Marvel at 100 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the official illustrated history packed with photography, narrative, and race results. Held on the Circuit de la Sarthe comprising closed public roads and dedicated racecourse, Le Mans features cars and two-driver teams that can cover more than 3,000 miles during the race.
Le Mans 100 is a thorough year-by-year history showcasing all aspects of the grueling contest, including:
- A slew of legendary marques and models, including Porsche, Ferrari, Ford, Corvette, Cobra, Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Audi, Toyota, BMW, McLaren, and more
- A who’s-who of motorsport legends like Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, Carroll Shelby, Dan Gurney, Ken Miles, Jackie Ickx, Derek Bell, and Tom Kristensen (among dozens others)
- All the classes that ran in each year’s event, including the top LMP1 and LMP2 (Le Mans Prototype) categories and GT (grand tourer)
- A list of each year’s top three overall finishers
In addition, author and award-winning Le Mans historian Glen Smale details touchstone events such as the late-1960s
battles between Ford and Ferrari popularized in the film
Ford vs Ferrari, and the
1955 tragedy that claimed the lives of more than 80 spectators.
The
oldest active endurance race is intended to showcase mechanical reliability as much as driver skill and fortitude. This
beautifully designed and extensively illustrated book celebrates those attributes, chronicling the exploits of
both factory-sponsored cars and privateer entries, from the early open-cockpit racers right through to today’s hybrid era.
Compiled by a meticulous author with a passion for motorsport,
Le Mans 100 is the ultimate chronicle of a marquee race.
Published in collaboration with the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest), organisers of the Le Mans 24 Hours, this official book celebrates the centenary of the world’s greatest sports car race. Besides recalling the most memorable moments in the event’s history,
100 Years of Legends takes an imaginative thematic approach in examining a huge range of topics to give a complete picture of the entire period, right up to Ferrari’s victory in the centenary year. All the important subjects have their place, including the great drivers and cars, and are presented in an appealing style with plenty of thought-provoking angles. Technical evolution receives particularly enlightening coverage, with emphasis on the innovations and curiosities so evident at Le Mans over the years. Extensive period illustration blends with ‘infographics’, diagrams, poster artwork and memorabilia to provide a visually vivid presentation.
- The drivers: the greats, topped by nine-time winner Tom Kristensen; the rookie winners; pioneering women drivers; tales of exceptional personal endeavour and adversity.
- The manufacturers: Bentley, Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Ferrari, Jaguar, Ford, Porsche, Matra, Peugeot, Audi and Toyota have been the predominant names over the 100 years and all get their share of attention.
- The cars: the famous winners, from 1923 3-litre Chenard & Walcker to 2023 Ferrari 499P Hypercar, are featured, plus the eccentric machinery that has added fascination over the years.
- The technology: aerodynamic advances and speed landmarks; pioneering engines, including turbine, rotary, diesel, electric and hybrid; tyre and safety developments, and more.
- Numerous other themes: records, trophies, regulations, circuit changes, safety improvements, race organisation, art cars, spectating, atmosphere and curiosities.
This is the complete story of the Le Mans 24 Hours, told from the inside.
