Which driver holds the record for most Le Mans appearances, with 33?

Henri Pescarolo holds the record for most Le Mans appearances, with 33 starts. The French driver competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans across several decades and became one of the event’s defining endurance racers.

Pescarolo’s record reflects exceptional longevity as much as speed. His Le Mans career included 30 consecutive starts from 1970 through 1999, another record listed among the race’s driver statistics. He also won the event four times as a driver, in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1984.

The other choices are famous Le Mans figures, which makes this question easy to confuse. Tom Kristensen is the race’s winningest driver, with nine overall victories, while Derek Bell won five. Yojiro Terada is also a notable endurance specialist and ranks highly for appearances, but his 29 starts remain behind Pescarolo’s total. “Appearances” means race starts, not victories, podium finishes or years associated with a team.