24h Le Mans
Prior to the advance screening of the official film of the 2013 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, we revisited some beautiful and priceless cars throughout the day on Tuesday
Weather conditions were not always easy, but the fabulous cars visiting Le Mans yesterday were worth it. Some came from the 24 Hours Museum, others were brought along by private collectors. The track was made tricky by rain, especially in the morning, but it did not prevent some happy gentlemen drivers and other current and former drivers of the 24 hours from having fun. Michel Ferté was one of the first one to drive in the rain in the morning the Jaguar XJR12, in which he finished second in the 24 Hours in 1991, with the Brazilian Raul Boesel and the American Davy Jones. Throughout the day, Christophe Tinseau and Emmanuel Collard were behind the wheel of a Porsche 917. But one of the most assiduous drivers on track was undoubtedly Henri Pescarolo.
Four-time winner and record holder of number of participations at the 24 Hours, the man in the green helmet was allowed to hit the track at the wheel of cars of all periods. Models present offered a stunning panorama of the history of the race, a Vinot Deguigand that competed in the first race of 1923, the 166 MM, which took the first Ferrari victory at Le Mans in 1949, a small DB Panhard from 1951 (see picture). Remember that the French company was expert for several years in taking the index of performance (combining the ratio of mileage against race fuel used), the Ford GT40 with its sleek and timeless silhouette, the long-tail Porsche 917 of 1971, whose design set new standards for any car aspiring to win the 24 Hours. The generation of 70s prototypes such as the Matra were there, the wonderful sound of the V12 engine was welcomed by all the fans present. The McLaren "Art Car" of 1995 was there as well, with its three front seats and central driving position ... Whether you were a driver or passenger (many ride alongs took place during the day), this beautiful slice of life of the 24 Hours of Le Mans offered many pieces of history ... as you can discover at this web address in the coming weeks!
