24 Hours of Le Mans Endurance Race Set for This Weekend in France

The annual 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, considered one of the three biggest races in motorsport, is set to commence this weekend in France. The event forms part of the sport's 'triple crown,' an unofficial achievement that only the late Graham Hill has completed, alongside the Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix.

This year's race will feature 62 cars competing on a track that incorporates both permanent race circuits and public roads. The race, first held in 1923, marks its 94th running this year. It was originally established to provide a demanding test for the automotive industry's new machinery and continues to be a crucial platform for road-relevant motorsport advancements.

Le Mans has been a proving ground for significant automotive technologies. Disc brakes, for example, transitioned from aerospace applications to road cars through testing at Le Mans. The race has also seen companies like Porsche, Audi, and Toyota test and prove new hybrid technologies, brake-by-wire systems, direct-injection engines, and advanced headlights.

The 62 competing cars are divided into three different classes, with each car crewed by three drivers who take shifts at the wheel. The field includes both professional drivers and amateurs. Notably, tech entrepreneurs such as the creator of Ruby on Rails, a co-founder of GitHub, and a co-founder of Crowdstrike are participating in the LMP2 class. Additionally, Gabe Newell of Valve owns the Aston Martin team, which is competing in both the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes, with his son Gray driving in the latter.

According to Ars Technica, more than 350,000 spectators are anticipated to watch the race.