Red marquis at 03:26, 26 October 2010

2010-10-26T03:26:43Z

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{{Motorsport venue
| Name = Circuit de la Sarthe
| Nicknames =
| Time = GMT+1
| Location = Le Mans, France
| Coordinates ={{Coord|47|56|15.7|N|0|13|32.2|E|display=inline,title}}
| Image =[[Image:Circuit de la Sarthe track map.png]]
| Image_caption =
| Capacity =
| Owner = [[Automobile Club de l'Ouest]] [[Le Mans|Ville du Mans]]
| Operator = Automobile Club de l'Ouest
| Broke_ground =
| Opened = 1923
| Closed =
| Construction_cost =
| Architect =
| Former_names =
| Events = [[24 Hours of Le Mans]]
| Layout1 = Circuit de la Sarthe
| Surface = Asphalt
| Length_km = 13.629
| Length_mi = 8.469
| Turns = 38
| Banking =
| Record_time = 3:19.074
| Record_driver = [[Loïc Duval]]
| Record_team = [[Oreca|Team Oreca Matmut]] [[Peugeot 908 HDi FAP]]
| Record_year = [[2010 24 Hours of Le Mans|2010]]
| Record_class = [[Le Mans Prototype|LMP1]]
| Layout2 = Bugatti Circuit
| Surface2 = Asphalt
| Length_km2 = 4.273
| Length_mi2 = 2.655
| Turns2 = 10
| Banking2 =
| Record_time2 =
| Record_driver2 =
| Record_team2 =
| Record_year2 =
| Record_class2 =
}}
The '''Circuit de la Sarthe''',<ref name="Planet Le Mans">{{citeweb | url = http://www.planetlemans.com/2009-calendar/ | title = 2009 Calendar | publisher = Planet Le Mans | accessdate = 2009-01-28}}</ref> located near Le Mans, France, is a semi-permanent race course most famous as the venue for the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] auto race. The track uses local roads that remain open to the public most of the year. The circuit, in its present configuration, is 13.629 km (8.469 mi) long, making it one of the longest circuits in the world.

Le Mans is a race where up to 85% of the time is spent on full throttle, meaning immense stress on engine and drivetrain components. However, the times spent reaching maximum speed also mean tremendous wear on the brakes and suspension as cars must slow from over 200 mph (322 km/h) to around 65 mph (105 km/h) for the end of [[Mulsanne]] in a short distance. Downforce in the era of [[Group C]] cars helped braking to some degree but presently cars are tending towards low downforce to seek higher speeds in the face of power limiting regulations.

==Track modifications==
The track, which basically was a triangle from Le Mans down south to [[Mulsanne]], northwest to [[Arnage]], and back north to Le Mans, has undergone many modifications over the years, with ''CIRCUIT N° 14'' being in use since 2007. In the 1920s, the cars drove from the present pits on ''Rue de Laigné'' straight into the city, and after a tight right-hander near the river Sarthe Pontlieu bridge, left the city again on the rather straight street now named ''Avenue Georges Durand'' after the race's founder. Then 17.261 kilometres (10.725 mi) long and unpaved, a bypass within the city shortened the track in 1929, but only in 1932 the city was bypassed when the section from the pits via the [[Dunlop Bridge]] and the Esses to Tertre Rouge was added. This classic configuration was 8.369 miles (13.469 km) long and remained almost unaltered even after [[1955 Le Mans disaster|the 1955 tragedy]]. The pit area was modified at a cost of 300 million francs, but race track and pits were not separated for another two decades. The signalling area was even moved to the exit of the slow Mulsanne corner. With cars getting ever faster in the 1960s, criticism rose, especially when several drivers were killed, often in the testing session in April. Since 1965, a smaller but permanent [[Bugatti Circuit]] was added which shares the pit lane facilities and the first corner (including the famous Dunlop bridge) with the longer version. For the 1968 race alone, the Ford chicane was added before the pits to slow down the cars. The circuit was fitted with Armco for the 1969 race. The purpose built Porsche Curves section bypassed the dangerous and fast Maison Blanche kink between buildings in 1972.

Le Mans was most famous for its 6 km (3.7 mi) long straight, called ''Ligne Droite des Hunaudières'', a part of the ''route départementale'' (for the Sarthe ''département'') D338 (formerly Route Nationale N138). The [[Targa Florio]] featured the even longer Buonfornello straight along the coast, though. As the Hunaudières leads to the village of Mulsanne, it is often called the ''Mulsanne Straight'' in English, even though the proper ''Route du Mulsanne'' is the one to Arnage. The Porsche 917 ''long tail'' had reached 380 km/h, but after engine size was limited, the top speed dropped until the Group C allowed powerful turbo engines. Speeds on the straight reached over 400 km/h (250 mph) during the late 1980s, and the combination of high speed and high downforce caused tyre failures. Due to safety concerns two roughly equally spaced [[chicane]]s were consequently added to the straight before the 1990 race to limit the achievable maximum speed. In 1990 [[FIA]] decreed that it would no longer sanction any circuit which had a straight longer than two kilometres. The fastest qualifying lap average speed dropped only from 249 to 243 km/h in 1993, and it rose up to 247 in 2008, not far from the all time best of 250 and 251 set by the Porsche 917 and 956. Regarding the lap record in the race itself, 2008 saw the fastest ever.

{| bgcolor="#f7f8ff" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: gray solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Years
! Record year
! Distance record
! Average race speed
! Lap record (in race)
! Driver - car
! Lap record (qualifying)
! Driver - car
|-
|-bgcolor="#CCCFFF"
!colspan=11|Circuit N°1 - 17.262 km
|-
! 1923-1928
| [[1928 24 Hours of Le Mans|1928]]
| 2,669.27 km [[Bentley]]
| 111.219 km/h
| 8:07 (127.604 km/h) in 1928
| [[Henry Birkin|H.Birkin]] Bentley
|
|-bgcolor="#CCCFFF"
!colspan=11|Circuit N°2 - 16.340 km
|-
! 1929-1931
| [[1931 24 Hours of Le Mans|1931]]
| 3,017.654 km [[Alfa Romeo]]
| 125.735 km/h
| 6:48 (144.362 km/h) in [[1930 24 Hours of Le Mans|1930]]
| [[Henry Birkin|H.Birkin]] [[Bentley]]
|
|-bgcolor="#CCCFFF"
!colspan=11|Circuit N°3 - 13.492 km
|-
! 1932-1955
| [[1955 24 Hours of Le Mans|1955]]
| 4,135.38 km [[Jaguar D-Type|Jaguar D]]
| 172.308 km/h
| 4:06.6 (196.963 km/h) in 1955
| [[Mike Hawthorn|M.Hawthorn]] Jaguar D
|
|-bgcolor="#CCCFFF"
!colspan=11|Circuit N°4 - 13.461 km
|-
! 1956-1967
| [[1967 24 Hours of Le Mans|1967]]
| 5,232.90 km [[Ford GT40|Ford Mk IV]]
| 218.038 km/h
| 3:23.6 (238.014 km/h) in 1967
| [[Mario Andretti|M.Andretti]] & [[Denny Hulme|D.Hulme]] Ford Mk IV
| 3:24.04 (236.082 km/h) in 1967
| [[Bruce McLaren|B.McLaren]] Ford Mk IV
|-bgcolor="#CCCFFF"
!colspan=11|Circuit N°5 - 13.469 km
|-
! 1968-1971
| [[1971 24 Hours of Le Mans|1971]]
| 5,335.31 km [[Porsche 917]]
| 222.304 km/h
| 3:18.4 (244.387 km/h) in 1971
| [[Jackie Oliver|J.Oliver]] Porsche 917
| 3:13.6 (250.457 km/h) in 1971 (practice)
| J.Oliver Porsche 917
|-bgcolor="#CCCFFF"
!colspan=11|Circuit N°6 - 13.640 km
|-
! 1972-1978
| [[1978 24 Hours of Le Mans|1978]]
| 5,044.53 km [[Renault Alpine A442|Alpine-Renault A442 B]]
| 210.189 km/h
| 3:34.2 (229.244 km/h) in 1978
| [[Jean-Pierre Jabouille|J.P.Jabouille]] [[Renault Alpine A442|Alpine-Renault A443]]
| 3:27.6 (236.531 km/h) in 1978
| [[Jacky Ickx|J.Ickx]] [[Porsche 936]]
|-bgcolor="#CCCFFF"
!colspan=11|Circuit N°7 - 13.626 km
|-
! 1979-1985
| [[1985 24 Hours of Le Mans|1985]]
| 5,088.51 km [[Porsche 956]]
| 212.021 km/h
| 3:25.1 (239.169 km/h) in 1985
| [[Jacky Ickx|J.Ickx]] [[Porsche 962]]
| 3:14.80 (251.815 km/h) in 1985
| [[Hans-Joachim Stuck|H.Stuck]] Porsche 962
|-bgcolor="#CCCFFF"
!colspan=11|Circuit N°8 - 13.528 km
|-
! 1986
| [[1986 24 Hours of Le Mans|1986]]
| 4,972.73 km [[Porsche 962]] C
| 207.197 km/h
| 3:23.3 (239.551 km/h) in 1986
| [[Klaus Ludwig|K.Ludwig]] Porsche 956
| 3:15.99 (243.486 km/h) in 1986
| [[Jochen Mass|J.Mass]] Porsche 962 C
|-bgcolor="#CCCFFF"
!colspan=11|Circuit N°9 - 13.535 km
|-
! 1987-1989
| [[1988 24 Hours of Le Mans|1988]]
| 5,332.79 km [[Jaguar XJR9]]
| 221.665 km/h
| 3:21.27 (242.093 km/h) in [[1989 24 Hours of Le Mans|1989]]
| [[Alain Ferté|A.Ferté]] Jaguar XJR9
| 3:15.04 (249.826 km/h) in 1989
| [[Jean-Louis Schlesser|J.L.Schlesser]] [[Sauber C9|Sauber Mercedes C9]]
|-bgcolor="#CCCFFF"
!colspan=11|Circuit N°10 - 13.600 km
|-
! 1990-1996
| [[1993 24 Hours of Le Mans|1993]]
| 5,100.00 km [[Peugeot 905]]
| 213.358 km/h
| 3:27.47 (235.986 km/h) in 1993
| [[Eddie Irvine|E.Irvine]] [[Toyota TS010]]
| 3:21.209 (243.329 km/h) in [[1992 24 Hours of Le Mans|1992]]
| [[Philippe Alliot|Ph.Alliot]] Peugeot 905
|-bgcolor="#CCCFFF"
!colspan=11|Circuit N°11 - 13.605 km
|-
! 1997-2001
| [[2000 24 Hours of Le Mans|2000]]
| 5,007.98 km [[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]]
| 208.666 km/h
| 3:35.032 (227.771 km/h) in [[1999 24 Hours of Le Mans|1999]]
| [[Ukyo Katayama|U.Katayama]] [[Toyota GT-One]]
| 3:29.930 (233.306 km/h) in 1999
| [[Martin Brundle|M.Brundle]] Toyota GT-One
|-bgcolor="#CCCFFF"
!colspan=11|Circuit N°12 - 13.650 km
|-
! 2002-2005
| [[2004 24 Hours of Le Mans|2004]]
| 5,169.97 km [[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]]
| 215.415 km/h
| 3:33.483 (230.182 km/h) in [[2002 24 Hours of Le Mans|2002]]
| [[Tom Kristensen|T.Kristensen]] Audi R8
| 3:29.905 (234.106 km/h) in 2002
| [[Rinaldo Capello|R.Capello]] Audi R8
|-bgcolor="#CCCFFF"
!colspan=11|Circuit N°13 - 13.650 km
|-
! 2006
| [[2006 24 Hours of Le Mans|2006]]
| 5,187.00 km [[Audi R10]] TDI
| 215.409 km/h
| 3:31.211 (232.658 km/h) in 2006
| [[Tom Kristensen|T.Kristensen]] Audi R10 TDI
| 3:30.466 (233,482) in 2006
| [[Rinaldo Capello|R.Capello]] Audi R10 TDI
|-bgcolor="#CCCFFF"
!colspan=11|Circuit N°14 - 13.629 km
|-
! 2007-2009/2010
| [[2010 24 Hours of Le Mans|2010]]
| 5,410.71 km [[Audi R15 TDI]] plus
| 225.228 km/h
| 3:19.074 (246.463 km/h) in 2010
| [[Loïc Duval|L.Duval]] [[Peugeot 908]] HDI
| 3:18.513 (247.160 km/h) in 2008
| [[Stéphane Sarrazin|S.Sarrazin]] Peugeot 908 HDI
|}

==Bugatti Circuit==
[[Image:Bugatti Circuit.png|frame|right|Bugatti Circuit]]
Bugatti Circuit is a race track located within Circuit de la Sarthe, named after [[Ettore Bugatti]]. The circuit uses a part of the larger circuit and a separate, purpose-built section. The sections of track on the Bugatti Circuit that are on the Circuit de la Sarthe include the Ford Chicane at the end of the lap, the pit complex, and the straight where the [[Dunlop Tyres|Dunlop Tires]] bridge is located. At this point in the overlapping section of the tracks there is a left right sweep that was added for motorcycle safety in 2002. Vehicles turning to the left continue onto the Circuit de la Sarthe, toward Tertre Rouge and Mulsanne, vehicles turning to the right will continue the Bugatti Circuit. 

The track is home base for [[Pescarolo Sport]], founded by famous French driver [[Henri Pescarolo]]. The circuit also hosts the 24 Hours of Le Mans motorcycle race, and a round of the MotoGP Championship. The circuit also holds French motor club races and in the past has hosted a round of the [[Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters|DTM]] (German Touring Car series).

As well as motor racing it is the venue for the [http://www.24rollers.com 24 rollers], a 24h race on inline skates or quads.

The track was used for the [[1967 French Grand Prix]].

<gallery>
Image:Circuit De La Sarthe map.JPG|An on site map of the circuit.
Image:Dunlop curves 2006 run off modifications.JPG|The area before the Dunlop bridge, modified for 2006.
Image:Circuit de la Sarthe Ford Chicanes.jpg|The Ford Chicanes.
Image:Mulsanne Le Mans.jpg|A large portion of the track still consists of Sarthe Route Départementale D338.
</gallery>

== Speed record ==
In 1988, Team WM Peugeot knew they had no chance of winning the 24 hour endurance race, but they also knew that their [[Welter Racing]] designed car had very good aerodynamics. Thus they nicknamed their 1988 entry "Project 400" (aiming to be the first car to achieve a speed of 400 km/h on the famous straight), although the official team entry was named WM Secateva. Roger Dorchy, Claude Haldi and Jean-Daniel Raulet would be the three drivers that year.

The Peugeot 2.8L V6 turbo charged [[PRV engine]] had its air intakes taped over to improve aerodynamics, and they also equipped the car with special narrow Michelin tires. The plan worked: with Roger Dorchy behind the wheel, the WM P87 achieved the speed of 407 km/h (252.9 mph).

Taping over the air intakes obviously impeded engine cooling, and the Peugeot was only the third Group C1 car to exit the race after 59 laps with an overheating engine.

==External links==
*[http://www.lemans.org/accueil/index_gb.html Official website]
*[http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Le_Mans_Circuit_des_24_Heures Trackpedia's guide to driving Le Mans]
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Le+Mans,+France&om=1&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=47.953547,0.211058&spn=0.012158,0.043259&t=k Satellite Picture by Google Maps]
*[http://www.virtua-lm.com/lemans/history.php History and track maps 1921-2006]
* [http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Le_Mans_Bugatti Trackpedia's guide to Le Mans Bugatti]
* [http://trackreviewers.com/reviews/le-mans/ Reviews and Information on the Le Mans circuit]

{{24 Hours of Le Mans}}
{{Formula One circuits}}
{{Le Mans Series circuits}}
{{DTM circuits}}
{{International Formula 3000 circuits}}
{{World Series by Renault circuits}}
{{F3 Euroseries circuits}}

[[Category:Motorsport venues in France|Sarthe]]
[[Category:Formula One circuits]]
[[Category:Le Mans]]
[[Category:French Grand Prix]]

Circuit de la Sarthe - Revision history

Red marquis at 03:26, 26 October 2010