What is 24 Hours of Le Mans?
[[File:Circuit de la Sarthe track map.svg|250px|thumb|alt=Map of track at 24 Hours of Le Mans|right|Map of track at 24 Hours of Le Mans]] The '''24 Hours of Le Mans''' is the world's oldest active [[Sports car racing|sports car race]] in [[Endurance racing (motorsport)|endurance racing]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/weekly-auto-agenda-le-mans-1997970.html | title=Weekly auto agenda: Le Mans | publisher=[[The Independent]] | date=June 11, 2010 | access-date=22 April 2011 }}</ref> The race happens each year near the town of [[Le Mans]], France. It was first run in 1923. The cars must run for 24 hours without mechanical damage. It is important to manage the cars' [[consumable]]s, mostly [[fuel]], [[tires]] and [[brake|braking]] materials. The driver goes over two hours behind the wheel before stopping in the pits. Then a relief driver takes over the driving duties. Drivers then eat and rest before returning to drive. Today it is a rule that three drivers share each car. At the end of the 24 hours, the car which has driven the most laps of the track wins the race. Different types of cars race in different categories. Currently there are four different categories, with the fastest cars racing in the 'LMP1' category. The race is held in June. This can lead to very hot conditions for the drivers. The race begins in mid-afternoon. The drivers race through the night and following morning. They then finish at the same time the race started, the following day.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lemans.org/en/races/24h/handy-information/schedule-week.html | title=Schedule | publisher=lemans.org | access-date=22 April 2011 | archive-date=7 August 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807100830/http://www.lemans.org/en/races/24h/handy-information/schedule-week.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Tom Kristensen]] has won the race 8 times. This is the most of any driver. [[Porsche]] cars have won 16 times. This is the most of any car [[manufacturer]]. ==References