The magic of Le Mans
Posted by Nick Trott at 12:15PM on Wednesday 20 June, 2007 3 Comments
I've been away from the Le Mans 24-hour race for a couple of years now, but this year I returned. It's the only motorsport event I go to as a fan. I'll camp, get wet, eat dick d'alsation hotdogs and absorb that unique Le Mans vibe.
Except this year I was working. I felt a little ashamed. But hey, the missus has just ordered a new kitchen...
On the positive side, I got a chance to see Le Mans from the inside, meet some legends and watch the race from the Aston Martin pit garage. I even got on telly. Oo, get me...
I asked all the famous faces I met in my capacity as a journo the same question - 'What does the magic of Le Mans mean to you?'. Here are the answers:
Sir Stirling Moss: 'It changes, of course, but when you're out there [Moss drove in the Legends Race] you can feel it all around the circuit. The track is different from when I drove it, but it's still bloody fast and very exciting. Most of the feeling comes from the track itself.'
Darren Turner, Aston Martin works driver: 'I'm never going to win the Indy 500, so this is it. The biggest, best, most famous sports car race in the world.'
Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin CEO: 'It's the supporters, the history, the feeling that you are pushing everything to the maximum.'
Johnny Herbert, Aston Martin works driver: 'you feel it the moment you get here. It's a unique feeling, the history, the fans. There's nothing like it.'
David Richards, Prodrive boss: 'It will be hard for anyone to deny that this is the greatest motor race in the world. And the fact that it is once a year too. You have a long time to anticipate it, a long time to train for it, and you only have 24 hours to get it wrong. It has a very British feel to it as well. I cannot think of another event that creates the same feeling of magic as Le Mans.'
For me, the magic of Le Mans is sunrise over Arnage. Red brake discs glowing into Indianapolis. Getting lost trying to find your way to the Chinese Restaurant on Hunaudieres. A beer at sunset in Tetre Rouge. Waking up at 5am, hearing the cars still at it, realising that there's still another 10 hours to go...
I bloody love it. And some friends who went there for the first time agreed and said they would be back. Le Mans does that to you; you rarely visit just once.
Have you just returned from Le Mans? If so, what's the magic for you?
Advertiser links
3 Comments for "The magic of Le Mans"
POST A COMMENT USING THE FORM BELOW
Comments are now closed for the blog archives.
This was my first trip to Le Mans. Even though it rained and I had come dressed for the sun, I still had the best weekend I've had in a long time. The atmosphere was electric and everyone I spoke to was just so enthusiastic, you just couldn't help but get excited. I'll definitely be back again.
My first Le Mans, and what a race it was. It was really wet, but it was good.
I've been a big fan of Le Mans for several years, but never went until this year, a great race. Just too bad that Tom Kristensen crashed out. But what a win for Aston Martin.
The thing I loved most at Le Mans was the way I was provided with earplugs, but I chose not to wear them because I love the sound of those race cars so much.