The 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place on June 15th and 16th (16:00 hours), celebrating its centenary last year. Although it commemorated its famous anniversary in 2023, there have not been 100 editions held because the race has experienced two periods of suspension throughout its history. The first break occurred in 1936 due to waves of strikes in France. A movement that began to germinate years before with working-class mobilizations and ended in May 1936 with factory occupations and the paralysis of the country’s industry. The second period without the 24 Hours of Le Mans took place between 1940 and 1948 due to World War II, in which France was involved on the side of the Allies. In 1949, the most important endurance race in the world resumed, and since then, it has been held without interruptions to this day. Historically, it has taken place in June, with a few exceptions: in 1956 it moved to July, in 1968 social movements moved it to September, and in 2020, COVID also led to the race being rescheduled to the ninth month of the year.
Schedule: What time are the practices, qualifying, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
From Sunday the 9th, there will be action on the track with the first tests. The cars return to the circuit on Wednesday for some free practice before qualifying, which will decide the eight fastest in each category who will compete for the pole position. In this first part of the qualification, drivers will have an hour. Then, there will be free night practices. Thursday is the chosen day for the eight fastest to compete for the top spot on the grid in half an hour. Afterward, there will be another session of night training to get everything ready for Saturday when the race starts (16:00).
DaySessionTime
Saturday 15Race Start16:00
Sunday 16Finish16:00
Podium16:10
Television: Where to watch the 24 Hours of Le Mans on TV and Online?
Eurosport is the television with the broadcasting rights for Europe of the World Endurance Championship (WEC), of which the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a part. The sports channel can be viewed through its application or in the packages contracted with DAZN and Movistar+. The channel will offer all the sessions. Another option is through the organizer’s own channel, WEC TV, which will broadcast the event worldwide. Some teams also install onboard cameras in their cars to follow the race through the driver’s point of view. They are available on their official channels. Additionally, on AS.com, you can follow the best coverage of the event and all its sessions, from practices to the race. You can find the best information on the WEC and all the reactions from the protagonists, reports, and analysis.