The Bugatti Circuit was added to the Le Mans complex in 1965 primarily to provide a permanent, shorter track for racing that would not require the use of public roads. It shares certain sections with the full 24 Hours circuit, including the pit lane complex, the main pit straight, and the segment beneath the iconic Dunlop Bridge. At the fork, vehicles on the Bugatti Circuit turn right at La Chapelle while cars heading toward Mulsanne on the full circuit continue left toward Tertre Rouge.
The infield section of the Bugatti Circuit is purpose-built and features several distinctive corners, including Garage Vert, the S du Garage Bleu, a back straight, and the Raccordement connecting turn that rejoins the lap at the Ford Chicane. In 2002, as part of renovations to the Le Mans complex, a left-right sweep was added to the overlapping section between the two circuits for motorcycle safety reasons. The circuit measures 4.185 km (2.600 miles), a compact but technically varied layout.
The Bugatti Circuit made an immediate mark on the motorsport calendar: in 1967 it hosted the French Formula One Grand Prix, the only time a World Championship Formula One race took place at Le Mans. Though Formula One never returned, the circuit went on to become the home of the French motorcycle Grand Prix, establishing itself as one of the most consistent and popular venues in European motorcycle racing.
For many years the circuit was base to Pescarolo Sport, the endurance racing outfit founded by celebrated French driver Henri Pescarolo. Its sheltered paddock and established infrastructure made it an attractive operational home for endurance teams.
The Bugatti Circuit became the permanent home of the French MotoGP round, listed on the World Championship calendar as the Grand Prix de France. The event takes place annually in May and is among the largest-attended rounds on the MotoGP schedule, drawing tens of thousands of spectators to the Le Mans complex. The circuit also hosts the 24 Heures Motos, one of the most important events in the FIM Endurance World Championship, staged every April.
In past decades the Bugatti Circuit featured in the International Formula 3000 Championship from 1986 to 1991, the DTM German touring car series in 2006 and 2008, and various Formula Renault and European Formula Three events. The MotoE World Championship staged its French round, the French eRace, at the circuit from 2020 to 2025, and the GP Explorer — a celebrity karting event broadcast online — has taken place there in 2022, 2023, and 2025.
The relationship between the Bugatti Circuit and the full Circuit de la Sarthe is both physical and symbolic. The two tracks share the pit complex and start-finish straight, meaning the atmosphere, grandstands, and infrastructure of the 24 Hours of Le Mans surround every Bugatti Circuit event. The Musée des 24 Heures du Mans, located at the main entrance to the venue, makes the site a year-round destination for motorsport history.
The shared pit lane exit is split: a second pit exit added as part of the 2002 redevelopment allows Bugatti Circuit competitors to re-enter at a different point than 24 Hours circuit traffic, improving traffic management between the two layouts.
The Bugatti Circuit's annual calendar is extensive. In addition to the MotoGP French Grand Prix in May and the 24 Heures Motos in April, the circuit hosts the 24 Heures Camions European Truck Racing Championship in September, the Fun Cup France endurance series, the French Superbike Championship, various Porsche Cup rounds, and inline skating events including the 24 Rollers, a 24-hour race for skaters held on the circuit. The Le Mans Classic, held biannually, also uses the venue.
The Bugatti Circuit occupies a unique position in world motorsport: a permanent track that lives inside one of the most famous racing venues on earth. Its longevity as the home of the French MotoGP round — maintained for decades — reflects both the quality of the facility and the organisational continuity the circuit provides. For motorcycle racing fans in France and across Europe, the May MotoGP weekend at Le Mans is one of the calendar's most anticipated events.