Stretching south from the outskirts of the city is the car racing circuit where the world-renowned 24 Heures du Mans car race takes place each year in mid-June, continuing the city`s associations with automobiles, begun when local bell-founder Amadee Bollee built his first steam-driven car back in 1873. Le Mans still has a huge Renault factory operating in its southwest suburbs.The first big race at Le Mans was the Grand Prix de l`Automobile Club de l`Ouest in 1906, initiated by the newly formed automobile club.
