Race management for the 24 Hours of Le Mans is comprised of an event director, a race director and two assistant race directors. Their role is to ensure the smooth running of the race, full compliance with sporting regulations and the safety of drivers on the track. Every in-race occurrence is relayed to race management by the marshals, namely via videos, so the event and race directors can make an appropriate decision, whether a simple yellow flag, slow zones (partial neutralisation of a section of the circuit), race neutralisation under the Safety Car or a red flag, for example.

In the case of an infringement of the rules or sporting code, the stewards decide to impose a penalty or not on the competitor in question, such as a stop & go, a drive-through or a finanical fine.

Six race directors have served at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since the first running in 1923.

The first, Charles Faroux from 1923 to 1956, founded the race with the help of ACO General Secretary Georges Durand, Emile Coquille and Géo Lefèvre. Initially known as the Grand Prix of Speed and Endurance, the event was later renamed the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In addition to having officiated at Le Mans, Faroux served as the pre-war race director for the Monte Carlo Rally. An engineer by training, he is credited with setting up timing at the 24 Hours.

Faroux was succeeded by Jacques Loste in 1957. All while fulfilling his function as race director, he worked as a journalist, auto press specialist and ran the Argus newspaper for many years. From 1969 to 1974, Loste also served as vice president of the automobile engineers society created by Faroux a few years earlier. He established his own tradition of tipping his hat to each car to which he presented the chequered flag as a sign of greeting and respect for the drivers.

Charles Deutsch replaced Jacques Loste in 1969. His first stint as race director proved to be at an unforgettable running of the 24 Hours. It was the year of the last "Le Mans-style" start when Jacky Ickx walked not ran across the track to his car in protest of the dangerous nature of the procedure. Also in 1969, Steve McQueen was location scouting with his film crew for the film Le Mans.

Deutsch served until his death in 1980. He was also a polytechnician engineer in the automotive field, creating several engineering companies during his career. Deutsch is known as a pioneer in aerodynamics research: before becoming a race director, he involved himself in many projects with various teams participating in the 24 Hours, namely Panhard, Peugeot, and even Porsche in the late 1960s/early 1970s working on the 908, 917 and 917-20 Le Mans, as well as Ligier with whom he studied the aerodynamics of the first French Formula 1 cars.

Marcel Martin took the reins in 1981. A local entrepreneur and former rally driver, he himself had taken the start in the 24 Hours twice, in 1967 with an Abarth 1300 OT and in 1968 at the wheel of a Fiat Dino. 

During his two decades as race director, he advocated the use of the Safety Car and implemented track camera surveillance at the Bugatti circuit, the first set-up of its kind. In 2000, at his final 24 Hours, Martin said: "Long live the 24 Hours of Le Mans, that it continue to be successful and have as much impact across the globe thanks to the extraordinary spirit it has carried since its creation. After serving for 20 years, I have decided to bow out so the 21st century will begin with a new man at the helm of this prestigious event. May he feel as much joy as I did lowering the chequered flag for the winner."

Daniel Poissenot became the first 24 Hours race director of the 21st century in 2001. He first attended the race in the 1970s, then joined the ACO as the head of track safety before stepping into the lead role. His first running was also marked by the integration of the first event director, a post occupied that year by six-time Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx. Poissenot served as the race director from 2001 to 2014 before passing the mantle to Patrick Morisseau.

When the 24 Hours of Le Mans was added to the FIA World Endurance Championship calendar, the FIA itself began naming an event director to serve as managing duo with the race director. From 2012 to present day, competitors have listened on the radio to the voice of Race Director Eduardo Freitas from Portugal. Between 2012 and 2014, he was joined by Daniel Poissenot and now since 2015 by Patrick Morisseau. Freitas is now one of the emblematic personalities in the paddocks of the current endurance pyramid: in addition to the WEC, his current activities include the European Le Mans Series and Asian Le Mans Series.

On 10-11 June, Eduardo Freitas and Patrick Morisseau will once again have the honour of releasing the 62 competitors, then 24 hours later lowering the chequered flag for the winner at the already legendary Centenary running of the race.

PHOTOS (Copyright - ACO/Archives): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS. From top to bottom: chequered flag raised and hats off to Jacques Loste, a salute answered by one of the two drivers of this Austin Healey Sprite Sebring, 12th at the 1965 24 Hours; Charles Faroux, pioneer and former Race Director; Jacques Loste ready for the chequered flag in 1962; Charles Deutsch (centre) in 1975, flanked by two other Automobile Club de l'Ouest managers at the time, ACO President Raymond Gouloumès (at left) and ACO Sporting Commission President Pierre Allanet; Marcel Martin lowered the chequered flag for his first 24 Hours as Race Director in 1981; Daniel Poissenot (at right) along with Ferrari and FIAT President Luca di Montezemolo serving as official starter at the 2009 24 Hours; current Race Direction duo in two photos, Eduardo Freitas and Patrick Morisseau in 2022 (foreground above).