American by her father and New Zealander by her mother, Diana Higbee grew up in France and moved to Le Mans from Versailles in August 2013.

In 2016, the vivacious soprano launched a festival, Musica Le Mans, and, as a newly-appointed ambassador of her home town, was invited to attend the 24 Hours.

“I was invited as a VIP to meet Brad Pitt [race starter that year], says Diana. He was charming and very interested in my profession. A few days earlier, I was invited by local team operator SO24, among others, to experience the race atmosphere behind the scenes. Something struck me about my visit to SO24. When I got back home, I felt exactly the same as I do when I perform. It is scientifically proven that singing has a calming effect. It eliminates stress. I must have left the circuit around 11pm and it took me until 2 or 3 in the morning to come back down to earth."

This year, Diana was back at the circuit in another role, as part of the pre-race ceremony. “The ACO was adamant that a singer should perform La Marseillaise so Philippe Launay, the conductor of the local orchestra, got in touch with me. It was my very own Super Bowl! In 2014, one of my mentors, Renée Fleming, was the first opera singer to perform the Stars and Stripes at the American football league final. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a huge event encompassing a host of nationalities. Some 250,000 people from different backgrounds flock to the circuit and 12.5 million people watch on television. The potential worldwide audience is 805 million. I was very relaxed about my performance compared to being on stage because I wasn’t the centre of attention. People go to Le Mans for the cars more than anything else. So I was all the more surprised at the silence when I was singing. It was fantastic to be part of the event, to be on the inside, to see the helicopter almost vertical, the soldiers bring the flag, the air force fly over... It was thrilling in 2016, but this year I really savoured it. You feel part of a greater whole. Just as I was leaving (I had a concert on the Sunday evening), I was offered a helicopter ride over the circuit.  As I said to one of my friends, when you go to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, take your passport because you never know where you might end up.

Diana Higbee is bowled over by the 24 Hours of Le Mans. “I was already enticed by the magic in 2016. Now, I’m hooked. I’m going to block it in my diary because I want to be here every year."

Further proof, if any was necessary, that this race has a magnetic quality like no other.

Photo: Before the start of the race at 15:00, silence descends on the pit straight as Diana Higbee sings the French national anthem.