The rule is simple: the car which covers the greatest distance in 24 hours is the winner. This is what the 24 Hours of Le Mans race is all about. Organized by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), this race attracts more than 250,000 racing car enthusiasts and cheerful spectators to the town of Le Mans, France.

Unlike races with a fixed distance, 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test in endurance, both for man and machine. It is intended to test the durability of materials and perfectly showcases the innovative machine-building technologies. Unlike fixed-distance races that are aimed at determining the fastest car, 24 Hours of Le Mans looks for the sturdiest and the most reliable cars that can run for a long time without mechanical failure. Thus, this biggest race in endurance encourages manufacturers to create sporty, yet dependable and fuel-efficient vehicles, able to pass prolonged tenacity tests. During 24 hours, drivers have to balance the demand for speed with the car’s mechanical capacity, while spending as little time as possible in pits. It is no easy task, so only the most proficient and experienced racing drivers are approved to participate in the competition. But a speedy car and a superior driver are not all that it takes. To succeed in that endurance test, the whole crew of drivers and mechanics have to start preparing for the race well in advance. Only by working closely as a team can they adjust the vehicle for maintaining top speed for prolonged periods and minimize the time required for technical stops.

History, traditions, and rules

The 24 Hours of Le Mans often made part of the World Sportscar Championship from 1953 until the series’ end in 1992. Since 2012, it has been a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship, usually serving as the final stage of the competition.

Throughout its history, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has had different safety and competition regulations due to its length and endurance requirements. In order to promote durability and efficiency, it has been required that the vehicle should refill essential fluids, such as oil and coolant, only after one hour into the race. Cars that failed to satisfy this requirement probably wouldn’t be able to complete a 24-hour stress test and risked disqualification.

Another unique rule is that cars have to switch off completely during refueling. This applies in order to ensure that a car can restart many times and further promote reliability in vehicle manufacturing.

Over almost 70 years, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has formed several traditions. For example, the French tricolor is waived to mark the start of the race, which is usually followed by jets flying over with trails of blue, white, and red.

Historical trivia: the 24 Hours of Le Mans had the first televised instance of the winner spraying champagne instead of drinking it – Dan Gurney did so after winning the 1967 race.

The route

Circuit de la Sarthe near the town of Le Mans serves as the route for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is a 13.626-kilometer route, 9 kilometers of which are on public roads, and 4.5 kilometers are on the Bugatti circuit.

The race is held in June, and the weather is usually hot – even more so for drivers in closed cars with little to no ventilation. Rain is another common challenge.

Race & speed

So, does the racing driver steer non-stop for 24 hours? Of course not – even well-trained athletes can’t do that. There are three drivers that share each vehicle and change at specific moments – this is one of the race’s rules.

Drivers go all out on the circuit with an average speed of 207 km/h. For the better part of the route, they go on full acceleration, reaching over 300 km/h several times during each lap. The highest speed ever reached during the 24 Hours of Le Mans was the formidable 405 km/h. At such speeds, keeping the momentum and choosing the right time to turn or brake is extremely tricky.

What about the results? Well, competitors often go over 5,000 km. The record is 2010’s 5,410 km – this is about 18 times longer than a Formula One Grand Prix.

This year, the race will take place on 11-12 June, 2022. Marked as an anniversary, it will be the 90th edition of 24 Hours of Le Mans. Since it is a big racing event, we advise buying tickets and booking accommodation in advance – the organizers make up a list of recommended accommodation and eating spots, check it out on the official website.

What do you suppose the Devil and the Spanish infants have in common? In Spain, two polar principles: embodied evil and the image of purity, interact in a unique way.

For nearly 400 years, the mystery of the Devil’s soul-cleansing leap has existed in the town of Castrillo de Murcia. When the Devil (El Colacho) leaps over the newborn, he takes with him his original sin as well as all of the unclean strength. From the outside, the healing leap appears to be a risky proposition, but no child has ever been injured during the festival’s history. This encouraging statistic serves as a powerful encouragement to continue the old custom.

The event takes over the entire city in its game after the Corpus Christi holiday. The protagonists are males dressed in yellow and red. They begin going around the streets with a club, whipping or beating the inhabitants. You will purify your soul if you are “fortunate” enough to be spanked or lightly beaten.

El Colacho goes on to the children as soon as he finishes with the adult sinners. The babies must also be under the age of one year. El Colacho sprints and swiftly navigates the living obstacle course with the babies lying out on soft mattresses along the route. When the soul purification is completed, the infants are sprinkled with rose petals, and the entire crowd goes to enjoy some fine local wine.

Although the celebration has been going on since 1621 and is a big hit with the locals, not everyone is in favor of it. The Pope has condemned the practice, claiming that baptism is the only way to be cleansed before God. Because no one has heeded the Pope’s advice, El Colacho continues to enchant locals and visitors alike.

Prince Harry stars in a satirical commercial encouraging sustainable traveling. The skit is a part of Travalyst, an ecological project that the royal launched in 2019.

The video was first aired on a television station in New Zealand. While taking a stroll in his casual attire, the Prince of Sussex is ambushed by a rating agent, who gives him a rating based on the eco-friendliness of his visit to New Zealand – he is awarded 3.5 stars out of five for dropping a candy wrap on a beach.

Travalyst is a non-profit international initiative intended to make sustainable traveling mainstream. “For our campaign, we are encouraging people to flip the script. We are always being asked for our feedback on our trips and experiences, but what would happen if our holiday rated us?” – Prince Harry said in an interview with Te Ao Maori News.