Kiwi motorsport ace Brendon Hartley is just hours away from beginning his quest for a third Le Mans 24 hour race title.
Hartley's Toyota Gazoo team will start second on the grid, as they tackle the world's most famous endurance race, for the first time in a hybrid Hypercar.
"It's definitely the most important race of the year and it's the one we all want to win," Hartley says hours out from the green flag.
And his Toyota Gazoo Racing team is sitting pretty after dominating qualifying, locking out the front row of the grid.
Kamui Kobayashi on pole with Hartley and his teammates, Sebastian Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima second.
"So much effort has gone into this moment... all the prep... all the endurance test - the races - all the hard work back at the factory - it all starts now.
But this time, it's Le Mans with a twist with Toyota showcasing the dawn of the hypercar, the new breed of hybrid cars replacing the Le Mans Prototype 1.
But many of the big car manufacturers are yet to join the hyperclass category, leaving just five cars to contest the top class this year.
And that's great news for the Kiwi who is hunting a third race title.
"I remember the first time I won it, it's life-changing winning here for the first time. You put your name in the history books
2017, in front of 250 thousand fans the first victory tasted very sweet
In 2020, amidst a raging pandemic, celebrations were far more subdued.
And despite a short stint in Formula One, Le Mans remains the creme de la creme for Hartley.
"Even after competing in Formula One, which was actually my dream as a kid, I still never replicated the feeling I have standing on the grid here before the start of Le Mans 24 hour."
