DETROIT, Mich.–Sixty-two cars, divided into four different categories, will take the green flag in the 87th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s greatest endurance race to run at the Circuit de la Sarthe, June 15-16.
The top contenders will be primarily the prototypes, divided into LMP1 and LMP2. Just a bit lower performance, but by no means slow, are the Grand Touring Endurance (GTE), with the two categories LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am reserved for series production cars.
The race has run since 1923 on the semi-permanent 8.46-miles Circuit de la Sarthe, characterized by heavy braking, especially close to the two chicanes dividing the long Mulsanne straight where braking systems have however the possibility to cool. It’s essential for the teams to be able to ensure that the brake system always remains within the correct range of operating temperatures.
In this edition, Brembo technicians, who have more than 20 years of experience at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, focused on the lightweight, high stiffness and reliable braking systems technology, thanks to the fact that the friction material of the Italian company, if used in the correct operating conditions, lasts for the entire race, without need for replacement.
Brembo provides the teams with a friction material characterized by extremely low wear and more efficient thermal conductivity. This friction material guarantees optimum warm-up times; it quickly reaches the most efficient operating temperature, has a wide range of use, both in terms of pressure and temperature, and a very linear friction response.
These are all features that provide the driver with perfect modulation
of the braking system. The incredibly low wear also allows performance to stay unchanged and repeatable from start to finish. LMP1 race cars are equipped with carbon friction material, that best combines heat
dissipation capacity and light weight.
Brembo is focused on the optimization of brake discs’ sizes, that have a maximum thickness of 32 mm, while the maximum diameter is 370 mm, with a consumption of 3-4 mm. The number of ventilation holes can be
up to 400, with a range of operating temperature from 662°F (350°C) to 1,472°F (800°C).
In the GTE categories, race-cars use cast iron brake discs, with maximum thickness of 35 mm and maximum diameter of 390 mm, with a consumption of 1 mm. Cast iron brake discs don’t have ventilation holes, but lugs (up to 72), while the range of operating temperature is between 662°F (300°C) and 1,382°F (750°C).
Twenty-six out of the 28 race-cars entered in LM category that will compete for the overall victory are equipped with Brembo products (brake discs and pads or calipers), supplied also to 29 of the 34 race-cars of the GTE category.
