
Which classes race at Le Mans?
Different cars share the track at once, and each class has its own winner. At the 2026 race, the entry was 62 cars in three classes. The organizers’ class guide describes them like this:
| Class | Cars | Driver rule from the organizers |
|---|---|---|
| Hypercar | The top class. Two types: LMH, with a high degree of freedom in design, and LMDh, which uses a common chassis platform from Dallara, Multimatic, Ligier or Oreca | Not stated on the class page |
| LMP2 | Chassis from Dallara, Ligier, Oreca and Riley/Multimatic, all with the same Gibson engine | Every crew must include at least one Silver- or Bronze-rated driver |
| LMGT3 | Cars based on the FIA GT3 platform, from manufacturers that build more than 2,500 road cars a year | Each crew must include at least one Bronze-rated driver and one Bronze- or Silver-rated driver |
A car in a slower class can still win its own class, even when it finishes behind the fastest cars overall. Each car is shared by a crew of drivers who take turns.
How is the winner decided?
The winner is the car that covers the greatest distance in 24 hours, not the car with the fastest single lap. That means a car that leads for 20 hours but then breaks down can finish behind a slower car that keeps running.
Who won Le Mans in 2026?
The 2026 race ended on June 14. Crash.net reported the result of the overall win and the top Hypercar finishers:
| Position | Car and drivers |
|---|---|
| 1st | No. 7 Toyota: Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway, Nyck de Vries |
| 2nd | No. 20 BMW: Robin Frijns, Sheldon van der Linde, René Rast |
| 3rd | No. 8 Toyota: Sébastien Buemi, Ryo Hirakawa, Brendon Hartley |
| 4th | No. 12 Jota Cadillac: Will Stevens, Louis Delétraz, Norman Nato |
It was Toyota’s first Le Mans win since 2022 and ended three straight wins for Ferrari, whose best car finished fifth, 2 minutes 22 seconds behind. Toyota also won the World Endurance Championship title; read our report on the Barcelona 6 Hours where Toyota clinched the crown.
How is Le Mans different from Formula 1?
A Formula 1 Grand Prix is about 190 miles and ends after two hours (three at most if it is suspended); Le Mans lasts a full day. F1 has one car class and two drivers per team, while Le Mans has several classes and crews of drivers. For the F1 side, see how long an F1 race is and our F1 vs NASCAR guide. For another famous American race, read our Indianapolis Motor Speedway guide.
Le Mans 24 Hours: frequently asked questions
It lasts 24 hours. The winner is the car that covers the most distance in that time.
On the Circuit de la Sarthe near the city of Le Mans, France. The lap is about 13.6 km (8.5 miles).
Hypercar, LMP2 and LMGT3 at the 2026 race, according to the organizers’ class guide.
No. Each car is shared by a crew of drivers who take turns. In LMP2 every crew must have a Silver or Bronze driver, and in LMGT3 at least one Bronze and one Bronze or Silver driver.
The No. 7 Toyota of Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Nyck de Vries, ahead of a BMW and the second Toyota.
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