The Bugatti Circuit was added to the Circuit des 24 Heures complex in 1965, providing a shorter permanent layout within the larger semi-permanent road course. The shared sections between the two circuits include the Ford Chicane at the end of the lap, the pit complex, and the straight where the iconic Dunlop Tyres bridge stands. At the junction point, vehicles turning left continue onto the full Circuit de la Sarthe toward Tertre Rouge and Mulsanne, while vehicles turning right at La Chapelle proceed onto the Bugatti Circuit's infield.
The infield section of the Bugatti Circuit features Garage Vert, a back straight, the S du Garage Bleu, and the Raccordement section, which rejoins the track at the Ford Chicane. In 2002, a left-right sweep was added at the junction for motorcycle safety, improving the transition between the two circuits and requiring the creation of a second pit lane exit that re-enters the track just beyond the Dunlop Chicane and before the Dunlop Bridge.
The track was historically the home base of Pescarolo Sport, founded by legendary French endurance driver Henri Pescarolo.
The Bugatti Circuit hosted a single Formula One World Championship event, the 1967 French Grand Prix, making it the only time the circuit has appeared on the Formula One calendar. This remains a notable chapter in its history despite the circuit's relatively modest 4.185 km length compared to the full Le Mans circuit.
The circuit has served as the host for the French motorcycle Grand Prix as part of the MotoGP World Championship, establishing it as a significant venue in international motorcycle racing. It also formed part of the 1988 Superbike World Championship season and hosted rounds of the International Formula 3000 Championship and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM).
Among its more unusual events, the circuit hosts the 24 Rollers, a 24-hour race on inline skates or roller quads, reflecting the venue's versatility beyond traditional motorsport.
The Bugatti Circuit is most prominently associated with the FIM Endurance World Championship's 24 Heures Motos, held annually in April alongside the Sidecar World Championship and the French Superbike Championship. The French motorcycle Grand Prix, a round of the MotoGP World Championship, is held at the circuit each May.
The circuit also serves as the final venue for the FIA European Truck Racing Championship's 24 Heures Camions. On the same grounds, the Le Mans Classic event — held on the full Circuit de la Sarthe — runs in July, celebrating vintage sports car racing heritage with participants from historic periods of Le Mans history.
Past events that have used the circuit include the Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup, Formula 3 Euro Series, the International Formula 3000 Championship, the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, and various iterations of the Porsche Carrera Cup across multiple national championships.
The Bugatti Circuit's existence within the broader Circuit des 24 Heures complex creates a layered venue where the permanent facility and the semi-permanent 24 Hours circuit coexist. The permanent track allows Le Mans to function as a racing venue throughout the year, with the public road sections of the full circuit only closed and incorporated during the 24 Hours of Le Mans weekend.
The 2002 reconfiguration that reshaped the junction between the two circuits improved the flow for motorcycles and redefined the Esses section on the approach to Tertre Rouge. The development also saw the Dunlop Chicane tightened and a larger run-off area created, with the extended pit lane exit serving both circuit configurations from a single pit complex. This integrated infrastructure makes the Le Mans venue among the more architecturally complex racing facilities in the world, with two distinct circuit identities sharing a common pit lane and opening straight.