The teams

The drivers

As with all motorsports, drivers play a key role: it is their responsibility to be the fastest, most reliable competitor. They must also provide an analysis of the car’s behaviour for engineers to tweak the settings. At Le Mans, three drivers take turns behind the wheel, splitting the 24 hours between them. This implies plenty of teamwork and settings that suit different drivers.

 

The team manager

Team managers coordinate, organise and manage. They play a vital role in orchestrating teamwork. They endeavour to get the best from each team member, pushing them to their limits yet accounting for temperament. As well as managing human resources, the manager is also the spokesperson and represents the team at official meetings. Some are also responsible for managing the finances and some actually own the team.

 

The mechanics

Mechanics are responsible for preparing a car for a race and for repairs during the event. Repairs may just involve pounding out bodywork after a bump, but can also be more technical, such as a change of brake discs. Another huge responsibility is the pit stops. Since 2016, to keep a cap on costs for the teams, there has been a limit on how many mechanics can intervene during a pit stop. And there has been a change to the regulations this year: to give this feature of the race more interest for spectators, tyre changes are now authorised during refuelling.

 

Mechanics are specially trained and each have a specific role.

• One person mans the fire extinguisher, from the moment the car enters the garage, until it leaves.
• Two refuel, one holds the pipe while the other opens and closes the valve.
• Four mechanics – working in pairs – change the wheels: one operates the pneumatic air gun, a maximum of two of which are permitted, while the other takes care of the wheels themselves. The operation requires excellent physical fitness – a wheel weighs over 20 kg and a wheel gun 6 kg!
• Mechanics also repair or clean the car: lamps, windscreen, wing mirrors, number plate, air ducts, radiators, cameras etc.
• Cockpit operators help drivers in and out of the car.
• Technicians check tyre wear and pressure and brake pads.

 

The engineers

Like most road cars these days, modern racing cars are full of electronics to monitor the mechanical elements and change settings. In a 24-hour race, conditions change constantly – tyres wear, rain sets in, there is more or less traffic on track – and settings must be adapted in consequence – and that’s the engineers’ job. Each car has its own team of engineers, headed by a chief engineer who defines the strategy and oversees the pit stops, checks tyres and fuel consumption.

The Race Organisers

Race Control

The 24 Hours of Le Mans has a Race Director, a Clerk of the Course and two Assistant Clerks. It is their job to make sure the race goes off without a hitch. When there is a track incident, they analyse the information provided over the radio by the track marshal and scan any videos that are available. The Race Director decides on the action to be taken, from a yellow flag to halting the race.

A Stewards’ Panel decides on the penalty to be applied, if necessary. The chairperson of the five-strong Panel presides at every FIA World Endurance Championship race. Race Control sends short messages to teams via the timing screen or contacts team managers via radio. The latter is a one-way channel only as teams may only respond via written messages.

The marshals

Marshals are the guardian angels of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They ensure safety on and around the track. Each year some 1,400 volunteers offer their services. They are specially trained to monitor every inch of the 13.626-km circuit. They may be assigned to signalling (waving a flag to warn drivers of a change in track conditions or a hazard) or to track interventions. Whenever an incident occurs, they inform the head of their sector, who sends a message to Race Control, who in turn decides on the procedure to be followed.

Marshals may also enter the track – something that requires special training. Fast action without panic is vital for marshals who may be required to get a driver out of a car, deal with fire or remove debris from the track. Some marshals are responsible for ensuring that teams obey regulations. As such, marshals are also posted in the pits to oversee procedures.

Learn more about the marshals at Le Mans

The head doctor

The head doctor is responsible for all medical interventions during the race. In the event of an accident, he or she will send for emergency services if necessary. The emergency services include a first-aid vehicle, an ambulance, a fire engine and an extrication vehicle. At the scene, the head doctor assesses the situation and issues the necessary instructions. If the driver is injured, he or she is taken to the medical centre which at Le Mans comprises two treatment rooms, an intensive care unit and a post-trauma room. The head doctor is also in charge of the spectators’ medical centre, which has a specific team. In all, 500 medical staff work during the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

 

The Grand Marshal and Official Starter

Each year, two well-known personalities are invited to take on the roles of Grand Marshal (a recent tradition since 2013) and Official Starter (since 2004) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The job of Grand Marshal is assigned to a driver who embodies the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He or she represents the values of the iconic race before the spectators, media, teams and pilots during Race Week, then drives the lead car during the formation lap on the big day. After Henri Pescarolo, Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen, Alexander Wurz and Mark Webber, Jacky Ickx will take on this role this year. With six Le Mans victories to his name, Ickx is the second most successful driver in the race’s history, after nine-time winner Kristensen.

Another special responsibility at the race is lowering the French flag to start the race. Several distinguished personalities have already enjoyed this honour (Jean-Loup Chrétien, Jean-Claude Killy, Jean Todt, Fernando Alonso and Brad Pitt), which this year goes to tennis superstar Rafael Nadal.

The commentator

The race commentator is the voice of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His familiar strains can be heard all weekend, informing and updating spectators on the race. Aided by two accomplices, it is his job to provide detailed commentary off-the-cuff, for the full duration of the race – no easy task, especially when nothing particular is happening! Fortunately, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, lulls are few and far between!

Who else?

The media

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is famous the world over. Journalists come from all over the world to cover the event. Some 1,300 journalists come from over 40 different countries to provide live coverage. No fewer than 30 television networks broadcast the race to a potential 110 million viewers in 190 countries. Of course, internet streaming is fast becoming the preferred channel for following the live action. During the race, 900,000 single visitors log on to lemans.org and the event has 1,070,000 Facebook fans, 137,000 Instagram subscribers and 378,000 Twitter followers.

The spectators

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is more than a sporting event, it’s a family outing. Its popularity has never dwindled. Last year, the race attracted 258,500 spectators. Everyone has their own way of doing Le Mans. Many fans camp on site for the whole week and revel in being so close to the action. Others enjoy wandering around, looking at the visitors’ classic cars, sampling the wares and enjoying the exhibitions in the race village.