I thought that seeing as this enormous occasion is only two weeks away from running that it was overdue that we should have a thread open for the event.
Plenty of new liveries, cars from Hypercars to GTs and even a return to Le Sarthe for a NASCAR entry.... of particular noter a NASCAR driven by amongst others WDC Jenson Button.
There is no race quite like the Le Mans 24 Hours. Across the course of its 100-year history, no other event has come close to generating the sheer volume of stories, myths and legends that have become sewn into the very fabric of the Circuit de la Sarthe.
It’s a race of immeasurable challenge, and one that regularly pushes drivers and the finest racing technology in the world to breaking point, and beyond. Heroes have been made, and lost, at Le Mans and it remains one of the great pillars of the racing landscape, some 100 years and 91 editions on from that formative first event in 1923.
While the race itself has changed hugely since those early days, the ethos of it hasn’t. It is still the ultimate test of endurance, featuring a mixture of supreme speed, public roads and permanent race track, changeable weather and a mixture of abilities and classes unlike anything else in the world. Drivers and teams must be ready for anything at Le Mans, because anything usually does happen. That’s a big reason why there have been so many feats of heroism and ingenuity.
From those early days of production road cars with cloth hoods and faltering headlights to the cutting-edge hybrid Hypercars we have now, the rate of progression at Le Mans has been constant. Cars now regularly exceed 3000 miles on the 8.5-mile circuit over the day and night, pushing more than 200mph multiple times over the race distance.
The first Le Mans 24 Hours took place 100 years ago this month on 26-27 May 1923.
Thats how Motorsport Mag sees the race origins.It had been dreamt up by Emile Coquille, a French importer of Rudge-Whitworth bicycles and wheels, George Durand of the ACO and Charles Faroux, the editor of a weekly motoring magazine. Initially it was envisaged to be an eight-hour race – four in daylight, four at night, but Durand suggested a full 24 hours. What could be a better proof of reliability and endurance?
That first event drew 33 starters from 17 manufacturers, all hoping to make their mark on history, yet now vanished – Delage, Montier, Chenard et Walcker, Brasier, Georges Irat, La Lorraine, Berliet… Only one name carried through to us uninterrupted: Bentley.
All the cars were French apart from the Bentley and two entrants from Excelsior, a Belgian manufacturer, and each raced in their national colours – blue for France, yellow for Belgium and green for the British. The weather was filthy and the track rutted but a jazz band and fireworks kept the crowd in good spirits.
Thirty cars finished – despite the rain, road surfaces and corners illuminated by makeshift army searchlights – with the Bentley coming in a commendable fourth and recording the fastest lap at 9min 41sec (66mph average).
The race was ‘won’ by the Chenard et Walcker of André Lagache and René Leonard four laps ahead of its sister car. I say ‘won’ because as all pub quiz question compilers know, there were no actual winners in 1923 or for that matter in 1924 or 1925 either, because the events were not individual races but rounds of the Rudge-Whitworth Triennial Cup – an idea cooked up to ensure teams kept coming back.
“There is a magic and mystique to Le Mans that can be hard to pin down”
Since then Le Mans has become that rare thing – a sporting event that has managed – like Wimbledon, say, – to transcend even its own sport. There is a magic and mystique to Le Mans that can be hard to pin down, which is why this month we have dedicated much of Motor Sport to celebrating its history in as comprehensive a way as possible, while hopefully still capturing some of its essence by highlighting lesser-known aspects that have helped define it.
This year is extra special though, beyond its historical significance...... the hype itself looks fully justified.
Not only do we have a full grid of top-class manufacturer-backed entrants, but they include some of the most storied names – Porsche is back and Ferrari returns a full 50 years after it last competed for outright honours. Cadillac is also back while former winner Peugeot returns with a somewhat unique design.
There is an ominous feeling, in the shape of a pair of Toyota GR010s. This year we may see an easy victory for Toyotaf or the sixth year running. “The two-lap victory over eight hours at Sebring and one lap over six at Portimão suggested that Toyota’s rivals, Ferrari, Porsche, Peugeot and Cadillac, have a mountain to climb to get on terms.”
Then again, at Le Mans mountains have been climbed before… it looks on paper to be Toyota's race to lose, but who knows over 24 hours
Discuss away and add information pictures, liveries, news whatever.
A couple of links to start off with.
The Official Website. https://www.24h-lemans.com/
ENTRY LIST: .The 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours entry list in full with Drivers
Full programme of events each day from 1st June..... just click on the day and it will tell you what is on.
https://www.24h-lemans.com/fr/programme
