The 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the major endurance races in motorsport, is scheduled for this weekend in France. This event, which first took place in 1923, is part of the 'triple crown' of motorsport, alongside the Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix. This year's race will feature 62 cars competing on a combination of permanent race track and public roads. The event has historically served as a testing ground for automotive technology, with innovations such as disc brakes and hybrid systems being developed and tested at Le Mans.
The participating cars are divided into three classes, each driven by teams of three drivers. The lineup includes both professional and amateur drivers, with notable participants such as Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve, who owns an Aston Martin team competing in multiple classes.