By Shaun Summerfield
Recent years have seen a real resurgence at the 24 Hours of Le Mans; the return of Porsche to the top level LMP1 (Le Mans Prototype 1) class, and in 2015 to the top of the Podium was the latest boost to the race which attracts close to 300,000 fans, many who set up camp in paddocks around and inside the 13.6km circuit.
The French race is to the World Endurance Championship, what Bathurst is to the V8 Supercars. I’ve always liked to sum up the comparison as ‘You won the Championship and you’re the Champ for that year – win Bathurst and you are a Legend.’
Le Mans is traditionally one of Motorsports ‘triple-crown’; alongside Monaco (F1) and the Indy 500 (IRL). There was a time (before Bernie Ecclestone maybe?) when drivers could contest all three, today Monaco and Indy clash.
Graham Hill is the only driver in history to have won all three.
Le Mans has been the ultimate Sports Car race since 1923, a combination of speed and endurance - testing both drivers and their cars. From the legendary Bentley Boys to the Porsche 917’s and Audi R10’s – Le Mans has attracted some of the greatest cars, and technology. Today’s top cars are all Hybrid-powered.
Until 1970 drivers would run across the track to their waiting cars to start the race. The ‘Le Mans Start’ was a unique feature of the race, it was also potentially dangerous.
Danger though, remains a very real part of Le Mans. In the 82 races, 22 drivers have been killed, the last being Allan Simonsen in 2013. That number doesn’t paint the full picture though. In 1955, 83 spectators were killed and 120 injured when Pierre Levegh’s car flew into the crowd and burst into flames. It remains the greatest catastrophe in Motorsport history.
Constant efforts are made to what are mostly public roads, as safe as possible. In 1990 two chicanes were added to the Mulsanne straight after the Peugeot entry was clocked at 405km/h. Today’s cars still reach speeds in excess of 320km/h.
Hollywood loves Le Mans, Grey’s Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey stood on the podium last year, while Paul Newman competed and Steve McQueen made a film about the race.
New Zealand’s holds a special place at Le Mans, with Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon winning in an all-black Ford GT40 in 1966. 50 years on controversy still surrounds Ford’s ill-conceived attempts to stage the result.
Last year Le Mans Rookie Earl Bamber became the second Kiwi to score outright honours in at Le Mans, in the Porsche 919. This year he is back driving a Porsche 911 RSR, alongside compatriots Brendon Hartley, Scott Dixon and Richie Stanaway.
We’ll have coverage of the build-up and race on Newshub and CRC Motorsport.
Click above for the video
Newshub.
