World Motorsport
Le Mans
Address : Circuit de La Sarthe, Automobile Club de L'Ouest, Cedex 19, Les Raineries 72040, Le Mans
Tel : (+33) 43 40 24 24
Fax : (+33) 43 40 24 25
Web : www.lemans.org
Circuit Information
Type : Semi-permanent road course
Length : 8.625 miles / 13.880 km
Corners : 21
Description
There are actually two separate racing tracks at Le Mans, though they share certain portions. The smaller is the Bugatti Circuit (named after Ettore Bugatti, founder of the car company bearing his name), a relatively short permanent circuit which is used for racing throughout the year. The longer and more famous Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe is composed partly of public roads, which are closed to the public when the track is in use for racing, and has been host to the famous 24 hours of Le Mans sports car race since 1923.
The Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe is one of the best-known tracks in the world, with the most impressive straight of any race-track: The Mulsanne Straight (or Ligne Droite des Hunaudiéres, as it is known in French). The original straight prior to 1990 had no chicanes making it one continuous stretch of high speed track.