Today it’s the start of the greatest motor race in the world: the Le Mans 24 Hours.
This race is extraordinary. It’s a wonderful festival to which sometimes the racing seems irrelevant. Yet, you wake up on the Sunday morning, bleary-eyed, and still the cars are belting around the 13.629km circuit. It never ceases to amaze me.
Mind you, Audi will have its work cut out to notch up a ninth overall victory that would see them draw level with Ferrari in the race’s all time winners list.
Allan McNish (see blog 195) has put the new Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R15 TDI on the front row. But the top of the grid is dominated by the quick Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs. And Peugeot driver Stephane Sarrazin put the 908 HDi on pole.
But 24 hours is a long time. The game of strategy, tactics, endurance and full-on racing will begin at 3pm French time today. Can’t wait.
Battle of the diesel sports cars over 24 hours