After the ‘graphic documentary’ and nail-biting short story in La 24e Heure, the atmosphere at scrutineering and a lap around the circuit in Le 13 est au départ, then an encounter between racing drivers and Thunderbird pilots (a US Air Force air demonstration squadron) in Concerto pour pilotes, came Le fantôme des 24 Heures, which would become one of the highlights in the long history linking Michel Vaillant and his creator Jean Graton with the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

A dream 24 Hours for Jacky Ickx in 1968 - Le fantôme des 24 Heures sees Jacky Ickx make his first appearance in the Michel Vaillant series. In real life, the 23-year-old Belgian was due to drive the Ford GT40 with fellow countryman Lucien Bianchi at the 1968 24 Hours. However, the weekend preceding the 36th running of the race, the future six-time Le Mans winner broke his leg at the test session for the Canadian Grand Prix and was thus unable to compete in the 24 Hours. Bianchi finally steered the #9 GT40 to victory with Pedro Rodriguez instead. In Le fantôme des 24 Heures, Ickx competes in a Ford GT40 with Chuck Danver, a ficticious American driver and friend of Michel Vaillant and fellow American Steve Warson.

New regulations and a new corner - Jean Graton echoes the real-life story of the 24 Hours with references to two big changes that came into force in 1968: the new three-litre prototype regulation and the introduction of the Ford Chicane, just before the Pit Straight at the Circuit des 24 Heures.

Alfa Romeo and Alpine at the forefront - Le fantôme des 24 Heures also features the Alfa Romeo T33 prototype, which finished fourth (#39 Nanni Galli/Ignazio Giunti), fifth (#38 Spartaco Dini/Carlo Facetti) and sixth (Gianpiero Biscaldi/Mario Casoni) in the real race. Meanwhile, the Alpine A220, compliant with the new three-litre regulations, finished eighth overall.

Charles and André de Cortanze, a family affair - Charles de Cortanze is also depicted in Le fantôme des 24 Heures. In 1968, thirty years after finishing the race fifth at the wheel of a Peugeot 402, he served as assistant race director and head of the Bugatti Circuit and the driving school.  In 1968, his son André drove an Alpine and was eighth past the chequered flag.

Illustration: A number of ‘Art Strips’ – wall art reproductions of drawings from Michel Vaillant albums – were released this year and include this image from Le fantôme des 24 Heures showing a Porsche 907,  the car that finished second at the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by Dieter Spoerry and Rico Steinmann.