Will the gnats spoil the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

The 24 Hours of Le Mans 2025 are affected by a rather unexpected natural phenomenon, a true invasion of gnats.

More specifically, swarms of tiny winged aphids that have taken residence in Le Mans since June. Since the beginning of race week, these insects have invaded the circuit, the city, and its surroundings, forming immense clouds in the air, particularly visible in the late afternoon.

The peak of this aerial presence has been observed every day between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM, just before night falls. A temporary nuisance for spectators? Not just that. For the drivers, these clouds of insects turn into a real danger.

“We saw that on test day, it was unbelievable. And now, you leave the pits, you arrive at the first straight of Hunaudières, you can’t see anything through your windshield !”, said Toyota driver Sébastien Buemi to ICI Maine. At over 300 km/h, reduced visibility becomes a major risk. The problem is even more acute as the headlights are also covered with insects, reducing their effectiveness. Windshields become coated with a fine sticky layer that prevents the use of wipers and forces teams to increase cleaning during pit stops.

The origin of this phenomenon: a peak in the reproduction of aphids favored by ideal weather conditions combining heat, humidity, and abundant vegetation around the circuit. While it is natural, this invasion remains exceptional in its scale. The insects are everywhere, stuck to the bodywork, and nestled in helmets and suits…

Faced with this situation, teams have had to adapt. The cars are already equipped with around ten tear-offs, thin removable plastic films stuck on the windshields. It is possible to remove one at each pit stop to regain optimal visibility, but after approximately 40 minutes of racing, they will quickly be exhausted. Fortunately, the swarm usually dissipates as night falls, but the cars continue to spray oil and rubber debris. This year’s greatest endurance race in the world will certainly be a race for visibility.

This unexpected challenge serves as a reminder that even in a hyper-technological universe like endurance racing, nature can still surprise… and impose its rules.

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