24h Le Mans
This year's 24 Hours of Le Mans celebrate its 90th birthday. Since 1923, the race has changed dramatically and is now an open-air laboratory of automotive technology.
The origins of racing at Le Mans date back to 1906, and the first Grand Prix of France, which took place at the Circuit de la Sarthe, over more than one hundred kilometres, but it was clear the course was poorly suited to racing and dangerous. I would be seventeen years before the first 24 Hours of Le Mans. For the first edition, a seventeen kilometre circuit was selected by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, over some of the south eastern suburbs of the city. Over the years, the circuit has changed considerably. The terrible accident in 1955 was not only a moment of tragedy but also of profound reflection. The pit area was completely redesigned and the Dunlop curve introduced. The circuit was 13.461 km at that time. But the track is still evolving. New corners have appeared and some modifications, including that of the Tertre Rouge and the Dunlop chicane. Despite these developments, speeds continued to increase, and in 1988 a WM P88 with a Peugeot engine topped 405 km/h. FISA (today FIA) required the introduction of two chicanes on the Mulsanne straight. Thereafter important work was done just after the Dunlop curve and at Tertre Rouge with new developments for the greater comfort of the spectators. But the legendary circuit of 13.629 km is above all a great laboratory for manufacturers.
As in many sports, research into performance is at the heart of the evolution of the discipline. The development of new technologies in engines, aerodynamics, stress analysis and tyres, or the development of innovative concepts, has made the circuit of Le Mans a major open-air laboratory. In 90 years, Le Mans has been a great human adventure and allowed the entry of new competitors like the DeltaWing in 2012. This very different looking car was the first tenant of the 56th pit of 24 hours dedicated to an innovative car running outside classification.
While waiting to see the new GreenGT H2 in June, in this video the DeltaWing that participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2012. Commentary in English.
For more clips go to : www.lemans-tv.com.
Thierry Arman / ACO
