So yesterday I got totally hooked comparing Le Mans lap times – you know, that crazy long race with cars going flat out for hours? Wanted to see what the fastest guys were doing differently. Figured if I could spot the patterns, maybe some tricks could help my own driving, even just on sims.
Where I Started
First, I dug up lap time data from the last few races. Found official timing sheets for different classes – those Hypercars are insane, way faster than the GT cars obviously, but how much exactly? Threw them all into a spreadsheet, just raw numbers at first. Big mistake. Numbers alone are boring.
Next step: actually sorting them properly. Made lists grouping the Hypercars together, the LMP2 cars, and the various GT classes. Also grabbed the fastest laps for the winners in each class. Couldn’t just look at one year either; needed to see trends. Started comparing the 2024 winner’s fastest lap to the 2023 winner, and even the 2022.
What Jumped Out
Here’s the kicker:
- Consistency is KING: Seriously. The top Hypercar teams? Their lap times look like clones over a stint. Lap after lap within a couple of tenths. My sim laps? All over the place. Saw a team win LMP2 purely because their laps were like clockwork while others faded.
- Traffic Ninjas: This blew my mind. The fastest lap times? Rarely happened at the absolute start of a stint when the tyres were fresh. Nope. Often came just after clearing a bunch of slower GT traffic. Why? Because those top drivers managed traffic so smooth, got clean laps right after passing, making the average speed better.
- Risk vs Reward? More like Risk = Wrecked Car. Looking at the times, the guys who consistently pushed to 9.9/10ths finished. The one trying for 10/10ths every lap? Crashing records maybe, but not winning ones. Saw data for teams pushing a bit later on fresh tyres to gain position, but it was planned, not desperate.
- Sector Secrets: Broke the lap times down into the three sectors. Expected to see pure speed everywhere from the leaders. Wrong. They gained huge chunks just lifting a fraction earlier or being a fraction smoother into corners – conserving tyres and fuel. Their sector 2 times (the twisty bits) were super consistent.
- The Rubber Matters… A Lot: Comparing stints on different tyre compounds told the story. Tyre drop-off was brutal. A team might set blistering laps on new tyres, but if they pushed too hard too early? Their laps tanked way faster than the guys managing theirs. Their average pace over the stint was worse.
How This Helps Me (and Maybe You!)
So, how does staring at Le Mans times translate to my puny lap times?
- Stopped Chasing “Hero” Laps: Totally changed my mindset. I was always chasing that one crazy fast lap. Screw that. Now I’m obsessed with doing ten laps in a row nearly the same time. Even if that target time is slower than my PB initially.
- Traffic Practice: On sims, I actually seek out multi-class races now! Not to blast past everyone, but to learn how to pass predictably and efficiently, aiming for that clean lap just after I clear the pack.
- Sector Discipline: Instead of just hammering around, I focus on one sector. Lap after lap, only worrying about nailing Sector 2 perfectly. Then move to the next. It forces smoothness.
- Race Pace > Qualy Pace: I do way more 20-minute stints in practice. Forget the single lap glory. What matters is the average time across 10 laps when the tyres are getting tired. If I push too hard early, I pay dearly.
- Celebrating Consistency: Honestly? Knocking 0.3 seconds off my best lap feels good once. But seeing ten laps within 0.5 seconds of each other? That feels like real progress, like I finally understood something.
Turns out, learning from the absolute best endurance racers isn’t just about speed. It’s about being a machine. Super predictable, super smart, super smooth. Took ages just cleaning up my data, but the lessons are dead simple. Just gotta practice them.
