How to watch the 24 Hours of Le Mans
TV, streaming, live timing and schedule: everything to follow the 24 Hours of Le Mans live, wherever you are, from the Saturday start to the Sunday finish.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans runs without interruption, from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. Following such an event takes a little planning: here is a practical, lasting guide so you miss nothing, whether you watch on television, by streaming or via live timing.
How the weekend unfolds
Traditionally the start is given on Saturday in the middle of the afternoon (often around 4pm French time), and the finish comes twenty-four hours later, on Sunday at the same time. In between, the race never stops: afternoon, evening, the full night, daybreak and the final sprint. The preceding days are devoted to scrutineering, free practice, qualifying and Hyperpole. Exact times vary from year to year: check the official weekend schedule for the precise time of each session.
On television and streaming, by region
Coverage depends on your country. Rather than naming channels that change with each contract, here is the logic to apply.
- France. The race is usually shown by a major national broadcaster and by paid sports channels, often with full coverage online. Check each year which broadcaster holds the rights.
- Europe. Many countries have a pan-European sports broadcaster covering the event, supplemented by local channels for the highlights.
- United Kingdom and Ireland. A major sports broadcaster generally provides full coverage.
- North America. Motorsport-focused platforms and cable channels carry the full race, often by streaming.
- Rest of the world. The organiser's official platform offers, in many territories, a dedicated streaming subscription with the entire race, multiple cameras and integrated live timing. It is often the most complete solution when no local broadcaster covers the event.
Tip: identify your country's official broadcaster as soon as the deals are announced, a few weeks before the race, because rights change regularly.
Live timing, the enthusiast's secret weapon
The television picture shows only a fraction of the sixty cars on track. Official live timing displays in real time the position of every car, the gaps, lap times, pit stops and penalties. It is the indispensable tool for understanding strategy and following your favourite car even when the camera is elsewhere. Pair the television for the emotion with live timing for reading the race: that is the winning combination.
On our site you can also check the classification of the current session and find the drivers and manufacturers taking part.
Following the race hour by hour
A 24-hour race is experienced in phases. The start and the early hours set the tone and reveal the pace. The evening establishes the strategy. The night, demanding and often decisive, separates the solid crews from the rest. The early morning brings wear and the first mechanical failures. The closing hours, finally, can turn everything upside down. There is no need to watch it all in one go: identify these key moments and plan your viewing around them.
Practical tips
- Manage your sleep. Nobody stays awake for 24 hours without preparation. Choose the phases you absolutely want to see and plan your breaks.
- Keep live timing open. Even in the background, it will alert you to changes at the front and dramatic moments.
- Follow several categories. The fight for the overall win is thrilling, but the battles in LMP2 and LMGT3 are often the closest.
- Mind the time difference. If you follow from another time zone, convert the French times so you do not miss the start.
On site, at the circuit
Attending the 24 Hours at the Circuit de la Sarthe is an experience of its own: grandstands, general enclosures, giant screens, and the chance to move between spectator areas to vary your viewpoints. Bring ear protection, something to shelter under and a circuit map. The night-time spectacle, with headlights piercing the darkness on the Mulsanne Straight, remains unforgettable.
To prepare your viewing, also explore the history of the event and the roll of honour of past editions: knowing the great chapters of the race makes every edition even more captivating.