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From 16 to 17 June 2018 it's that time again. Because then the 86 Hours of Le Mans will start for the 24th time. Le Mans is not just the name of a city with 140.000 inhabitants on the Sarthe in the heart of France. The 24h Le Mans race is a legend. The most famous and fastest long-distance race in the world takes place here. A motorsport fan with body and soul has regularly been live on site in recent years. He has brought our magazine a selection of his most gripping video sequences from various sections of the route.
The 24h race of Le Mans
24 hours of full concentration demand everything from the drivers on the 13,88 km circuit. A full throttle share of 85%, top speeds of over 300 km/h and average speeds with pit stops of over 240 km/h speak their own language. Le Mans is a high-speed circus with adrenaline guaranteed. Both for the pilots and the spectators along the route.
A race with history
It started with Bentley, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari in the 20s and 30s. In 1979, the legendary 956 and 962 from Porsche with Jacky Ickx and Klaus Ludwig at the wheel started. With an output of 680 hp, a fighting weight of 850 kg and a top speed of over 400 km/h. Up to the triumph of Audi with diesel technology (TDI) and today's hybrid prototypes from Porsche, Toyota and Audi, Porsche. Le Mans is living motorsport history that has made many drivers and brands famous.
Supercar at the campsite
The fans, who often spend more than 24 hours on site at the campsite, appreciate the value of an air-cooled 6-cylinder boxer and know the difference between a turbo and naturally aspirated engine down to the last detail. A stroll around the campsite, which is mostly within the racetrack, will leave your mouth open.
Vehicles that are normally well protected in their garages waiting for their value to increase and that only see the light of day when the sun is shining and the road is free of rain are used as campers at the 24h Le Mans race. A Porsche Spyder 918 on dusty dirt roads? A Rolls Royce as a sofa bed? Not uncommon here, even at the Le Mans campsite!
The Mecca for motorsport fans
In the area around the start-finish straight you will find numerous presentation tents for the participating brands and a souvenir market where motorsport fans can buy everything from fan shirts to car models to hand-painted works of art for their living room at home. There are also shops, food stalls and the well-known fair with a Ferris wheel, which invites you to stroll and at the same time breathe in the gas-laden air.
Le Mans is a special kind of racing spectacle. Many come every year. A tight-knit community of motorsport lovers and fans. There is a special atmosphere in the air when night falls. The engines roar and there is a smell of juicy grilled steak, strong coffee and burnt rubber.
I will also be at the “Start” again this year. The roar of the sophisticated racing engines and the nights with the light cones of the racing cars beating around my ears. Once a Le Mans fan, always a Le Mans fan!
Guest post by: Robert Light
Robert Leicht, many know him better under his pseudonym DrGumoLunatic, is an avid sports and supercar fan. With his videocam he not only captures prototypes, but also impressive videos of motor sport events and racing events. He runs his own video channel and website Autobahn speed hunter with information on motorways without speed limits.