24 Hours of Le Mans: Introduction

Bienvenue au 88e renouvellement de la plus grande course de voitures de sport au monde, les 24 Heures du Mans.

Part of this introduction can be credited to Videovision Broadcast International/Duke Video and their review of the 1984 edition of Le Mans, and the host of that program, Videovision producer and narrator, the late, great, Brian Kreisky.  His words, introducing Le Mans, have inspired yours truly in preparing for this year's race. 

“France.  A green and historic land of thousand year old churches, and a thousand rivers cutting through the rolling countryside of one of Europe’s oldest nations.  It is a land where every village boasts a priory, or a towering abbey.  A vineyard, or a hotel gastronomique.  Here in the west, the great river is La Sarthe with its ancient water mills and stone bridges.  It’s waterside family chateau, and, it’s weeping willows.  Here also, is Le Mans, that eighth city of France, and its nearby circuit permanente de la Sarthe, home of the worlds most famous motor race, the Le Mans 24 Hours, on the circuit that is half road half race track, as the fans make the pilgrimage.  The bustle of traffic has been replaced by endurance race cars battling for honors in the world’s greatest motorsport event, as the FIA World Endurance Championship, continues."

This year's Le Mans, will be very different, as, due to the global pandemic of the COVID-19 Coronavirus, there will be no fans present in the stands for this year's race, something that's never happened in the 87 and now 88 year history of this great automobile race.  We have a few less cars on the grid this year as well, than in past years, although the field is still healthy.  59 cars start the Le Mans 24 Hours this year. We are used to anywhere between 60-62 cars, now that the pit lane here at Circuit de la Sarthe, has been modified.  No matter the car count, though, we are still in for a great event.  So, we welcome you once again, to the 2020 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  This, personally, is my 20th year of watching the 24 Hours of Le Mans live on television.  I have seen the dominance of Audi, and the current dominance of Toyota, as well as wins by Peugeot in their home event (with the announcement that they could come back soon), and also, by Porsche, who remain the winningest brand here at La Sarthe.  

 

Looking forward to bringing you all the action here at Le Mans.  Yours truly was at the Daytona 24 Hours in person earlier on in the year, and now, there's another 24 hour sports car race to look forward to, here at Le Mans.  It's going to be a good one although it is going to be so, so different, without the fans at the track to share in the excitement with the entered teams as they are about to set off on their quest for victory.