| First of all, commonly known as the Grand Prix of | | | | The 24 hours of Le Mans is a real challenge with |
| Endurance, the competition starts in the beginning | | | | different values: sport, technical, popular and |
| of the week with the weighing of the competition | | | | media-related. With more than 150,000 |
| cars in the town of Le Mans, and more precisely | | | | spectators, the "Automobile Club de l'Ouest" |
| in the park of the Quinconces des Jacobins. There | | | | organizes the race with the most prestigious |
| are two different car categories for the race: | | | | automobile manufacturers like Audi, Porsche, |
| "prototype" and "grand tourer". Then, on the | | | | Jaguar or BMW. The race comprises |
| Wednesday and on the Thursday, qualifying and | | | | approximately 50 competitors and is the oldest |
| practices follow. On Friday, there is a pilot's parade | | | | and the most prestigious of every car races. |
| in the city and the audience can visit the stands | | | | Since 1949, the start is announced by different |
| with a week end ticket. | | | | personalities such as Steve Mac Queen (1971), |
| The race of the 78th edition of the 24 hours of | | | | Georges Pompidou (1982) or Luc Besson (2003). |
| Le Mans will officially start at 3PM with the flypast | | | | In 2008, the start was even announced from the |
| of the Patrouille de France and the finishing line will | | | | International Space Station. |
| be crossed on Sunday at 3PM. In between, there | | | | From now on, you can buy your tickets for the |
| will be a concert and various activities to celebrate | | | | race. Several options are available depending on |
| the event like 11 big screens allowing the audience | | | | what you would like to attend. For example, the |
| to follow the race in every part of the circuit. The | | | | week end pack (from Wednesday to Sunday) is |
| winner will be celebrated just after the race. At | | | | at the price of 65 by person. The circuit of Le |
| the beginning, the winner was determined by | | | | Mans is not only popular one time in a year, it also |
| distance but it changed: the winner is now the one | | | | welcomes many events through the year such as |
| who makes the higher number of laps. | | | | the 24 hours of karting and of trucks. |