24 Hours of Le Mans EXPLAINED! | A beginner's guide!

So you watched Ford V Ferrari and now you want to watch the real thing. You've come to the right place. Watch as Mark explains the basics of the 24 Hours of Le Mans! Please note that this video exists for educational purposes and this channel IS NOT MONETIZED.
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Written, hosted, and edited by Mark Urban.
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[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

2021 Update: LMP1 is now called "Hypercar" there are a few differences but nothing of huge note if you are a casual viewer. We will post another version in 2023 when LMDH launches in full force. Thanks for watching!

[@ExploreAmerica]

Pronunciation of the word dictated by what part of the world I’m in. Not your feelings. Have a nice day

[@raptorjesus7273]

​@@ExploreAmerica what

[@ukrainica9121]

​@@ExploreAmericajust say it right, its not that hard to not be a stubborn asshole

[@LSAD1101]

Honestly, these basic breakdown videos are so helpful to those of us that are newer to motorsports, thank you!

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

No problem! Please let us know if there's anything else you'd like to learn about!

[@tylerdeane4937]

For someone who understands almost everything about le mans i approve this a lot I would definitely show this to a friend who doesn't understand but wants to👍

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

Thanks for the kinda words!

[@davyt0247]

speaking of the Le Mans start, in the very last year it was done, Jackie Ickx protested against the Le Mans start by walking to his car, buckling his seatbelt correctly and was the last to leave. He went on to win the race. As if to prove his point, another driver crashed on the opening lap, he died when he was ejected from the car because he hadn't done his harness.

[@adriafitzy6459]

Fun Fact: Les 24 Heures Motos, which is a 24 hour bike race around the shorter bugatti circuit at Le Mans, still uses a Le Mans style start (considering, y'know, its bikes so there's nothing to strap on for safety like in a car)

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

Now we know...and knowing is half the battle!

[@epistte]

That sounds positively psychotic.

[@largol33t1]

How many drivers are there per bike?

[@hifriend7581]

Crazy how this started in 1923 where cars breaks down when you start it wrong. Insane Motorsport

[@ahmetozerdem8059]

Thank you very much for this informing video. It helpmed me understand the basics a lot.

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

You're welcome! Enjoy the race this weekend!

[@MasterCarsReview]

Great job on the video man. Keep it up!

[@zayedwakarshaan2453]

Thank you so much for your infos...it helps me lot to understand basics for le mans races💙

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

You're welcome.

[@K9RacingAndStuff]

2:58 is the truest sentence ever said, especially when you think about how recently-retired Grand Am ace and former Toyota factory driver Scott Pruett can compete as an amateur. EDIT: two driver lineups are actually allowed; as was done by team Alex Job Racing Team WeatherTech back in 2013 when their bronze driver wrecked in free practice and the team requested to be moved up from GTE-Am to GTE-Pro, which was allowed, long as the max drive time of 14 hours wasn't exceeded. You just wouldn't ever really do it without something forcing your hand because there's basically no good reason to do so, across financing and driver fatigue.

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

Yeah it's interesting how you automatically go back down to Silver at age 50.

[@From.the.408]

Hella helpful video, even as someone who once raced a video game endurance race at LeMans (Gran Turismo) back on the PS2! I never quite understood LMP1 v LMP2 (besides the obvious that one is faster). Thanks for this video!

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

I always wanted to get some friends together and do a full 24 hour race in GT4.

[@RiqueDropsBanter]

03:00 Amateur drivers in the teams are often wealthy men who can afford to train for a race like this. Examples of them are Michael Fassbender who has his own series on youtube, road to le mans powered by Porsche. Others are for example Ben Keating, Frits Van Eerd, or Egidio Perfetti.

[@umarnoor8308]

Very helpful and wonderful way of explain thanks brother ❤🔥 appreciate it 🎉

[@firstshadow2745]

Great video, thanks for this.

[@rb026]

As a french motorsport fan since a long time I approve this video

[@omardenarzi8226]

Thanks bro, Keep doing this

[@alex-js7mx]

this information was very helpful for a presentation i need to hold thank you

[@sakaarnayak666]

Great video !

[@theearlofwellington]

I’d love to see a video like this about Supercars, or at least the Bathurst 1000. I’m casually into the series but would love to get more insight and motivation to stay up real late to catch live broadcasts

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

I can usually only make it through the first race of the doubleheaders and then pass out. 14 hour time change is killer.

[@dimitristripakis7364]

I wish the video was longer, very nice, thanks!

[@Heisenberg2K]

Proper High Quality video

[@flaminG-Ghost]

I got to know Le Mans when I started PC gaming, my first racing game on it was Le Mans 24 hrs (2002) on the newly assembled Pentium IV PC (256 MB of powerful RAM, lol) which my Uncle assembled for me back in 2003, it was gaming PC spec for the time I think and he bought me Le Mans as my first racing game as I was into arcade racing games a lot, I was just 5-6 yrs old... Too bad that not many played that amazing game... After that I got into F1 and then kinda forgot about Le Mans until recently I saw the Toyota Gazoo cars and thought "Hey, that's Le Mans cars. This brings back memories, it's been a while." But I kinda forgot the rules but I do remember the Le Mans circuit very well... So I am here for my refresher course on Le Mans bcz I wanted to get back into it... I am 22 now, its been 16-17 yrs...

[@isaiaho8964]

Good job dude.

[@TheTalemaster]

Well done video.

[@LisaCulton]

I'm watching because I've been reading old "Michel Valliant" comics with my son.

[@sb4gamer645]

I'm a massive motorsports fan and surprisingly didn't know what lmp1 meant until this video

[@NNNedlog]

Finally, I'm relieved to know a person isn't racing for 24 hours straight 😂

[@WilliamMoscato-jw4hx]

That would be physically and mentally impossible lol

[@XxJay71xX]

@@WilliamMoscato-jw4hx In 1950, Louis Rosier DID the 24h all by himself, he did let his son do two laps, and then drove for 24h straight. Pierre Levegh (who was the guy who passed away in the horrible 1955 Le Mans crash), did a nearly 23h race in 1952 before his car broke down and he returned to the pit lane on foot. So it's not IMPOSSIBLE, it's just REALLY dangerous

[@WilliamMoscato-jw4hx]

@@XxJay71xX holy hell I didn't know thanks

[@nunyabizness9955]

I came here to learn something, and I did learn something. KZbin has really gone to the dogs over the last few years, but at least I can still learn about cars. Thanks.

[@jethrooffemaria1990]

The Le Mans running start is used in endurance motorcycle racing.

[@Phantumix]

Thank YOU

[@largol33t1]

In a nutshell, the race results are determine by mileage. Whoever has the most miles in 24 hours is the winner, position on the track when the checkered flag is waved does not really matter. Technically, when the timer runs out, you can cross the finish line after 5 others and still win! I've seen it happen in the American LeMans series. Ron Fellows came in 17th in POSITION but still won in his racing class! Hell of an achievement, he was beating guys 20 years younger than him!

[@Spacemangann]

thank you so much

[@BensonBetts]

Great Video ... where can I get an explanation of the colors on the edges of the track??

[@Mark12364]

Wanted ask ,does the race only take one time a year or are there any other races in same year ?

[@ashfaksiddiq1086]

Please do a detailed explained video on WSBK

[@axelfolie94]

2:25 Toyota has been the only manufacturer supported team for the last three years since Porsche and Audi retired from the class. Their three wins also fall in the time time period without manufacturer backen competition. They have basically been racing against themselves (and private teams). They were competitive with Audi and Porsche there but could never close out the win.

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

Ginetta is a factory team. Unfortunately they had to withdraw this year due to COVID protocols.

[@axelfolie94]

@@FlashbacktotheTrack Thanks I didn't know that! I would still argue that they didn't have to face comeptition as stiff as in the era before 2018. The achivement of engineering a reliable car to survive the race is still amazing though.

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

@@axelfolie94 Looking forward to the LMDh era. Hopefully it leads to stiff competition at Le Mans and the Rolex 24.

[@alfarosiarsita]

@@FlashbacktotheTrack two class fighting overall win, like gtp vs gt1

[@SJR_Media_Group]

Thank you... very good explanation. I'm probably going to show my age when I say I remember the 917 Porsche's dominating several years before 'rule changes' (other teams whining). I also remember the long straightaway with no chicanes when same 917's would go over 240 mph. Seems like the different classes of cars change every few years. The rule book is so thick it takes a rocket scientist to begin to comprehend. Translations from French to English leaves much to be desired. Hard enough just to finish 24 hours without major break downs. Winning is so hard there are very few repeat winners. Pit stops are measured in minutes rather than seconds. Drivers change every 6 hours or so. Racing full speed at night on a track not known for great lighting on some sections is very challenging. Add rain at night and it's a recipe for white knuckle racing. The old movie Le Mans with Steve McQueen is still a classic. Many of the scenes were done with real race cars. Many wrecks were also very real, and people got hurt or worse.

[@timothyvaher2421]

Thanks for the education! I wonder why Iam still watching "The 24HrsLMs" after 24hrs since Yesterday!? And that "SMITH" ban @ Indy! Let's extend that program to many names for many things! Thanks 👍🙏

[@rubensflorentino548]

Very cool video. Do you know why there were only Porsche, Aston and Ferrari competing on GT classes this year at Le Mans? Where were the other brands?

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

COVID caused a lot of this. Corvette didn't send their normal four entries as they've been cutting back on racing due to COVID. Ford ended it's program after last season and so did BMW so that was a lot of cars off the grid.

[@captaincaverne]

1:35 Mulsanne straight ? Do you know Hunaudières ? With Forza and Michelin chicanes, and after, the Mulsanne corner.

[@ezikkiel]

Nice one 👍 you are a beautiful human being too

[@GermanGreetings]

I enjoyed your magic way of teaching: It`s `Le Maughns`... not `Le Mance` :) And the whole subject ? Well done, Sir ! Thank you.

[@Zonday88]

you have to cover the most distnace after a 24 hour period. this is generally the 1st place runner as if you are running 1st youre also generally putting up quicker laps therefore you should be completing MORE laps than your competitors thus you're covering the most distnace come the end of the 24 hour period.

[@cabrelbeuk72]

It's a very nice guide but a very weird time to make it, considering that it was doomed to be outdated within a year. Now have to redo it for Hypercar, explaining the difference between LMH and LMDh.

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

Just pretend LMP1 is hypercar. You're welcome

[@cabrelbeuk72]

@@FlashbacktotheTrack Haha That won't be enough to explain why Hypercar have LMH and LMDh and the differences between the 2. But you couuuuuld also wait for the rework of LMP2 that is scheduled for 2023 or 2024.

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

@@cabrelbeuk72 See you in 2023 when this all launches lol

[@cabrelbeuk72]

@@FlashbacktotheTrack see ya in 2024, better. Coz in 2024 you'll have the GT3 that is replacing the GTE and new reglementation for LMP2. Yeah sorry this week is rich in ACO news 😅

[@ashishsharma-og4nl]

Good

[@ukrje]

2:18 - you say that the lmp1 top speed at over 300 kp/h, which is factly correct.. But all classes racing in le mans reach atleast 300 kp/h. The fastest gte´s go even up to 307 with a tow, lmp2 (was back then) at 330, nowadays more around 320 - and lmp1 sit´s at 340 - 350. Hypercar´s sit at around 330 - 340 with a tow.

[@TurnOne350]

explain the bathurst 12 hour, its like le mans but a little slower

[@talbjr]

Toyota G killed it this seasons of Le mans 24. Unexpected as I thought maybe Ferrari would take it :3 or even Alphine

[@mahdima9237]

Every body wait for Black swan to shine in this match.

[@Puzzoozoo]

They should remove the two chicanes on the Mulsanne straight, as the straight is the heart of the track.

[@KalepSG]

I have a question. So to determine how far a car went in the 24 hours, as soon as the timer starts, is it where the car is at in which the distance travelled starts? If that makes sense. I noticed that some cars weren’t even around the corner when the green flags flew and the timer started.

[@Maenfy]

No they just multiply the track lenght times the amount of laps they did.

[@zidnyzidan]

@@Maenfy so the car that covers most laps win?

[@Lcs_ss]

Guys, I have pretty dumb question maybe. The winner of these endurance races is the team that did the most laps on the track? Or simply the team that actually finished the race first? Cause I was watching the Nurburgring 24h and I was pretty confused with the standings

[@kushagrasinha389]

The one who has covered most distance is the winner

[@prithibiishrak540]

"It's a very confusing and complicated simple system". Never felt so dumb by hearing it.

[@berryconway4296]

Time for an update, tell us about the Hypercar.

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

It's a more expensive version of LMP1 that will be overshadowed by LMDh when it comes out as LMDh will cost far less.

[@icraftcrafts8685]

at 0:35 did you say ford-itude?

[@believe88]

ford vs ferrari, i didn know the drivers switched

[@Maenfy]

Well driving for 24 hours straight just isn't possible.

[@believe88]

@@Maenfy i thought they had extended breaks

[@KevinAbillGaming]

0:15 Unless you're playing Gran Turismo 4's 24h races, then you drive all by yourself.

[@HakarDoski]

few questions: how do you win? do they have 4 winners? (1st position) one from each class or one winner for all classes? why do drivers overtake each other? do drivers decide when they want to pit or their teams do? when a driver pits, he often loses his position, does he get compensated for his loss or just continues despite it?

[@BT293HG]

Distance wins There are class winners and overall winner Team effort for pits Depends on what happens during the pits

[@HakarDoski]

@@BT293HG can you explain the last answer a bit more?

[@epistte]

@@HakarDoski Each class has a winner that completed the longest distance among that class of cars, and the overall winner is the car that complete the farthest distance of all the classes, which is usually the LMP1 class now, so they would be the overall winner as well as the LMP1 class winner. One of the lower class cars have won the overall race in the past.

[@miaouew]

24 Hours of LeMonke

[@JurgenKrace]

I thought they still practice their trademark "le mans start" thing

[@basedgodstrugglin]

Well done explanation. Now explain the NASCAR playoffs simply 😂

[@blakekoffron3565]

The top 16 drivers before the playoffs start are eligible to compete and after 3 races it whittles down to 12 then after 3 more it’s 8 then after 3 more it’s 4 and those four drivers compete in 1 final race for a championship. The driver of the “Final Four” as we call it who wins the race it finishes higher than the other three wins the championship

[@basedgodstrugglin]

@@blakekoffron3565 You don’t think that’s convoluted? I don’t like describing the system to people with no knowledge because I feel like it’s too complex

[@Truequalityedits]

You didn’t cover how you win! Is it distance driven? I feel like there would be some races with very large gaps between the cars too

[@pkscarr]

yep, distance driven. like a lot of time limit racing, the leader completes 24hrs + 1 lap. And yes, between the classes there can be huge differences, for eample in the 2021 race the last car still running on the road after 24 hours (a Chevrolette GTE) was around 60 laps behind the winning Toyota. With 60-odd cars on the track though, lots of speed differential, and trying conditions over the night and day though the track never seems empty, there'a always a challenge for the faster classes to navigate the traffic safely without losing too much time

[@dimitristripakis7364]

Does "not finishing" the race gets you disqualified ? Example: Suppose a car breaks down and does not finish, but has covered 5000 km until the break down. And another car finishes the race, having covered 4500 km. Which of the two ends higher in ranking ?

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

You are still classified despite not finishing. For example, if you break down after 13 hours, you finish ahead of cars that broke down after one hour, etc.

[@dimitristripakis7364]

Thanks, for your reply. Could you please clarify this more complex though: What if a car breaks down having covered more miles than a car that finished normally ? Which of the two ends up higher in the ranking ? Does mileage or duration have first priority ?

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

​@@dimitristripakis7364 The broken down car is classified ahead. It completed more race distance.

[@Fc2300]

@@FlashbacktotheTrack so essentially you just have to outlast all the cars in your own class? So technically your race can finish after 12 hours as long as you’re the last one standing with the more distance covered?

[@princelulu332]

May i ask why 4 classes are driven all at once???

[@Maenfy]

It wouldn't make sense to organize four different 24 hour races, especially since some class only have about 7 cars. It's first of all not very exciting, multiclass racing is a very important reason why Le Mans is so famous and a big part of the circuit are public roads so they can't use them that often.

[@princelulu332]

@@Maenfy thanks

[@brandong417]

Where the Honda boy at lol

[@Saabfather]

So each class has an overall winner?

[@bmw128racer]

Yes.

[@ziksy6460]

So if the prototype cars are straight up faster and purpose built for Le Mans, what's the point of the road cars then?

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

So there's multiple races at once. Way it's always been.

[@epistte]

The LMP1 prototypes are almost as fast as F1 cars but there are only a few of them. Nobody is going to want to watch a race for 24 hours when there are only 10 cars running on a 6 mile track. The LMP2 and the various GT cars are there to fill out the field and make things interesting.

[@dhanushn1009]

Bro explain about moto gp

[@officermofiz4600]

How do you win?

[@XxJay71xX]

The pilot who cover the most distance in the 24h win.

[@bmw128racer]

Toyota Gazoo has dominated recently only because none of the other major manufacturers are competing in that class... It's essentially a one-horse race.

[@shalindelta7]

Why aren't other manufacturers competing anymore ?

[@arthurclaeys7100]

So the winner is the one who covers the longest distance?

[@epistte]

That is correct.

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

Yes, as they would naturally be in first place at the end. It's a confusing way to describe it. Whoever is in first at the ends wins.

[@RickBeacham]

It would be nice if they actually used real production cars?! Like the race originally started.

[@zyadzarin5224]

Im wondering if lmp1 is the fastest car, why are there other types of cars that teams use? Why not all teams use LMP1?

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

$$$

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

Teams are chasing class wins. Gentleman drivers that pay to driver have their own classes (LMP2 and GTEam) as they would rarely be able to beat all-pro lineups.

[@Tomste75]

LMP1 cars were extremely expensive machines. Thats the reason they went away, and now there is a Hypercar car class. The difference between LMP1 and LMP2, is ROUGHLY the same as comparing F1 vs F2.

[@Niiwastaken]

I pronounce it the other way not because i believe its the right way to say it. In fact i know its the wrong way to say it. I pronounce it the way i do purely in spite of the french

[@hamza-chaudhry]

4:48

[@amirulsyafiq5203]

0:24

[@MrJoker-lr7eq]

Bro what if a drive wishes to drive for 24 hours

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

Not allowed. There are maximum/minimum drive time rules

[@RayanKuwawala]

The one who completes the most kms in 24 hrs wins ?

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

Technically yes. But if you're leading at the end of 24 hours, you've covered the farthest distance.

[@OzanBurada]

Better finish the last lap. Read on 2017 Le Mans and what happened to Toyota. Even 2020 had cars can't finish the last lap. AF Corse with Ferrari (GTEPRO) didin't finish the last lap.

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

@@OzanBurada Crazy how after 24 hours you can't game plan to have enough fuel for the last couple miles.

[@KD-oi9sk]

@@OzanBurada 2016

[@davidyeo5925]

And the Mulsanne Straight is a straight.....not a straightaway

[@pauljames3058]

They are called a straight not straight aways

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

Different vernacular in different countries.

[@ntt1713]

I can't stop looking at your beautiful eyes

[@SimonLX]

Ouch. Mentioning the WEC & FIA without talking about the ACO (the owners and organisers) is criminal.

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

Beginners really don't need deeper nuances like that

[@SimonLX]

@@FlashbacktotheTrack It's not a deeper nuance, Le Man is an ACO race first and foremost. If the WEC was scrapped by the FIA, it'd still exist and run, just like when the last World Sportscar Championship collapsed.

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

@@SimonLX A beginner watching this race for the first time doesn't need to know that to understand and enjoy the race.

[@SimonLX]

@@FlashbacktotheTrack Well by that logic, they don't need to know it's in the WEC or the FIA are involved... That was my point. The ACO are far more important to know about when it comes to Le Man.

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

It literally does not matter for the purposes of this video. People learned the classes and how the race works.

[@jadennelson7808]

What I don’t understand is how lmp1 died yet F1 thrives. I don’t understand why there is so much hype for f1, multi class prototype racing is 10x sicker than F1. I think there is just a TON of bandwagon fake fans for F1.

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

Think about it this way. I had to make this video just so people could understand how multi-class racing works. You tune into F1 - 20 cars, short race, one class, person in first wins. So much easier to understand and has mass worldwide appeal. Netflix series also helps. Cool brands involved like Red Bull, etc. F1 is a marketing machine.

[@cbznarmusic2970]

WHO'S HERE BECAUSE OF THE GRAN TURISMO MOVIE?

[@justusssentongo5669]

😅

[@TypicallyThomas]

People seriously pronounce it as it's written? Can we lock them in a basement somewhere so we don't need to deal with them?

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

...Americans...

[@TypicallyThomas]

Urgh

[@marciocarvalho8975]

I can not unserstand that wird race start the pilotos runing 8 meters to get in the car and go! Its like a marathon athlete runing the first km on the edge... French people doing french things😂

[@Mattisttam]

It's 2023 and Ferrari has taken the seat from Toyota

[@TheDerwynC]

And it's pronounced "sir-KWEE de la sarth" not "SIR-kit day la sarth".

[@Utopian_Turtletop-vn1iu]

It's pronounced 'vehicular' not 'vee-hick-you-lar.'

[@sinsinsss5216]

Ngono kui di bahas yo raono bare sing keno America sing di gebuki aku to nek aku rak iso di manfaatke.

[@begin1ngofend5]

It has lost what it was imo.

[@benhardcastle2305]

Lol obvs one driver doesn’t drive for 24hours

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

That's the first thing people ask when they've never heard of 24 hour races lol

[@benhardcastle2305]

@@FlashbacktotheTrack aha ur right (stupid people😂)

[@307pug205]

In the early years there was a few drivers that drove solo the full 24hrs

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

@@307pug205 Pure insanity

[@hagestad]

if it was a test for reliability ferrari would not have won so many times :).

[@geniegb]

Got the most information from the first 0:15 seconds. Stopped watching after.

[@fredericleunissen1087]

Just to add, you saying that Le Mans starts at a 'Standing Start' But it's a 'Rolling Start'.....

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

I said "Standard, rolling start"

[@kermit56780]

.. even with recharges the Tesla Plaid would win by a huge margin. *only problem would be all the slower cars on the track.

[@dangerdansracingchannel9937]

Tesla fanboomer detected

[@renster143]

G8 b8 m8

[@garretlewis2661]

😂 funny guy here

[@Blaznchicken]

The plaid would run out of battery after 2 laps and it’d still be slower

[@gt2rs382]

At 4800lbs, i highly doubt that😂😂😂

[@Mikishots]

Didn't age well.

[@FlashbacktotheTrack]

Dang ACO

[@The101Point1]

That woman's not very good at waving the flag

[@AlexJohnson-to9on]

All this kilometor bs

[@furyfalcon1933]

Whatever but this 'Le Man' is a joke driving straight without eating or pissing in startights for no reason and who the heck is mad to watch the whole race for 24 hours doesn't people have any other work to do.

[@Maenfy]

You know that each car has 3 drivers right? There's plenty of time to visit the toilet.