I have a feeling of profound connection to the Circuit De La Sarthe, the 13km blend of public and private raceway that houses arguably the grandest motor race of all: Le Mans.
At present, my footwear is coated in the muck and dirt from the racing grounds while my face and hair have been cooled by interspersed rainfall, coupled with the need to quickly apply sun protection as the sun occasionally peeked through the clouds. My ears echo with engine noise and the feeling of soaked socks is hard to ignore. It would be correct to say that witnessing the Le Mans 24hrs isn’t a simple spectator sporting event; it demands its audience to partake in a personal stamina challenge.
Previously, stamina was the essence of the competition. The century-old Bentley, which once delivered the winner’s trophy leisurely along the start-finish strip before the commencement of the race — and once upon a time, a hundred years ago on this very circuit, claimed victory — needed careful management and at times repairs to reach the end. However, since the turn of the millennium, technology has advanced to such heights that Le Mans vehicles do not require such careful handling to survive the gruelling 24hrs — they’re pushed to their limits against one another, against the clock, against the elements, and even against the unpredictable nature of the race itself. This was aptly put by past champion Alexander Wurz who amusingly observed, you don’t win at Le Mans — Le Mans selects its own winners.
The previous year, marking the centenary of the inaugural 24hrs, saw Ferrari making a comeback to the forefront after a 50 year hiatus, leading to a win that wasn’t universally hailed. Many people perceived that some tweaking had been done to the Balance Of Performance, the regulation that permits the addition of weight and reduction of power from individual vehicles to ensure tight competition. This was thought to have been adjusted in favour of Ferrari to enable a glamorous victory fitting the centenary celebration. Despite being likely just a case of bitter rivalry, it did detract from the victory achieved by Ferrari last year.
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This year erased any previous uncertainties. Despite whatever strategies might have been set by the event organisers, Ferrari found itself amidst a competitive lineup of ‘Hypercars’ – hybrid racing cars that seem futuristic in design – launched by manufacturers like Porsche, Toyota, Peugeot, Alpine, Cadillac, and BMW (making a comeback this year, after a gap since 1999) and Lamborghini. Total entries, inclusive of company-sponsored teams and independent ones, reached a record-breaking 23 Hypercars, a feat unparalleled since the halcyon days of the 1980s. More are reportedly keen to join the fray. Aston Martin plans to vie in the Hypercar category next year, and whispers suggest Honda, Jaguar, and Mercedes’ participation to be potential.
In the lead-up to the major event, Ferrari was largely downplayed, as was Toyota, despite its history of numerous victories and a car that was arguably the most menacing on the field. Many anticipated Porsche to secure its 20th record win, whereas Cadillac and BMW were predicted as significant contenders, given their impressive show during tests and qualifiers.
However, once the race was flagged off, Ferrari incredibly dashed ahead, surpassing the quickest Porsche. The independent AF Corse team largely secured Ferrari’s early on-track dominance. It initially seemed that the race could have witnessed the triumph of the AF Corse Ferrari No.83, but a last-minute catastrophic failure in its hybrid system caused it to retire abruptly.
The race, teeming with top-tier competitors, was bound to be chaotic. The weather emerged as the powerful game-changer. Contrary to predictions of cool and dry conditions, the Loire Valley kept the teams and spectators guessing, with unexpected bouts of rain and wind, prompting a tricky choice between wet weather tyres and cling onto the slick tyres. The race saw a seesaw between Porsche, Cadillac, Toyota, and Ferrari. But, in the end, Ferrari held sway for the most part.
Two extended periods of safety car deployment – one occasioned by the need to repair a severely damaged barrier which spelled the end for BMW’s prospects of a high finish late in the day, and another because torrential rain rendered high speed racing far too hazardous – persistently erased whatever leads certain drivers had managed to establish over their competition. This repeatedly brought the pack together, transforming the event into a sequence of intense, closely-bound dashes.
The most nail-biting of these came when Toyota’s Jose Maria Lopez braved a bold surge inside the Ferrari in second place at Dunlop, right at the first bend. A brush between the two cars ensued, with paint being exchanged on their flanks. Lopez successfully completed the manoeuvre down the iconic Mulsanne Straight, marking a breathtaking point in the race where he was significantly eroding the lead of the No.50 Ferrari. However, the thrill was short-lived, as Lopez eventually spun on the moisture-laden, slippery track, thus reversing the advantage to Ferrari.
Towards the rear, the Peugeot 9X8 duo – undoubtedly the most visually breathtaking cars in the race – demonstrated an absence of the speed needed for a shot at the title. Despite a major aerodynamic overhaul carried out on the car over the past year, the most Peugeot could boast of was managing to get both cars to the finish line even though their drivers did incur some yellow flag penalties and a spin from time to time.
Managing to get both cars across the finish line was remarkable, something their French competitors at Alpine were not able to achieve, as both their cars were out before sunrise on Sunday. This was regrettable, as their distinctive ‘whooping’ engine sounds were some of the most memorable audio experiences of the race, although the sheer rumble of the Cadillac V8 engine was undoubtedly the pick of the lot for sound. Lamborghini also performed impressively but fell short on speed to compete with the more rapid cars, while Porsche’s affiliated teams – Jota, sporting the most attractive gold Hertz livery, and Proton faded after promising starts.
In the rejuvenated GT3 category for vehicles based on road cars, diversity was finally introduced to the lineup. Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Corvette, the previous class stalwarts, were joined by Ford, Lamborghini, BMW, and McLaren. McLaren managed to snag the pole position during the qualification, a first for the brand, complementing its lone victory back in 1995. The debut Ford Mustangs ran impressively and stood out sonically, second only to Cadillac. However, the ultimate victory went to the Manthey-operated Porsche 911, a seemingly slow competitor in the early hours that gradually crept into an indisputable lead by the end of the race.
Ferrari’s triumph was far from effortless. Penalties assigned to leading vehicles – one for an ill-advised nudge leading to the BMW’s race-ending spin, and another for a pit recall to secure an unruly door – provided Porsche, Cadillac, and Toyota opportunities to gain the upper hand. An additional early morning safety car regrouped the competitors, setting the stage for a thrilling sprint to the finish. At multiple instances, it looked as if Ferrari was defeated, and Toyota’s strategic pace seemed to make them the likely victors. However, following Lopez’s tumble and with the No.8 Toyota car running out of laps to overtake the red Ferrari, the race concluded.
Thus, Ferrari secured its second consecutive Le Mans victory, with Antonio Fuoco, Niklas Nielsen, and Miguel Molina matching the previous year’s accomplishment by their fellow team mates – Antonio Giovanazzi, James Calado, and Aleessandro Per Guidi. There can be no question of any deceitful advantages due to rule modifications this time around. It was an extremely challenging and thoroughly fought battle.
Le Mans yields a plethora of experiences, far beyond the damp soil underfoot, the soggy stockings, and the subtle buzzing in your ears. It’s more akin to a sequence of stolen moments, defining the surreal ambiance. Imagine the ceremonious playing of La Marseillaise prior to the race and the emotive ceremony of the starting flag presented via a hovering helicopter, championed by none other than Zinedine Zidane. Glimpses of the dazzling headlights as the vehicles advance towards you under the veil of darkness offer momentary chills. The breakneck speed these machines demonstrate when entering the first chicane on the Mulsanne is indeed intoxicating. The flash of fireworks lighting up the night, the daredevil aerial manoeuvrings of the TV camera copters, elevate this experience to a spectacle rather than just another race. For those climactic 24 hours, you are genuinely immersed in the pulse of the racing universe. Sincere gratitude to the Peugeot Sport Total Energies team for their undying efforts.