GD's
GD's
24 Heures du Mans
17 - 18 Juin 2000
It's one of those things that has to be done at least once in a lifetime - attending the spectacular Le Mans 24 hour race. My chance came this year for a flying visit to the circuit. Le Mans is so different - not F1, not indycars, not Touring cars. This is GT racing with 4 different classes - therefore passing manoeuvres galore ! Pit stops ? Yes, but the type that also includes a driver change in addition to fuel and tyres. Gearbox changes aswell ! 24 hours is a long race. At 8.45 miles, it's a long circuit aswell.
And where's the Triumph connection I hear you ask ? Well, I'll tell you anyway. The race was often used by motor manufacturers (including Triumph in the '50's and 60's) as a way of showing the world how reliable their cars are. Much the same as Audi and BMW do today. Spitfires raced in 1964 and averaged over 100mph for 24hours.
The vantage points are great once the first couple of hours have passed and the crowds disperse into 'le village' or back to their tents. Racing is not what you would term 'close' as the 1st to 3rd places may be laps apart at the finish. But there are superb passing manouvres down the straights and into the corners. The sound is truely awesome (no sadly noise restricted rally cars here) with V8 Audi and Panoz and V10s thundering by the GT Porsches.
Night comes, the cars keep going, the pits are alive and the die hards keep watching. The stands are virtually empty now (those who can afford the stand prices have gone home or to the hosiptality tents) but the 'enceinte generale' is still popular. Discs glow as the drivers brake heavily into the corners, the brake lights go out as they power round the Tertre Rouge and onto the Mulsanne Straight, heading for Arnage.