Sunday 9 June 2024, 10 am at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans. The Gibson engine of the Cool Racing #37 Oreca 07 gives off a roar as the car leaves the pitlane. The LMP2 makes its debut on track at Test Day. A crowd of fans has congregated nearby to savour the first thunderous revs that fill the circuit. The sound of these snarling engines stays with the spectators long after the event and is a distinctive feature of the world’s greatest endurance race.

Beyond their looks, certain cars have become iconic for their unique sound profile. One that springs to mind is the rotary engine of the Mazda 787B, which won the race in 1991. It produced a shrill, high-pitched sound, almost like a mechanical scream, and left a lasting sonic impression on racegoers.

Or how about the Porsche 917, which triumphed in 1970 and 1971? Its flat-12 engine delivered raw power accompanied by a deep, throaty sound that veteran fans are unlikely to forget. The diesel engine on the Audi R10 TDi turned out to be much quieter than its petrol-powered rivals. Yet its low, muffled tone, amplified by its power, still resonates in the minds of racing enthusiasts. These engines exemplify cutting-edge technology, while contributing to the signature sound that defines each era of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

The air guns set the tempo in the pits

In the pits, there’s another trademark sound to be heard every time the car is refuelled: the dry, repetitive noise of the tyre guns. Their characteristic whirr is a measure of the speed and precision of the mechanics. The mechanical, almost clinical sound contrasts with the powerful engine noise, but is just as fundamental to racing success. The meticulous rhythm of the tyre guns during pit stops evokes a well-orchestrated ballet, where every movement is perfectly coordinated. For spectators, this sound is a reminder the battle that is also fought off the track, where every second counts.

During a tyre change, the cars are lifted using hydraulic jacks. Time seems to stand still for a brief instant, until the sharp hiss of the jacks being released signals the car’s return to the track.

The race commentator: the voice of Le Mans

There’s another sound you can’t miss at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 24 Hours, and it offers a distinctly human touch – the voice of the official commentator, Bruno Vandestick. He keeps spectators up to date with what’s happening on and off track, from Test Day right up to the end of the race. He has a knack for conveying the excitement felt whenever a driver overtakes or something unexpected happens, making him an essential component of the 24 Hours audio experience. His spirited and enthusiastic style, paired with his detailed commentary, add to the spectators’ enjoyment.

How do the sounds of the race shape the drivers’ experience?

Drivers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans have to deal with more than just speed and tiredness. They also need to contend with the extreme noise levels, which can affect their concentration and how they feel.

Paul-Loup Chatin, driver of the Alpine Endurance Team #35 Alpine A424 says that the constant engine noise is part and parcel of the race and you get used to it. “Over a 24-hour race, when we do a series of stints, you can feel a buzzing in your ear when you get out of the car, and that can give you a headache. It doesn’t affect our concentration though.” The drivers wear an earpiece to communicate with their team in the garage. It also filters out a lot of background noise. “When the earpiece is poorly positioned, we may hear unfamiliar noises and that can affect our concentration. In the final hour of the race, when we become more anxious about mechanical failure, we may start to hear noises that we hadn’t noticed before. So we pick up on every little sound, instead of being fulling focused on our driving,” Chatin adds.

Being attuned to the specific sound of their engine thus helps the drivers to anticipate a mechanical fault. ”Sometimes, a sound can provide an early warning, even before we notice any changes in the drive,” explains the French driver, who has ten Le Mans start to his credit. The timely detection of mechanical issues can help avoid critical loss of time during the race. However, if the engineers don’t find anything amiss with the telemetry readings, the drivers often choose to carry on racing instead of stopping to investigate the strange noise.

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Chatin also tells us that the sounds heard in the pitlane are important in helping drivers stay coordinated during a pitstop. “The sound of the refuelling gun sets the tempo for me. When I hear it, I know how much time I have left to strap myself in. We hear it, we don’t need to see it. The auditory cues are key to the pitstop routine,” states Chatin. On the sound of the Alpine A424, he claims, “Our Hypercar sounds better than the rest. I really like it. The single turbo adds something special. Our car doesn’t make a deafening noise, but it definitely sounds good.”

The roar of the cars, the captivating choreography in the pitlane, the commentator’s voice… these auditory elements combine to create a concerto of machinery and human interaction that resonates far beyond the circuit. These sounds are all very different yet so perfectly matched. Arranged together in a symphony, they produce the extraordinary soundtrack of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, helping make the race such a memorable experience for generations of fans.

See you at the circuit from 11-15 June 2025 to hear it for yourself! Tickets for the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans  will go on sale to the public on Wednesday 13 November.