2016 Le Mans 24 hours: pictures

Audi's R18 LMP1 cars started in 5th and 6th place on the grid.

The race begins, with the iconic ferris wheel letting spectators get great views of the action.

Pundidt suspect that new safety rules will mean the end of open LMP cars soon. Here's one of the last ones out on the track in 2016.

The final corners of the track are tricky, with the wet conditioning giving some of the cars a tough time in terms of grip.

Ford and Ferrari are battling it out on the track, with both cars looking great and sounding even better.

The main grandstand on the pit straight at Le Mans 2016 - packed out even for the support race this morning.

A behind-the-scenes area for the race, this is the working paddock.

The circuit is already alive on the Saturday morning before the big race thanks to the 'Road to Le Mans' support race.

Even the richest motorsport teams in the world aren't above a good old bit of duct tape to fix an aero problem.

With forecasts looking rather wet, the teams are preparing tyres for all eventualities ahead of the race.

The sign on this door reads "If you're not Brad Pitt, don't bother coming in".

This tiny Audi is useful for transporting things around the paddock. And for looking silly.

Big crowds are everywhere, with people making the journey from all corners of Europe.