Discovering: Le Mans

It was in the early 1920’s when the streets of Le Mans inaugurated a prestigious 24-Hour motorsport event. Forty-two years later the ‘Circuit de la Sarth' became a key component in the adaptation of an annual MotoGP race where many features of the world famous circuit were utilised. Fast forward to 2018, Its 6am on Sunday morning and my alarm has just signalled me to rise for race day at the Le Mans MotoGP. We’ve managed to cram four grown men and myself into a diminutive Toyota AYGO, programmed the GPS to take us to the circuit via the quickest route and yet we still manage to find ourselves victims of traffic, security and road closures.

Before I entertain you with the fierce scenes of todays race, it is essential to understand how one of the oldest and most traditional events on the World Championship calendar grew to be so iconic. As of May 1923 the Le Mans circuit became fully functional with the introduction of the ’24 Hours of Le Mans’ endurance race where drivers would cover over 5,000km during a 24 hour period. It quickly developed into a race of “endurance and efficiency” highlighting the multifaceted sportsmen and their passion to win. Despite the fact that this track has been an exhibition of grand historical moments, it has also had its fair share of obstacles in its budding years. The consequences of World War II dealt the people of France a hefty task of rebuilding a post-war society and saw ‘The Le Mans Circuit’ on a ten year hiatus. This however, did not dishearten its future and in 1965 they made a monumental decision to transform the singular circuit into two independent racing tracks. The Le Mans Bugatti Grand Prix Circuit was born and flourished through the harmonisation of the authentic layout and new additions.

Take a moment to transport yourself back in time. Assign yourselves a position in the shoes of a skilled driver in the 1920’s. You’re standing opposite your vehicle with adrenaline siphoning through your veins on the world famous Le Mans start straight. The flying of the flag is imminent but feels as if it is in slow motion. Soon, the sprint begins and you are running full-force towards a machine only you know how to drive, you strap yourself in and disappear. Your race has begun. Today, I have the privilege of observing the mix of teams dashing around the grid preparing themselves for their big day like a horde of multicoloured ants. Its a completely different era in so many ways and yet they still return to this very famous start straight with just as much anticipation and focus.

The lights had checked out and riders were on their way but I felt nothing comforting about watching them fiercely battle in the initial laps. It felt as though they were all so eager to prove themselves, that patience wasn’t a virtue to be found. Before I could get up to speed with the ballsy manoeuvres taking place I reached turn 6 and chaos had ensued. Andrea Iannone took the first tumble into the gravel at La Chapelle, a section of the original 24 hour layout which splits from the Bugatti circuit. It was between 2001 and 2002 for safety reasons that the modification of this section was completed and involved the Dunlop decent (the Eiffel tower of the circuit) down to the turn of La Chapelle. Iannone was not the only casualty at the hands of La Chapelle, Andrea Dovizioso was only a whisker into the race before he lost the front and came crashing down. He seemed awfully perplexed on his knees pleading with his own confusion “I was pushing 80%, that’s why I am disappointed. I wasn’t pushing in that moment. I was late in that break and lost the front. I didn’t take enough care”. Pieces of his Ducati were left behind as he removed himself from the track, the mark of a mistake and a difficult championship ahead. This section had been notorious in the past claiming Danilo Petrucci during Saturday’s practice session and in 2017 a vast majority of the Moto3 category were wiped out at this very spot. La Chapelle, in my eyes appears to be a crash magnet and after a reoccurrence of accidents in all three classes, race day didn’t seem too dissimilar.

It wasn’t a weekend that you could predict easily and for this very reason it became clear why this sold out event has remained on the calendar for so long. It constantly keeps you on your toes, makes you cheer for the underdog, gives you anxiety beyond belief and helps you understand the magnitude of support the motorsport world has. There is no limit on age when you enter those gates, toddlers, teenagers and elderly men and women all sporting a smile. Todays rambunctious supporters roared with fury as their home hero disappeared, controversially heckled during the podium celebrations and sung their national anthem proud. It’s an event that’ll evolve to last a lifetime.

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