The 24 Hours of Le Mans stands as the pinnacle of endurance racing, a legendary event that epitomises the spirit of endurance motorsport at its most intense. Each year, teams from around the globe converge in France to test their mettle against this gruelling 24-hour challenge, vying for victory on the sport's grandest stage. Success in Le Mans demands more than sheer speed; teams and drivers must meticulously strategise and manage their cars to endure the entire race. Governed by strict regulations, this race doesn't simply reward the first car to cross the finish line, but the team that covers the greatest distance within 24 hours.
Teams field three drivers who take turns behind the wheel, battling fatigue and pushing their cars to the limit through both day and night. This year's race begins at 3:00 PM French time on Saturday, June 15th, following an array of practice sessions, qualifying rounds, and an additional high-speed qualifying event known as Hyperpole. For fans in India, here's the complete schedule with times adjusted for your time zone to catch all the live action.
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Le Mans 24 Hours: Indian Timing
Wednesday, June 12
Free Practice 1 - 5:30 PM IST
Qualifying - 10:30 PM IST
Thursday, June 13
Free Practice 2 - 1:30 AM
Hyperpole - 11:30 PM IST
Friday, June 14
Free Practice 3 - 1:30 AM IST
Saturday, June 15
Race - 7:30 PM IST
Le Mans 24 Hours: What is Hyperpole?
The qualifying process at Le Mans unfolds in two stages, designed to determine optimal starting positions while addressing the challenges of a large field. In the initial qualifying session, drivers strive for the fastest lap time, though achieving a clean lap can be difficult with up to 62 cars on track. To mitigate this, the top six drivers from each class advance to Hyperpole, a focused session where they compete solely for the coveted pole position within their respective categories.
Throughout the practice sessions, teams meticulously fine-tune their car setups to maximize performance for both qualifying and the gruelling 24-hour race itself. Once the final practice and a warm-up session are completed, the main event begins.
Le Mans 24 Hours: Race Start
For a running start, the drivers follow a safety car around the track for one lap while staying in the order they qualified in. When the safety car returns to the pits after this lap, the leader of the race assumes control, and the full 24 hours of competition begin.
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The official name of the racecourse that hosts the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the Circuit de la Sarthe, and it is situated on the outskirts of Le Mans, France. It is a 13.62km long track and uses closed public roads in addition to the official racecourse.
Le Mans 24 Hours: Where to Watch in India
No Indian television network will broadcast the 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours. However, Eurosport has secured an agreement with a pan-Asian network to air the event across Asia, including India, through Eurosport Asia.
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