Fifty-six cars scorching through the French countryside for 24 hours at speeds of up to 210mph. The drivers are at the limit of their car, the track – and exhaustion. Spectators are on the edge of their seats. Next weekend is the 83rd running of Le Mans 24 Hours: the toughest circuit race in the world
Part public road and part permanent race track, the 8½-mile circuit is designed to test cars and drivers to the limit
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8.47 miles (13.63km)
3min 13.9sec (Pedro Rodriguez, 1971 – before Mulsanne chicanes were added)
253mph (Roger Dorchy, 1988 – before Mulsanne chicanes were added)
Le Mans 24 Hours is four races in one. LMP1 cars compete for the overall win and must also cope with lapping the slower cars. Drivers in the three other categories battle for victory in their class
The big beasts of Le Mans 24 Hours, hitting more than 200mph and then braking to 75mph in 120 yards. They lap the rest of the field dozens of times
Look out for: The battle between Audi and Porsche. They've been wheel-to-wheel all season
These drivers must be expert multi‑taskers, fighting among themselves, lapping the GT cars and spotting faster LMP1 cars in their mirrors
Look out for: All-British team Strakka Racing in a car made of 5% 3D-printed parts
The battles between these Ferraris, Porsches, Corvettes and Aston Martins are just as closely fought as those in the faster categories
Look out for: The Ferraris of the AF Corse team fighting for victory against the British Aston Martins
This category is open to cars similar to those in the GTE Pro category, but the teams must have at least two amateurs in their driver line-up
Look out for: Patrick Dempsey, the star of Grey's Anatomy, is competing with his Dempsey-Proton Racing team
This year's Le Mans 24 Hours winner is likely to come from one of four teams. Here are the contenders:
The defending champion, Audi has won nine of the past 10 races. Engine: V6 turbodiesel + 4MJ motor, power: 820bhp
Special weapon: Kind to tyres – drivers can push harder for longer
The most successful team in Le Mans 24 Hours history with 16 overall wins. Engine: V4 petrol turbo + 8MJ motor, power: 890bhp
Special weapon: Most powerful hybrid system makes it the fastest car over one lap
The current world endurance champion was unlucky not to win here last year. Engine: V8 petrol + 6MJ motor, power: 990bhp
Special weapon: A super-capacitor, so hybrid system stores and delivers power quickly
The front-engined and front-wheel-drive Nissan could spring a surprise. Engine: V6 petrol turbo + 2MJ motor, power: 1,250bhp
Special weapon: Top speed – fastest car on the straights in pre-race testing
Eight British drivers are in front-running teams at Le Mans this year, so there are good odds that at least one will make it onto the podium. Here are four to watch:
| Age: | 31 |
| Lives: | Burwell, Cambridgeshire |
A former Le Mans rookie of the year, Jarvis is still searching for his first win there
| Age: | 36 |
| Lives: | Brackley, Northamptonshire |
The former F1 driver is the current world endurance champion but has never won Le Mans
| Age: | 30 |
| Lives: | Bedford |
A race-winning machine in lower formulas, Tandy is stepping up to LMP1 cars this year
| Age: | 23 |
| Lives: | Cardiff |
Won a Gran Turismo driving game competition. Four years later, he is a top-level racer
Words by Dominic Tobin. Designed and developed by Jeremy Christopher
Graphics by The Sunday Times Graphics department: Jeremy Christopher, Matthew Cornick