Currently reading: 24 Hours of Le Mans - the numbers

The world’s most famous endurance car race takes place this weekend. It’s an unforgiving battle on an epic scale – as these mind-boggling stats show

Twenty-four hours. One day. That’s all that separates the 60 cars that will roll into action at the Circuit de la Sarthe at 3pm local time on Saturday afternoon from victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Of course, it’s not that simple. Those 24 hours will be spent battling rivals around the fast and demanding 8.47-mile circuit.

The fight will last right to the end as well. Last year, a Toyota TS050 Hybrid prototype was leading the race with less than five minutes to go when a defect on the air line leading to the turbo caused it to grind to a halt, handing glory to the rival Porsche team.

Porsche and Toyota are both back this year and, with Audi having quit prototype sportscar racing at the end of the 2016 season, they are set to face off for glory.

But Le Mans is about more than just how many hours the racing lasts. We’ve dug out some other fascinating stats about the biggest sportscar race in the world.

22,984 gearchanges

2 1

The number made by the winning Porsche in 2016.

17hr 17min

Le mans 2017 prev 615 0

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The amount of time an LMP1 engine spends at full load during the race

852.48 kWh of energy

Le mans 2017 prev 601 0

The amount recovered by the winning 919 Hybrid during the race — enough to power a typical UK home for three months.

2.5 million

Le mans 2017 prev 618 0

The number of times an LMP1 car’s wheel rotates during the race.

14GB

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Le mans 2017 prev 598 0

The amount of data sent from a Porsche 919 Hybrid to the pits during the race.

3.2 hours

Lotterer 2 0

Number of hours each Porsche driver spends on a massage bed during the race

200 hotel rooms

Le mans 2017 prev 619 0

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The number booked by Toyota for team members, sponsors and staff.

2750 meals

674485

How many will be served in Toyota’s hospitality area during the event

263,500

 79p8941

The number of spectators for the race weekend.

PORSCHE 919 HYBRID vs TOYOTA TS050 HYBRID

PORSCHE 919 HYBRID

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Le mans 2017 prev 606 0

Engine 2.0, 4 cyls, V4, turbo Engine Power 500bhp Hybrid 8MJ hybrid system, lithium ion battery Hybrid Power 394bhp Overall Power 894bhp Gearbox 7-spd sequential Cars entered 2

Le Mans 24 Hours record

First works entry 1951 Outright wins 18 Class wins 102

TOYOTA TS050 HYBRID

Le mans 2017 prev 618 0

Engine 2.4, 6 cyls, V6, twin-turbo Engine Power 493bhp Hybrid 8MJ hybrid system, lithium ion battery Hybrid Power 493bhp Overall Power 986bhp Gearbox 6-spd sequential Cars entered 3

Le Mans 24 Hours record

First works entry 1985 Outright wins 0 Class wins 0

James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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eseaton 18 June 2017

I have unavoidably watched

I have unavoidably watched about 4 hours of this on eurosport.

The Hybrids are irredeemably hideous cars. Really look away ugly. As as for the noise. Hoover v Dyson.

Watching geeks play self-indulgent games is painfully far away from the drama of a 956.

voyager12 17 June 2017

Evidently...

The GT class cars miraculously dissappeared in AutoCar's eyes. One of the questions IMO: will Ford score a consecutive win like it did in the '60's with its stunning GT?
Greenracer 16 June 2017

It's a pity that they have

It's a pity that they have moved away from days when a couple of blokes in a Mini-Marcos or an MGB could be in the race with Ferrari prototypes or such. Things are a bit more extreme now, and I can understand that, but it's a shame.