The Le Mans circuit may have changed over the years since the event was first staged in 1923, but at 13.629 kilometres, it still represents a remarkable test of man and machine.

The majority of the track runs along public roads, which are only closed off for the race and are proliferated by tram-lines caused by the heavy trucks that use them throughout the year.

Today's cars cover over 5,000km during the 24 hours, which is comparable to the distance covered during a complete Formula One season.

One lap takes just over three minutes and 30 seconds, with the winning car this year likely to complete just over 390 laps.

Here, PA Sport takes a look at one of the most famous circuits in the world.

From the start/finish line there is a short straight that heads into the Dunlop Corner, with the cars needing to brake hard on entry, and made more difficult as there is very little grip.

The road bends slightly right before the tight left and slightly faster right of the Dunlop Chicane.

This leads into the Esses which are bumpy, yet quick left, right turns requiring the line to be perfect.

Another short sprint heads into Tertre Rouge, which this year has been modified, and with new tarmac means the cars are two seconds faster through this right-hand corner.

That leads into the Hunaudières straight, which is five km long and punctuated by two very fast chicanes, culminating in the Mulsanne hairpin, which is a slow first or second-gear right-hander.

The cars brake from 320kph down to 70kph before accelerating hard again coming out of the apex, hitting top speed again on the run down through the trees to Indianapolis.

A gentle dab on the brakes enables the cars to carry considerable speed through the right-hander before heavier braking into a third -gear left-hander.

Next comes Arnage, a slow right-hander taken in first or second gear, with the exit heading into a twisty but flat-out run to one of the track's highlights, the Porsche curves.

They are taken at high speed as they sweep right-left-left-right-left.

Just after the exit there is a flat-out right-left taken in fifth gear on the way to the Ford chicane, which are actually two left- right chicanes back-to-back, with the second taken slowly and leading back onto the pit straight.

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