Why you should watch the 24-hour Le Mans auto race this weekend

This might be a bold statement, but I'm going to say it anyways: The greatest auto race is not the Daytona 500, the Monaco Grand Prix or even the Indy 500. It's the 24 Hours of Le Mans and it starts on Saturday.

As the name implies, it's a 24-hour endurance race, which takes place in Le Mans, France, but it is so much more than just that. The race has taken place annually since 1923 — only pausing in 1936 due to a strike in France and from 1939-1948 due to the outbreak of World War II.

It has since become one of the greatest motor races in the world, easily on par with the Indy 500, the Daytona 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix. Drivers race in teams of three from 3 p.m. on Saturday to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The team which covers the most distance wins. This means the cars have to be incredibly quick, but also reliable and efficient. Drivers and crews are pushed up to and beyond their limits. Read more...