24 Hours of Le Mans note.
What?
Le mans is a city in France, on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans.
Where?
Original speed record - 405 km/h by Roger Dorchy
Original name - Bugatti au Mans (1965)
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| Mulsanne |
Since 1923 it's considered one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world and has been called the "Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency".
Original name - Grand Prix de Vitesse et d'Endurance or Grand Prix of Speed and Endurance
First time race - 26 - 27 May 1923 (33 cars started and 30 finished)
First winners - Andre Lagache and Rene Leonard drove 2209,536 km with average speed - 92 km/h.
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Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency 1st. race 1923
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Original name - Grand Prix de Vitesse et d'Endurance or Grand Prix of Speed and Endurance
First time race - 26 - 27 May 1923 (33 cars started and 30 finished)
First winners - Andre Lagache and Rene Leonard drove 2209,536 km with average speed - 92 km/h.
All winners 1923 - 2018
*Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency wasn't held in:
1936 because of the workers ' strike in France
1940 - 1948 World war II
Why Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency is?
The most endurance and efficiency founded in 2010. There was 5410 km. per 24 hours, it's a current record. This distance is 18 times greater than the Formula 1 Grand Prix race. The winner is the car becomes without mechanical damage and with rational using of tires, fuel and brake pads for last 24 hours.
Who?
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Jacques Bernard
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Jacky Ickx (Jacques Bernard ) held the record at six, scoring victories between 1969 and 1982, earning him honorary citizenship to the town of Le Mans.
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Tom Kristensen
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Dane Tom Kristensen has beaten this record with nine wins between 1997 and 2013, including six in a row.
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Graham Hill
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Norman Graham Hill is the only driver ever to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport—the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix.
What's a record?
33 starts for Henri Pescarolo. He won the race four times, and holds the record for the most Le Mans appearances at 33! Tom Kristensen had 18 for example.
What's a record?
33 starts for Henri Pescarolo. He won the race four times, and holds the record for the most Le Mans appearances at 33! Tom Kristensen had 18 for example.
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Louis Rosier 1950
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23 hours 40 minutes Louis Rosier spent on driving in 1950! He won the 24-hour race. Rosie gave way the car to his son Jean-Louis in the last two laps.
What's an accident?
During the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in the third hour of racing, Pierre Levegh's car launched into the air, striking high on a retaining wall, disintegrating and scattering components into the crowd. Levegh was killed when he was thrown from the car and his skull crushed by the impact. The flammable magnesium body of the Mercedes quickly ignited in the accident; the combination of the fire and flying car parts killed 83 spectators with over 100 injured.
During the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in the third hour of racing, Pierre Levegh's car launched into the air, striking high on a retaining wall, disintegrating and scattering components into the crowd. Levegh was killed when he was thrown from the car and his skull crushed by the impact. The flammable magnesium body of the Mercedes quickly ignited in the accident; the combination of the fire and flying car parts killed 83 spectators with over 100 injured.
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| 24 Hours of Le Mans 1955 |
The race was continued in order to prevent the spectators from leaving, which would have blocked all access roads and the ambulances.
While Mercedes withdrew from the race as a sign of respect to the victims (and later from motor racing in general for the next 30 years)
Who?
The most impressive leader's list — Porsche (19), Audi and Ferrari. Today you can see sports prototypes, but in the old days, all cars could be bought.
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| Michael Schumacher 1991 |
When?
In 1991 younger Michael Schumacher took fifth place with Karl Wendlinger and Fritz Kreutzpointner on Mercedes-Benz C11 by Sauber Team.
How?
Le Mans was the venue for the first televised instance of a winning driver celebrating by spraying champagne instead of drinking it. When Dan Gurney won the 1967 race with co-driver A. J. Foyt, the two drivers mounted the victory podium and Gurney was handed a magnum of champagne. Looking down, he saw Ford CEO Henry Ford II, team owner Carroll Shelby and their wives, as well as several journalists who had predicted disaster for the high-profile duo. Gurney shook the bottle and sprayed everyone nearby. Gurney autographed and gave the bottle of champagne to Life photographer Flip Schulke, who used it as a lamp for years before returning it to Gurney. It was the first-time champagne shower tradition.
Le Mans was the venue for the first televised instance of a winning driver celebrating by spraying champagne instead of drinking it. When Dan Gurney won the 1967 race with co-driver A. J. Foyt, the two drivers mounted the victory podium and Gurney was handed a magnum of champagne. Looking down, he saw Ford CEO Henry Ford II, team owner Carroll Shelby and their wives, as well as several journalists who had predicted disaster for the high-profile duo. Gurney shook the bottle and sprayed everyone nearby. Gurney autographed and gave the bottle of champagne to Life photographer Flip Schulke, who used it as a lamp for years before returning it to Gurney. It was the first-time champagne shower tradition.
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| "Pink Pig" Porsche |
What?
A lot of specific cars of Le Mans races. There were seriously absurd among them and were real beauties. Top Gear published a top of the most beautiful cars of Le Mans at all time.
How?
There are various long-standing traditions at Le Mans, including the waving of the French tricolor to start the race. This is usually followed by a fly-over featuring jets trailing blue, white and red smoke. A similar flag tradition is the waving of safety flags during the final lap of the race by track marshals, congratulating the winners and other finishers.
When?
15 - 16 June 2019 at 15:00.
A lot of specific cars of Le Mans races. There were seriously absurd among them and were real beauties. Top Gear published a top of the most beautiful cars of Le Mans at all time.
How?
There are various long-standing traditions at Le Mans, including the waving of the French tricolor to start the race. This is usually followed by a fly-over featuring jets trailing blue, white and red smoke. A similar flag tradition is the waving of safety flags during the final lap of the race by track marshals, congratulating the winners and other finishers.
When?
15 - 16 June 2019 at 15:00.
Place Luigi Chinetti, 72019 Le Mans, France
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Taisiya Lavrova
Russian motorsport's journalist, a painter. I enjoy to motivate you by posts about bravest drivers and most beautiful autodromes. If you like it, follow me.
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