On Monday 26 November, François Toutée arrived at the Bugatti circuit to cross something huge off of his bucket list. The nephew of renowned engineer Henri Toutée, designer of the famous Chenard & Walcker tank, the first prototype seen at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1925 and again in 1937 (when François was 11 years old). His aunt Madeleine decided to take young François to the Bol d’Or at Montlhéry to see his uncle in the Chenard & Walcker garage. The race was going well and victory was sure for the tank (the label was due to the highly aerodynamic shape of the car powered by 1,100 cm3 engine). Driver Charles Rigoulot (the strongest man in the world at the time, capable of preventing a train from moving and a plane from taking off according to legend) comfortably in the lead, suggested to Madeleine he take the "kid" for a lap of the circuit in the tank so confident he was of winning. François was over the moon. But his aunt, concerned for his safety, declined the offer under the convenient excuse the passenger seat was too dirty! François had to wait 81 long years to make his dream come true of doing a lap in the Chenard & Walcker tank designed by his uncle Henri.

During a shakedown day organized by Fabrice Bourrigaud and his team Patrimoine ACO, 95-year-old François - outfitted with a cap pulled over his ears due to the freezing November air - sat next to Francis Piquera in the Chenard & Walcker tank owned by the ACO for decades, and couldn't be happier.

Former doctor François Toutée will turn 100 in 2023, the year of the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and has already marked his calendar to be there for the celebration!