The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world’s most famous endurance race, testing a car’s reliability and a driver’s physical and mental limits over 24 hours of non-stop competition. To ensure driver safety, organizers impose strict regulations governing the maximum time a single driver can spend behind the wheel. These rules govern both the length of a continuous driving period and the total cumulative time. Managing these duration requirements is a fundamental part of the strategy for every team.
Maximum Continuous Driving Time
The maximum continuous driving time directly dictates the length of a driver’s stint. A driver is prohibited from driving for more than four hours within any six-hour period. This regulation prevents excessive fatigue from accumulating during a single session.
Once a driver reaches four hours, they must hand the car over to a teammate for a mandatory rest period. Teams typically manage stints based on fuel consumption, requiring pit stops every 45 to 100 minutes, depending on the class and conditions. Drivers usually complete multiple short stints back-to-back before hitting the four-hour limit.
The clock for the “four hours in six” rule runs continuously, regardless of pit stops or safety car periods. Time spent stopped in the pit lane for service is generally not counted against the four-hour limit. A long stop for repairs or a driver change can buy a small amount of extra time before the four-hour window expires. Adherence to this rule is enforced by race officials, and a violation can result in a penalty.
Total Driving Limits
Beyond the continuous stint limit, there are total driving limits over the 24-hour race. No single driver is permitted to be behind the wheel for more than 14 hours in total. This overall cap prevents teams from relying too heavily on their fastest or most experienced driver.
Since the race runs for 24 hours, this regulation necessitates the use of multiple drivers. Every car must be crewed by a minimum of three drivers to ensure compliance. If a team used only two drivers, the second driver would be required to complete at least 10 hours of driving, which is a significant workload.
Most classes also impose a minimum driving time requirement for certain categories of drivers. For example, drivers classified as Bronze or Silver must each complete a minimum of six hours of driving over the race’s full duration. This rule ensures that all drivers on the team contribute meaningfully and receive sufficient time in the car.
Mandatory Rest and Crew Requirements
The regulations mandate a specific rest period between driving sessions to help manage driver fatigue effectively. The “four hours in six” rule effectively guarantees that a driver who completes a maximum four-hour stint will have a minimum of two hours out of the car before they can resume driving.
This mandatory downtime allows the driver to cool down, rehydrate, and attempt to rest before their next session. The physical and mental strain of driving a high-performance prototype or GT car at racing speed for hours is substantial, making these rest periods a necessary safety measure.
Every team must register three drivers for each car to manage the driving duties over the 24 hours. By rotating among three individuals, teams can ensure that no driver exceeds the 14-hour cumulative limit while still allowing two drivers to be fully rested and available to take over the car at any time.