Alongside the pre-war cars with their mudguards were some distinctive newcomers, among them the Ferrari 166 MM. Enzo Ferrari was not happy about fielding the car due to its unreliable gearbox, but Luigi Chinetti had persuaded him to give it a whirl. He may even have revealed his strategy to ensure the car was in expert hands.

On the Friday, the eve of the race, Chinetti paid a visit to his friend Maurice Génissel, the distinguished owner of the Restaurant des Hunaudières on the Mulsanne Straight, which was popular with Le Mans drivers. He was with his friend Peter Mitchell-Thomson, Lord Selsdon, also a Le Mans driver, whom he had persuaded to buy the Ferrari and who was to share the driving with him for the 24 Hours the next day. It was a beautifully sunny day and the pair spent the afternoon in deep discussion over a bottle of cognac. While crafty Chinetti surreptitiously poured glass after glass into Madame Génissel’s geraniums, Lord Selsdon politely sipped his share. Suffice to say that he was glad of his bed that night.

Legend has it that the Englishman did not make an appearance at the circuit until the Sunday morning and that nobody dared refuse him a stint at the wheel of his own car. An hour and twelve minutes later, he handed back to Chinetti. Despite his fatigue, the Italian was not going to let anyone else take his third victory for him. Chinetti had built up his stamina since he left Raymond Sommer to drive for 20 hours in 1932!