This year, the 24 Hours of Le Mans racetrack, a candidate from the Pays de la Loire region, won the grand finale against 13 other sites still in the running. A source of pride for the Sarthe region for many years, the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit succeeds the Château de Sedan, the largest fortified castle in Europe, which the public chose as “France’s favourite monument” in 2023.
Broadcast since the summer of 2014, the aim of the program, which is a variant of the well-known “France’s favorite village”, is to highlight the rich cultural, historical and architectural heritage of our regions. Museums, castles, estates, squares, etc. In total, 28 monuments have been selected to compete for the coveted title of “France’s favorite monument 2024”.
This title testifies to the special status of this circuit and the attachment of its fans. An entire community, a city, a region and a territory came together and voted to elect the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit as “The French People’s Favourite Monument” among its many prestigious sites.
Atmosphere
Photo by: Emanuele Clivati | AG Photo
Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “It is an immense honour and a source of great pride to receive this title of ‘Favourite Monument of the French’. The 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit is an icon of our sport and our region, which last year welcomed more than a million people.”
“First of all, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Dominique Le Mèner, President of the Departmental Council of Sarthe and of the Syndicat Mixte du Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans, to Christelle Morançais, President of the Regional Council of Pays de la Loire, and to Stéphane Le Foll, Mayor of Le Mans and President of Le Mans Métropole. I would also like to thank all those who voted for the circuit and Stéphane Bern.”
Stéphane Bern added: “Representing the Pays de la Loire region, the legendary circuit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been elected France’s favourite Monument for 2024, demonstrating our compatriots’ attachment to the world’s greatest endurance motor race and to this human and technological adventure, which celebrated its centenary last year and hosts a genuine popular festival every year.”
The start of the 24H Le Mans
Photo by: Emanuele Clivati | AG Photo
100 years of heritage, a unique circuit, an iconic race
Since its creation in 1923 for the first “24-Hour Endurance Grand Prix”, the circuit has evolved over the years and its length has been gradually reduced from 17.262 km to 13.626 km to ensure optimum safety, a key concern of the organizers. Three-quarters of the circuit uses road sections that are open to public traffic for the rest of the year, a very special feature that makes it one of the longest tracks in the world.
The 24-hour Grand Prix de Endurance, an unusual race for its time, attracted the interest of the public and the press from its first edition and took on an international character thanks to the participation of drivers and manufacturers from all over the world. Over the course of its century-long history, the endurance event took on the name “24 Hours of Le Mans”, a name that is still familiar to everyone, enthusiasts and novices alike.
Quickly recognized as one of the 3 most prestigious motor racing events in the world, alongside the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and its circuit are a true showcase for the Sarthe region and contribute to its international reputation. All this rich history can be discovered at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum.
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Photo by: Emanuele Clivati | AG Photo
The Golden Age and an Unprecedented Passion
100 years later, this circuit and its first race are still a place of pilgrimage for motorsport enthusiasts and an unmissable event for manufacturers looking for innovation.
Each year, this legendary event attracts more and more fans from all over the world, who come to visit the temple of speed and endurance that the circuit represents. In recent years, the legendary race has experienced an unprecedented resurgence of popularity and fervor, especially in view of its centenary in 2023 and then for the 2024 edition.
This year, the 24 Hours of Le Mans did not fail to achieve another record: the 92nd edition was crowned with success, with the race once again setting a new attendance record, welcoming more than 329,000 spectators. The number of spectators is constantly growing, a testament to the commitment and passion that fans of the race have shown for over a century.
In addition to this success in terms of attendance, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is evolving with the times, taking into account new environmental issues and stepping up efforts to significantly reduce its ecological footprint in the coming years.
The event has recently obtained the ISO 20121 certification and the 3-star environmental accreditation from the FIA. These two renowned labels follow the implementation of a global CSR strategy that has already borne fruit in recent editions.
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