- BGG rank
- BGG #11,905
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Knights of Camelot
- 2–6 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1980
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,483
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Le Mans
1961
Rules assistance for Le Mans
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–12 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Le Mans
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Le Mans is a board game released in 1961 for 1–12 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Rodney Mudge and Scott Wright and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Race, and Push Your Luck.
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About the game
The great-grandfather of today's racing games, elements of Le Mans are clearly evident in games like Formula Dé. Le Mans offers the choice of twelve different car specifications that detail the number of spaces the car travels in each gear and which gears the cars can safely negotiate turns. Also, the different car types have different braking characteristics. The game includes two tracks printed on the same board, Monte Carlo and Le Mans. Each track is only two lanes wide, and the spaces on the track are only a half-car-length, so a car takes up two spaces at once. The cars move in order of track position. Each turn, a car may either remain in the same gear, shift up one gear, or shift down according to the car's specifications. It must then move the exact number of spaces required by the particular model of car in the specified gear. When cornering, if a car exceeds the gear specified for the particular model of car, it must "take a chance." The driver must roll the die to determine if the car safely cornered, spun out, crashed, or damaged the car such that a pit stop is required. If a car spins out, a "wet track" marker is placed on the corner, subsequently requiring all cars to roll for a chance when going through it. If a car is blocked and cannot move the entire number of spaces required (and the car has no more hard braking left and cannot down shift enough), the cars collide. Collisions require that the involved cars make a pit stop for repairs. Optional rules include guidelines for slipstreaming, over-revving to move an extra space, and details of team, solo, and timed play, and "Le Mans-style" starts. The game is a revised version of Wright-Mudge Enterprises' Grand Prix: A Sports Car Racing Game.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- The Avalon Hill Game Co
Questions and answers
Le Mans supports 1–12 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Le Mans is 60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Le Mans for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Le Mans has a complexity rating of 2.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Le Mans belongs to these categories: Racing and Sports. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Race, and Push Your Luck. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Le Mans are: Rodney Mudge and Scott Wright. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Le Mans as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.