“There's a point at 7000 RPM where everything fades. The machine becomes weightless. Just disappears. And all that's left is a body moving through space and time.” American racing legend and carmaker Carroll Shelby, as portrayed by Matt Damon in the 2019 Oscar-winning film Ford V Ferrari, isn’t talking about a rocket or a spaceship here. These words describe a driver’s experience within a race car — the Aston Martin DBR1, to be precise, the winner of the “24-hour of Le Mans” in 1959. Hyperreal as it may sound, Shelby’s near-cyborgian experience is a daily reality in Motorsports. Danish driver Nicklas Nielsen of the Ferrari AF Corse team would have felt this state of body-machine fusion a few hundred times between June 15 and 16, in the latest and 92nd edition of the endurance race. It was his Ferrari F992 Hypercar that glided past the checkered flag to clinch the overall victory for his team at this year’s Le Mans circuit. Nielsen ran a dogged chase, lashed by sheets of torrential rain, and running into fuel trouble right in the death laps. In the end, he chose to slow down his pace just enough to maintain his lead while also conserving fuel. He finished with his car's fuel gauge reading 2 per cent at the finish. And that’s what makes the Le Mans circuit one of the most prestigious and challenging races in the world. It’s practically a 24-hr chess match which drivers play with the elements, while moving at improbable speeds. The 24-hr circuit of Le Mans is a motorsport pilgrimage, dating back to 1923. Originally designed as a proving ground for car manufacturers, the race quickly became a grueling test of speed, stamina, and innovation. Imagine a time before the sleek, high-tech Formula One cars of today. Back then, the race wove through public roads, pushing the limits of what was possible in automotive engineering. By the late 50s and 60s, Leading manufacturers like Ferrari and Aston Martin began forming specialized teams, bringing together top drivers and engineers to collaborate on the design and development of custom race cars specifically built to conquer the countryside of France. This helped boost a global interest and focus on Le Mans, especially in the United States. Hollywood even paid tribute to the sport with the legendary Steve McQueen film Le Mans (1971) which perfectly captured the raw energy and relentless spirit behind every driver who takes part in this event; but it wasn’t just another movie either – it reflected real-life dramas happening during those races where midnight battles were fought between drivers while their teams never gave up till they saw the chequered flag waving above them. Le Mans has been the birthing ground for several racing legends, including Graham Hill who has won the Indianapolis 500, the Monaco Grand Prix, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans making him the only driver ever to achieve the Triple Crown in Motorsport. His 1972 Le Mans victory with Matra-Simca cemented his place in racing history. Fernando Alonso, a modern-day legend, has triumphed at Le Mans twice, adding to his two Formula One World Championships and almost winning the Indianapolis 500. His ability to transition across different categories speaks volumes about his versatility and determination. Then there are also the greats like Jacky Ickx, a six-time winner, and Tom Kristensen, famously known as "Mr. Le Mans," with a record-breaking nine victories. Their names are synonymous with the endurance and skill required to conquer Le Mans. Le Mans also has its share of near-misses and "what if" stories. Ken Miles, an extraordinary driver and engineer, played a pivotal role in Ford's quest to dethrone Ferrari in the 1960s. Alongside Carroll Shelby, Miles developed the iconic Ford GT40. His story, immortalised in the Oscar-winning film "Ford v Ferrari," is a poignant reminder of the thin line between victory and heartbreak. Although a controversial team decision cost him a well-deserved win in 1966, Miles' contribution to Le Mans and motorsport innovation remains undeniable. Le Mans continues to be an institution of innovation and rivalry. The latest races feature a mix of traditional and cutting-edge technology, with hybrid and electric cars competing alongside their petrol-powered counterparts. This blend of the old and the new keeps the race exciting and relevant, drawing in new generations of fans. For automobile companies around the world, winning at Le Mans is more than just a trophy. It is a proof of brilliant engineering. The winner's circle is a who's who of automotive royalty – Ferrari, Porsche, Toyota – each victory etched into motorsport history. Over the years, Le Mans has changed quite a lot. Originally a wild and dangerous race through the French countryside, it now has a purpose-built circuit that balances safety with speed. It is part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. This year marked a historic shift for the iconic race. Traditionally featuring two classes - Hypercars and LMP2 (Le Mans Prototype 2) class cars– Le Mans welcomed a new challenger: the LMGT3 (Le Mans Grand Touring cars) class featuring high-performance, modified production cars. The additional class added another layer of competition, with Ferrari clinching victory in the Hypercar category, United Autosports (Anglo-American) clinching a narrow 19-second victory in LMP2, while Manthey-EMA team dominated the LMGT3 class in their Porsche 911 GT3 R. Despite these changes, the essence of Le Mans remains unchanged. It's still a gruelling test where drivers, mechanics, and engineers push themselves and their machines to the absolute limit. As Yannick Dalmas, a four-time Le Mans winner, once said, "To get to the top, drivers, mechanics, and crew have to start working together closely months before the race... Right from the start, you need to have the same objective: victory!" Le Mans is more than just a race; it's a motorsport pilgrimage that has pushed the boundaries of automotive engineering and human endurance for nearly a century. From its wild early days on public roads to the cutting-edge hybrid and electric contenders of today, Le Mans has consistently mirrored the evolution of the automobile industry itself. It's a place where legends are born, victories are hard-fought, and innovation takes center stage. Le Mans is a grueling test that separates the best from the rest, and its legacy will continue to inspire future generations of motorsport enthusiasts. It is a race unlike any other.A Test in Time
Iconic Victories
Ken Miles: The Legend That Could Have Been
The Present and Future
The Evolution of a Motorsport Icon
The Legacy of Le Mans
26 Jun 2024
Vyom Ramani
