In a short ceremony this afternoon (Saturday 4 June) in memory of Michel Bonté, Pierre Fillon recalled this figurehead of journalism at the 24 Hours of Le Mans who died on 18 May: “He was the first person you saw when you entered the press room.”  And with good reason – he had a desk right next to the entrance door! He always sat to the left of Paul Frère, the driver-cum-journalist who won the 1960 Le Mans 24 Hours in 1960 in a Ferrari with Olivier Gendebien.

Fillon recounted a number of Bonté’s anecdotes from the histoy of the 24 Hours, including the first of Jacky Ickx’s six wins (1969), Paul Newman’s blue eyes without sunglasses (1979) or the tears of the Le Mans-born driver/constructor Jean Rondeau.

Then four-time winner Yannick Dalmas (1992-94-95-99) joined Fillon in unveiling a photograph taken by Dominique Breugnot portraying Bonté deep in conversation with Henri Pescarolo, another of his great friends among the racing driver fraternity. The picture captures Bonté’s inquisitive nature and clearly shows the bond between the journalist and the entire Le Mans family, from famous team bosses to mechanics.

If journalism is the first rough draft of history, the spirit of Bonté, and Frère, will undoubtedly go on inspiring those who recount the legend of the 24 Hours of Le Mans to enthusiasts the world over.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO