How do drivers eat and sleep during the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
Published 15/06/2025 at 15:14 GMT+1
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The 24 Hours of Le Mans attracts motorsport stars from around the world, with the likes of F1 legend Jenson Button and MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi both taking part in the 93rd edition of the iconic race. However, the demands on the drivers can be huge, and with such a rigorous schedule, some fans may be wondering how they eat and sleep during 24 hours of intense competition.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of any driver's skill, sharpness and endurance.
The iconic race attracts stars from a wide range of motorsports, with the likes of F1 legend Jenson Button and MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi both involved in this year's race.
The 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been another thrilling affair and it has pushed the drivers to their limit.
However, after another exhilarating night session, some fans may be wondering how the drivers eat and sleep during the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
As 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer said ahead of the start of the event, a mistake at the 24 Hours of Le Mans can have huge ramifications.
With that in mind, we thought the time was right to take a look at how the drivers stay on top of their game while they race.
How do the drivers eat?
Despite the name of the race, no driver will be competing for 24 hours straight.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Each team is allowed driver changes, and they can be the difference between a successful race and a complete disaster.
Teams rotate between three drivers during the race, and no single driver can be in the car for more than 14 hours.
They also can't be behind the wheel for longer than four hours of any six-hour period.
Every driver has to race for at least six hours in total.
Usually, the drivers tend to be behind the wheel for between 45 minutes and four hours at one time.
That means that there are opportunities to eat during the race without having to store food in the passenger seat.
How do the drivers sleep?
That still does not provide much time to sleep, but a quick nap can be the key to success during the race.
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In theory, drivers can get some sleep over the course of the race.
However, many, including DKR Engineering driver Thomas Laurent, prefer to take shorter rests.
"I managed pretty well," said Laurent back when he was part of Rebellion Racing.
"I had two 15-20 minute naps.
"It was enough to keep up the pace."
You can watch all the action from the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the UK with TNT Sports and discovery+.
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