24h Le Mans
Night driving at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is always challenging as visibility and points of reference change. It can also cause a lack of focus. Here, several drivers share their thoughts on this unique aspect of endurance racing.
How the drivers feel about night-time stints:
Paul-Loup Chatin (IDEC Sport, #48 ORECA 07-Gibson, LMP2): "It's pure happiness at the wheel, just magical. On the other hand, when they come get you at 4:00 to do a stint, for the first 10 minutes waking up you wonder what you're doing there (laughs, Ed.)! After that, it's wonderful because you're in your own world in the middle of the night, you feel the calm all around. After an insane week, that is the most serene time, especially around three or four in the morning."
Nicolas Lapierre (Signatech Alpine Matmut, #36 Alpine A470, LMP2): "It's completely different. You feel more isolated and alone in the car. You somehow feel closer to it. You can still perceive spectators trackside, mainly at the Porsche Curves and pit lane, but less around the rest of the circuit. The car is faster, the temp has cooled. The two best moments at Le Mans are sunset and sunrise when the track is perfect. That's also when you really need to pay attention because a few drivers will have a tendency to make small mistakes."
Harry Tincknell (Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK, #67 Ford GT, LMGTE Pro): "It's really a special time, very tranquil. You're going more than 300 km/h in the Mulsanne Straight and all you can see is your headlights. It's three o'clock in the morning and it's so peaceful. I love those moments. The tires are a proper temperature, grip is good, you have the full force of the engine on your side thanks to cooler temps. It's heaven, driving at its finest!"
Olivier Beretta (MR Racing, Ferrari 488 GTE, LMGTE Am): "Night-time driving is great in general, but it depends. You can have an exceptional night with little traffic or it may turn difficult if you get 'stuck' with other cars. Every edition is different. Weather, especially rain, can play an important role. I've seen rain on one part of the circuit but not at Tertre Rouge, or years with 23 hours of downpours. Le Mans is magical, you never know what's going to happen. Also, the temp cools, the engine gets more air, the tires hold up better, there's good grip on the track, and so you can do good laps."
