Forget Formula 1! Real racing lives on at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

I’ve been to Formula 1 and WRC before, but this was the big one. The French town of Le Mans has played host to some of the most exciting racing in history. From Ford vs. Ferrari to the sheer danger that plagued early races, Le Mans has a huge pedigree. 

That’s why this particular event, part grand prix, part grand spectacle, has always been on my bucket list. Now, I’ve had the chance to tick it off, visiting as a fan rather than a journalist offering blow-by-blow coverage. And boy, did it deliver. As a disgruntled F1 fan, I have to say the racing was down-to-earth, gritty, and absolutely sensational. 

When it comes to access, there’s no comparison. There’s no decline in quality either; F1 veterans Kevin Magnussen, Kamui Kobayashi, Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Nyck de Vries, and Will Stevens were all in attendance this year. All four categories also run at once, so there’s constant overtaking. 

As you can tell, this left a big impression. If you’re a fan of all things fast on four wheels, it’s a must-see grand prix. Not convinced? Here’s my breakdown of the best bits from a fan’s perspective. I’m sure you’ll agree by the end, Le Mans retains its crown as the king of endurance racing!

Once you’ve committed to Le Mans, the next big question is travel and accommodation. As you can imagine, landlords put the prices up around the race. But we managed to find a decent spot not too far out of town, a 15-minute commute by car to the race track. 

We didn’t stay at Circuit de la Sarthe, so I can’t give you the inside scoop on camping (not my cup of tea). But I caught an eyeful of the different sites. They’ve got everything from patches of turf for tents and caravans to “glamping” zones. I’m reliably informed that the former is livelier from a party POV, we chose our creature comforts. 

There was a traffic jam on Saturday as everyone piled in for the start, but other than that everything ran smoothly. The town itself is very pretty, remote, and a great place to hang out. We even managed to start a barbecue in our little community. 

Anyone looking to get away from it all will enjoy the atmosphere of Le Mans. This year’s race attracted 350,000 spectators, but it didn’t feel like it. Local French folk were chill and very friendly, that is until Cadillac started leading. Then a bit of EU-US banter began to shine through. All in good fun, of course! 

I was pleasantly surprised by the access granted to fans. With a general admission ticket, we were able to sit in any stand up until hyperpole qualifying. From then onwards, I was relegated to the concourse, but there were plenty of great spots. 

While F1 fans turn up at dawn and camp to get the best views of the circuit, Le Mans fans are less fussed. They often turn up at a bend, watch 2-3 laps, then head on to the next viewing spot. This means everyone gets to see the cars go through the Dunlop Curve or get the power down on the Mulsanne Straight. Refreshingly honest stuff! 

The circuit’s banking is also amazing for the fan experience. I went to the F1 Imola Grand Prix last season, and it was atrocious. Many areas are flat to the circuit, so you need to be at the front (or bring a ladder) to get a good view. Accessing some hills even required a special pass (a frankly ridiculous cash grab). By contrast, Le Mans gives everyone a front-row seat. 

On Friday, I even got to walk the circuit for myself… until the first chicane on the Mulsanne Straight, that is. It’s a bloody long track, and it was 30+ degrees, so forgive me for not completing a lap! 

The atmosphere at Le Mans is so unique it's hard to put into words. The main event may not begin with a traditional Le Mans start anymore, but the pomp, ceremony, and belting rendition of the French anthem have their own charm and add to the occasion. 

It starts off like a regular grand prix until you realize that three hours have flown by and there’s about 85% of the race still left to run! Once the sun goes down, the views become spectacular. Night racing is glorious; the car headlights bring a really unique look and feel. It was a stirring sight—like something out of Gran Turismo. 

Eight hours into the race, fireworks were let off over the pit straight. I couldn’t help but feel for the drivers; it must’ve been overstimulating at 200 mph! That was our trigger to grab one final beer and hit the hay. In the morning, it was hard to believe they were still racing, and it really underlined the incredible commitment of teams and drivers.

It also added to the sense of theater. One small mistake and all that hard work was out the window. I remember Magnusson’s BMW team suffering a tyre blowout. The whole venue seemed to hold its breath. It appeared their opportunity had gone up in smoke.

It was the same with a crash at Dunlop. Everyone was glued to the action. Not a phone in sight, only cheers of relief when the drivers climbed out safely. By the time the 24 hours were up, it felt like we’d been part of the journey. Honestly, it was a bit emotional when Kobayashi’s Toyota crossed the line to take victory. 

Even though Le Mans hypercars are hybrids, they delivered amazing racing (much better than current F1 cars). Drivers were able to follow each other closely, and there were many ballsy overtakes. The multi-lap battle at the front between Cadillac’s Jota and Toyota’s Hartley was a particular highlight. No quarter was given—and the fans absolutely loved it.

Another really great aspect of Le Mans is the fact that hypercars, LMP2, and LMGT3 cars run at the same time. As the laps tick by, they start to come together. This results in side-by-side action almost every lap. Although, I wouldn’t want to be a race steward with all the blue flags! 

Okay, I admit to confusing the cars a couple of times. It’s not easy to keep track of everything from one corner (especially with French commentary and limited WiFi access). But the views were almost beyond belief at times. At one point, we found a cafe so close to the action, it felt like the cars were driving through, showing a wheel as they went. Maybe it was the venue, but the racing felt “old school.”

Yes, there was some hybrid nonsense. However, I never found myself thinking about battery charge. Trackside, it felt like drivers were on the limit. This isn’t always the case in modern motorsport. The sound was also ear-splitting, exactly how it should be. 

Cars backfired, brakes squealed under duress, and the engine notes in harmony were outstanding. The Aston Martin hypercar (currently minus battery power) sounded like the V8 F1 cars of yesteryear. It was a proper throwback.

After the race, I was sad to leave this soundtrack behind. But grateful for the opportunity to visit motorsport nirvana for myself.