How Brembo Tests Brakes in Endurance Racing for Peak Performance
▼ Summary
– Brembo sponsored Ars’ trip to Le Mans and their factory visit, though Ars maintains editorial independence.
– The 24 Hours of Le Mans race features intense nighttime visuals, especially glowing brake calipers during turns.
– All 62 cars in the 2025 Le Mans race used at least one Brembo component, designed to endure extreme temperatures without mid-race changes.
– Brembo, founded in 1961, has long-standing partnerships with brands like Alfa Romeo and Ferrari.
– Brembo’s high-performance brakes are recognizable in both production cars and racing vehicles, often featured in premium trims.
Brembo’s cutting-edge brake technology takes center stage at endurance racing’s toughest challenge, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Under the cover of darkness, the glowing red-hot calipers of hypercars illuminate the Circuit de la Sarthe, showcasing the extreme conditions these components endure. This year marked a milestone, with every car on the grid relying on Brembo’s high-performance braking systems, from calipers to discs and pads.
The sheer intensity of endurance racing pushes brakes to their limits. Temperatures soar beyond 1,500°F (815°C), transforming the calipers into fiery beacons at every hard stop. What’s remarkable is that modern systems withstand the entire 24-hour race without replacement, a far cry from earlier eras when mid-race brake changes were routine. The relentless demands of Le Mans make it the ultimate proving ground for Brembo’s engineering prowess.
Headquartered in Bergamo, Italy, Brembo has built its reputation on precision and innovation. Nestled within the Kilometro Rosso district, the company’s origins trace back to 1961, when it first supplied Alfa Romeo. A pivotal partnership with Ferrari’s racing division cemented its legacy, and today, Brembo components are synonymous with performance across motorsports and luxury production vehicles.
Those signature red calipers aren’t just for show. In consumer cars, they often signify top-tier performance packages, while in Formula 1 and endurance racing, they’re customized in team colors but deliver the same relentless stopping power. Whether on the track or the street, Brembo’s technology ensures reliability under the most punishing conditions, proving that when it comes to braking, few can match its expertise.
(Source: Ars Technica)
