What circuit hosts the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is held on the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France. The name refers to the Sarthe department, whose roads form much of the famous endurance-racing route.

Unlike a conventional permanent circuit, the course combines a permanent facility around the pits with public roads that are closed for racing. This gives the track its distinctive character: long flat-out sections, tight braking zones and corners named after nearby places, including Mulsanne, Arnage and Indianapolis.

The circuit opened for the first running of the race in 1923. Its layout has changed repeatedly to improve safety and accommodate faster cars, but it remains one of the world's longest and most recognizable racing venues. The permanent Bugatti Circuit shares part of the facility but is not the full Le Mans course.

A common mix-up is confusing Circuit de la Sarthe with the Bugatti Circuit or Monaco's street circuit. Monaco hosts Formula One's Grand Prix, while Circuit Paul Ricard and Magny-Cours are separate French venues.