What a week it’s been in the lead-up to today’s 4 pm start! An absolutely incredible experience on every level, with massive and enthusiastic crowds descending on the Circuit de la Sarthe for the centenary Le Mans 24 Hours race – rightfully billed as the Race of the Century – and what a privilege it is to be here.
Thursday afternoon was heaving, many veterans of the place admitting never witnessed such a turn out absolutely unbelievable that you could have this many people in a little enclave two hours away from anywhere. Organised, disciplined but hassle-free.
Quite literally hundreds of thousands of happy, informed, and entertained motorheads, all enjoying themselves to an incredible vibe that you only feel on the embankments of this great venue, Quite something, actually.
Despite all that, getting in, generally finding your way around around, catering and out after was all so easy and simple. The organization in general, has been quite astounding, but then they have done it 91 times before!
On track Ferrari, Toyota, the Cadillacs and most of all, the NASCAR Camaro have stolen the show so far. The Caddys sound and look incredible, and that Camaro is just business, while the Ferraris and Toyotas just exude such huge energy.
Are LMP2s and GTs overstaying their welcome in this new Hypercar era?
The Glickenhaus and the Vanwall are basically just grown-up LMP2s. But interesting in their David status, even if they lack that visceral Cadillac, Ferrari, and Toyota excitement and thrill. On another note literally, the Porsches lack excitement, sounds like they’re misfiring all the time.
The spacecraft-like Peugeots appear stunted in every way. Both are a letdown when it comes to pure entertainment considering their pedigree. But it is still the very early days of this Hypercar era
As meaningless as they have become, the LMP2 ORECAs are cool in a bunch. I will hear that Gibson engine gear change pop in my mind for days to come. They are on their way out anyway and sad to say the GTs are another disappointment when sharing a track with the state-of-the-art Hypercars. The speed differentials so vast, begging the question is it sustainable on a safety level?
Yes, a new GT3 era is looming, but they seem mute compared to the show they stole for all those years. Also only GTEAm now, they’re humbled by the mad Camaro. Is there a lesson in that for the ACO and WEC? Make the GTs louder, faster, and more exciting before it’s too late. Before the change comes in 2025. And there have already been a few dilly racing aspects. But this is Le Mans and the greatest endurance race on the planet!
Le Mans Trackside Notes
The trek from Cape Town to Le Mans is exactly that, a trek! But when you get hear, through lovely Paris in summer, and drive the green-lined roads while folks back home bundle up for the inevitably harsh winters we do get down south.
Here for work amid the experience of it all. No matter how hardened you are, walking into the Le Mans paddock to Media Center is gooseflesh-inducing stuff no matter how cool you try to look. Amid my press duties for Toyota Gazoo Racing, here are some random notes on the first day and beyond of the trip to date:
- The crowd, the crowd, the crowd! Absolutely unbelievable that you could have this many people in a little enclave 2 hours away from anywhere on a Thursday afternoon
- Quite literally hundreds of thousands of happy, informed, and entertained people, all enjoying themselves in an incredible vibe, Quite something, actually
- Despite all that, getting in, generally finding your way around, catering and out after was all so easy and simple. The organization in general, is quite astounding!
- On track Ferrari, Toyota, the Cadillacs and most of all, the NASCAR Camaro stole the show
- The Caddys sound and look incredible, the Camaro is just the business, and the Ferraris and Toyotas just exude such huge energy.
- The Glickenhaus and the Vanwall are basically just grown-up LMP2s. But interesting in their David status, even if they lack that visceral Cadillac, Ferrari, and Toyota excitement and thrill
- The Porsches lack excitement, sound like they’re misfiring all the time. Almost as disappointing as the Peugeots that appear stunted in every way. Both are a letdown when it comes to pure entertainment.
- As meaningless as they have become, the LMP2 ORECAs are cool in a bunch and I will hear that Gibson engine gear change pop in my mind for days to come. They are on their way out anyway
- The GTs are another disappointment. Yes, they are an interim pack, and a new GT3 era is looming, but they seem mute compared to the show they stole for all those years.
- Also only GTEAm now, they are absolutely humbled by the mad Camaro. Is there a lesson in that for the ACO and WEC? Make the GTs louder, faster, and more exciting before it’s too late. Before the change comes in 2025.
- There are quite a few dilly racing aspects. But this is Le Mans!
- It’s a lot of effort! We walked over 22,000 steps mostly in the heat and that was only after midday Thursday!
All in all, Le Mans has been an absolute blast so far. Mind-blowing in fact. And so much more accessible than you’d ever believe from a rands and cents (dollars, pounds, euros etc) point of view.
Will wrap up our costs next week but be warned, if you want to do this, book your 2024 Le Mans tickets as soon as they become available, and your digs then, too. All 350,000 of this year’s tickets were sold out in January! As a race fan, you cannot do much better. This thing is epic!
