Le Mans 24 hours is one of the most prestigious and most-watched motor racing events in the world. It requires a feat of endurance from both the drivers and their teams, and it has been held annually since 1923.

It is typically held during the summer months, often mid-June, and is contested in the French town of Le Mans. It is held at the Circuit de la Sarthe, a venue which does incorporate some dedicated sections of racetrack, but also combines them with a number of closed public streets. The total length of the circuit is 8.5miles.

It is a hugely demanded contest, with drivers often covering over 3,000 miles during the course of the race, and although the event is extremely lengthy, it rarely fails to draw a significant crowd. It has previously been labelled as the “Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency”.

The event is part of the triple crown of motorsport with the Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix completing the triumvirate. It is six times the total length of the Indianapolis 500.

Not every car completes the race, with only 41 of the 60 drivers managing to complete the circuit. It is not uncommon for a number of cars to suffer from mechanical failure at some point during the 24 hours. Drivers are only permitted to be in control of the vehicle for a maximum of four hours at a time.

Until 1992, it was part of the World Sportscar Championship. More recently, it has become part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The 24-hour race format has been replicated around the world, but Le Mans is the original contest, and it is still the most popular.

Tom Kristiensen is the most successful driver in the race, having been victorious on nine different occasions. The Dane’s last victory came in 2013, shortly before announcing his retirement. Joest Racing are the most successful team with 13 victories in Le Mans 24 Hours.

The cars are separated into different “classes”, which pitch together vehicles with similar specifications. There will be overall leaderboard, and rankings which will cover all of the classes. They are broken down into two types of cars – Prototypes and Grand Touring Cars.

A number of different teams may enter the race including professional racing teams and amateur operations.

There are a number of traditions which take place before and after the race including a fly-over featuring jets which emit the colours of the French flag. tricolor flags are also waved throughout the contest. It was also believed to be the race which inspired the now-commonly seen spraying of champagne by the winner. This began in 1967.

Top speeds are Le Mans tend to be around 205mph, this has been reduced by the course alterations which have resulted in shorter straights.

The race has been cancelled ten times during its long and illustrious history, with the last postponement being caused by World War II in 1948.

When and Where?

Le Mans takes place during June each year, and begins at 15:00 local time. It is held at the Circuit de la Sarthe which provides a mix of closed public roads and a specialist race-track. This circuit has been amended substantially over the years.

Why is Le Mans 24 Hours so Popular?

The most endearing aspect to Le Mans 24 Hours is its unique format. Although many races (including a motorcycle event) have aimed to replicate this feat of endurance, very few have managed to replicate it successfully.

With other events such as Formula 1 becoming quite tactical, and often a little dull, Le Mans still provides plenty of excitement, with plenty of overtaking occuring throughout the 24 hours.

There is no other motorsport event like it, and there is always plenty to talk about when it comes to analysing the race.

The fact that Le Mans 24 Hours is held in summertime attracts plenty of fans to the track, and that is part of the reason why fans flock to the circuit to enjoy the action.

What Betting Opportunities are Available?

Although it isn’t as popular as Formula 1 when it comes to betting, Le Mans 24 Hours does have plenty of interest from punters.

Most UK bookmakers will have odds for a variety of motorsport events, and Le Mans 24 hours will generally be priced up once the final field has been announced.

Key Betting Markets

Ante-Post/Future – This market is available for long-term bettors. It is essentially the race winner market, but it will be priced up months in advance. Although there is no specific time-frame, most bookmakers will have odds for Le Mans 24 Hours by the beginning of April. It is also possible for online bookies to price up the event as soon as the previous race has concluded.

Race Winner / Class Winner – This is the simplest way to bet on Le Mans 24 Hours. Punters will be required to select which driver/team will be victorious in this year’s event. It is also possible to wager on the winner of each class. These markets are usually available a couple of weeks in advance, typically once all of the teams/drivers have been announced.

Head to Head Betting – This is a market which has also become popular in Formula One. It doesn’t require you to pick a race winner, it will simply pitch two drivers/teams together. Driver A vs Driver B or Team A vs Team B is how it is commonly displayed on the bookmakers websites. As long as your chosen selection finishes ahead of their competitor, you will be paid out. Even if they finish 20th and 22nd, you will still receive your winnings.

Live Betting – There are plenty of betting opportunities for those who fancy following the race, and waiting for the right moment to get involved. With the race lasting a full day, there is ample opportunity to get involved, and savvy punters can enter the market at any point. This is handy for those who are closely following the trajectories of each team.

Top 3/Top 5/Top 10 Finish – This is ideal for those bettors who don’t want to predict the outcome of the race. This enables punters to support those drivers who many not quite be good enough to come out on top. If you back a driver to finish in the top three, and they pick up a podium finish, you will be paid out.

Under/Over Drivers to Finish the Race – This is the chance for punters to predict how many drivers will successfully complete the race. With endurance required, and car failures rife, this can be a decent opportunity to wager on the race as a whole. There will be various markets here. For example – Under/Over 35.5 and Under/Over 41.5.

Winning Constructor/Manufacturer – Although Porsche have enjoyed plenty of success in this race, a number of different car makers have been victorious in this prestigious contest. Punters can have a bet on which manufacturer will be successful in this one.

Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for Le Mans

Previous Efforts Can be Illuminating – Some manufacturers will tweak their models in order to improve reliability, but this doesn’t always mean that they will be able to finish the race. Toyota were winners in 2018, and generally one of their cars will finish the race. Porsche are usually reliable, and tend to also finish the race whilst Audi Sport Team Joest are not currently the force of old.

F1 Drivers Do Have a Good Record in the Race – There is usually plenty of fanfare when it comes to F1 drivers taking part in Le Mans 24 Hours. Fernando Alonso was successful for Toyota in 2019 whilst the likes of Nico Hulkenberg and Brendan Hartley have also been successful in the past. Plenty of endurance is required, but with the F1 drivers getting the chance to switch at regular intervals, their class often shines through. It is ill-advised to simply dismiss F1 drivers who decide to switch their attention to this contest.

Weather Conditions Can Help In-Play Bettors – Although it is often glorious in France in mid-June, the weather conditions can be reasonably tempermental, and it’s always advised to check the forecast meticulously before getting involved with the live betting markets. Those who follow the contest, and place bets at regular intervals will be focusing on sudden changes in the driving conditions, and these can undoubtedly be exploited in the betting markets.

Eurosport have the UK rights to show Le Mans 24 Hours and will be broadcasting the race once again in 2019