Le Mans questions

Over the 24 hour period of Le Mans endurance race, modern competitors will complete race distances well over 5,000 km (3,110 mi). It is a distance over six times longer than the Indianapolis 500, or approximately 18 times longer than a Formula One Grand Prix.

Until the 1980s, there were teams in which only two drivers competed. By the end of the decade, the rules were changed to stipulate that at least three drivers must drive each car, for safety reasons.

Despite death of 83 spectators and 120 injured, the race was continued. Eight hours after the accident, while leading the race, the Mercedes team withdrew their cars. Mercedes invited Jaguar to also retire, but they declined.

The Le Mans Disaster was the most catastrophic accident in motorsport history. 83 spectators and driver Pierre Levegh were killed, whilst 120 more were injured. The death of the spectators was blamed on inadequate safety standards for track design.