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Celebrating 100 years since the first 24 Hours of Le Mans

The Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 Hybrid team celebrate alongside Shigeki Tomoyama (left) of Toyota after their Le Mans victory. (Getty Images: Ker Robertson)

It was 100 years ago a cultural icon in motorsport began.

May 26, 1923 was the date of the inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans — an event which has become the cornerstone of endurance motor racing.

The annual race has gone through every phase of motor racing over the past century, from revolutionary cars to constant improvements in safety.

André Lagache and René Leonard were the overall winner of the first 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving the Chenard & Walker entrant. (Getty Images: Klemantaski Collection)

The first race was held from May 26-27 in 1923 and was an immediate success.

The showcase of automobiles was a spectacle, with 30 cars making it to the finish.

André Lagache and René Leonard were the overall winner of the first 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving the Chenard & Walker entrant.

French racing driver Odette Siko (driving) and Louis Charavel (front) finished fourth overall at Le Mans in 1932. (Getty Images: Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystine)

It would take seven years before the now-famous race had its first female driver.

In 1930, two female racers tackled Le Mans — Odette Siko and Marguerite Mareuse.

The pair teamed up in the 1.5-litre engine category, driving a Bugatti T40. 

They finished seventh overall, completing 128 laps.

Siko's best performance would come in 1932, when she teamed with Louis Charavel to win the 2-litre class, and finish fourth overall.

Louis Chiron standing in front of his racing car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1931. (Getty Images: Keystone-France/Gamma-Rapho)
The 24 Hours of Le Mans used to begin with drivers running to their cars, as seen pictured in 1932. (Getty Images: Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via)

The race grew in popularity over the next decade.

However, the race would take a 10 year hiatus in 1939.

The outbreak of World War II brought an end to the event. Following the war, the circuit went through a major upgrade and resumed its famous race in 1949.

The return of the endurance classic was again a hit, but tragedy would strike the event in 1955.

French driver Pierre Levegh would be involved in an accident that claimed his life, and the lives of more than 80 spectators.

Around a further 180 were also injured.

This image captures the moment immediately after Pierre Levegh crashes into the crowd during the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans. (Getty Images: Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Hulton Archive via)

Levegh was involved in a crash that sent his Mercedes to the edge of the track. His car jumped over the protective barrier and ploughed into spectators.

The car exploded into flames, while debris flew into the crowd.

The disaster prompted a major overhaul to safety.

The race still attracted thousands of fans despite the disaster in 1955.

Its prominence in the world of motorsport grew through the 50s and 60s, as racing became a larger entity.

A police officer watches race cars descending to the Esses during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, June 1964. The nearest car is the special lightweight Jaguar E-type coupe of the Germans Peter Lindner and Peter Nocker. (Getty Images: Klemantaski Collection)
The winning car of  Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon in the Ford Mk II (right) pass the , Ferrari 365 P2 Spyder of Richard Attwood and David Piper in 1966. (Getty Images: GP Library/Universal Images Group)
A picture from high on the grandstand shows the cars lining up to start the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with thousands watching. (Getty Images: Bernard Cahier)

While the race is at the epicentre of French motorsport, it is Germany's manufacturers who have been the masters of Le Mans. 

Porsche has won the race 19 times, while Audi is the second-best manufacturer with 13 victories. 

Ferrari has taken the overall honours nine times, while Toyota is the most successful Asian entrant with five wins.

All five of Toyota's wins have come in the last five races from 2018-2022, making them the dominant force of the modern era.

Toyota thought their first win was coming in 2016, but the car driven by Kazuki Nakajima broke down with 3 minutes left in the race. 

Race leader Kazuki Nakajima of Toyota Gazoo Racing suffers engine problems with less than three minutes to run of the Le Mans 24 Hour race handing victory to the Porsche Team. (Getty Images: Ker Robertson)

Prior to Toyota's dominance, Mazda was the only Asian manufacturer to win at Le Mans — achieving their lone win in 1991.

Danish driver Tom Kristensen is the undisputed king of Le Mans, winning the race nine times.

He won six consecutive races from 2000-2005.

He is three wins clear of legend Jacky Ickx, who once held the record at six.

The winning car of Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell in the Porsche 936/81 are welcomed by fans at the finish line in 1981 (Getty Images: Bernard Cahier)
The Porsche 956 of Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell, leading the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 1982. (Getty Images: Klemantaski Collection)

This year's race will be held from on Sunday, June 11, with the race starting at midnight AEST.

This year's race will be the 91st and will have 16 entrants in the top-tier hypercar class.

The  Porsche GT Team 911 RSR -19 of Kevin Estre, Laurens Valthoor and Michael Christensen drives into the sunset in 2022. (Getty Images: Ker Robertson)
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