LE MANS ❘ FRENCH GREATS
“LE MANS IS ONE OF THE PUREST SHOWCASES OF TEAMWORK, DEDICATION AND CONSISTENCY”
air, towards the packed terraces and grandstand, throwing him out of his vehicle and killing him instantly. On hitting a concrete stairwell, it disintegrated sending metal components and debris scything through the hapless spectators. British Jaguar driver Duncan Hamilton was watching from the pit wall. “The scene on the other side of the road was indescribable,” he recalled with dread. “The dead and dying were everywhere; the cries of pain, anguish, and despair screamed catastrophe. I stood as if in a dream, too horrifi ed to even think.”
A TRAGIC ACCIDENT
Despite the crash, the race continued for the full 24 hours, the organisers worrying that, should they call it off, spectators leaving would block access for ambulances. In the aftermath, though, many nations imposed a ban on all motor sports until strict safety regulations could be imposed. Not surprisingly, ever since that dark day, Le Mans has bent over backwards in its efforts to stage the safest possible race. Track improvements, infrastructure changes and new regulations have all been instigated.
Nowadays it is held on the Circuit de la Sarthe – a combination of closed public roads and sections of racetrack – with three drivers interchanging between each vehicle. Thanks to its speed, intriguing tactics and bitter rivalry, the race has starred in a whole host of fi lms, documentaries, even video games. Perhaps the most famous is the 1971 Steve McQueen movie, Le Mans, in which the American actor plays racing driver Michael Delaney. Footage of the actual race, captured in 1970, was used in the fi lm. In 2003, a French fi lm was released called Michel Vaillant, again using footage from the previous year’s race. In 2019, Matt Damon and Christian
Clockwise from main: Le 24 Heures du Mans is one of the three most important motor races in the world; cars jostle for position on the track; the infamous running start by drivers at Le Mans in 1969
Bale starred in Le Mans ’66 (titled Ford v Ferrari in the United States) which documented the battle for domination between the two leading teams of the era.
Locals are rightly very proud of the sporting event that has placed them so fi rmly on the global map. “Many families who have lived in the city for generations have an ancestor who has taken part either behind the wheel or behind the scenes – often as a marshal or as a volunteer,” explain the organisers. “The hordes of marshals – almost 1,600 of them offi ciated in June 2022 – are a vital cog in the Le Mans machine.” Pierre Fillon is president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, the race organisers and the largest automotive group in France. “This race is deeply anchored in the cultural and economic heritage of the region,” he says in a new commemorative publication about the event. “More than just a race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is an event you have to experience at least once in your life.” While many sports fans might frown at such a profl igate use of fossil fuel, Fillon and his colleagues are at pains to explain the enduring mechanical signifi cance of Le Mans. “Technological advancement has always been the raison d’être of motorsport,” he says. “Racing has long given car- makers a stimulus to innovate. It has also provided a valuable platform on which to test their groundbreaking developments. This is especially true at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where reliability is equally as important as performance.” Fillon points to innovations such as disc brakes, hybrid engines and fog lights which have been honed on the testbed that is the ❯❯
Jun/Jul 2023 FRANCE TODAY ❘ 47
IMAGES © SARTHE TOURISME / MAXIME GUILLON, DAVID MERRETT, BRIAN SNELSON, WIKIMEDIA, ALAMY, LOTHAR SPURZEM
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