Terug naar Le Mans 2011

The world around us seems to have gone mad. For the past few months, we've been gripped by a virus that supposedly infects everyone. And now, half the world is calling each other names for all sorts of things, instead of being open to each other's differences. Having a proper conversation about what's happening, or even daring to get close and shake hands, is simply not possible. I was actually supposed to attend the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Henri and Dennis for the 10th consecutive edition. Unfortunately, that's been postponed until September. The question remains whether we can go, even if we have to wear a face mask. Instead, there's now a virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans. I get to watch other professionals play a computer game... Since there are no new race reports to be made for a while, I've dug into my archives and brought you the photos and the story of my first visit to Le Mans in 2011.

In 2010, I bought my first SLR camera. An entry-level model, a dark blue Pentax Kx. That year, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I was still living at home, and logically, our lives revolved around it ever since. So, armed with a camera, I started to spread my wings and venture out occasionally. Away from all the misery at home and just enjoying watching noisy cars—a much-needed distraction.

In 2011, I decided to book a bus trip to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I'd been watching the race on TV for the past few years. The 2010 edition was fantastic, with the powerful Peugeot team struggling to keep up with all their cars, and Audi still managing to beat them and even break the distance record. I just had to experience it. So, on Friday evening, June 10, 2011, I boarded the bus in Breda for Le Mans. A Helmond native named Dennis sat next to me. He also took photos, it turned out. And so we began a long night's drive to France. It turned out I really couldn't sleep on a bus. So, somewhat hungover, we arrived at the circuit in the morning, and from the bus, I saw the Tertre Rouge and the Dunlop Bridge for the first time. This way, I arrived at the circuit just in time for the warm-up.
What immediately struck me was the sheer scale of it all. Once I arrived in my grandstand, I looked out over the enormous pit lane, which accommodated the 55 participating cars and included a large grandstand on top of the pit roof. And then there were all the surrounding buildings and grandstands. And then there were the cars. What a spectacle, for example, when a Corvette with a powerful American V8 roars past—the ground simply shakes. Or other prototypes with a howling V12, or the remarkably quiet diesels of the favorites from Audi and Peugeot. You can easily recognize the cars by the different sounds they make. So I took my first reconnaissance lap around the public section of the circuit. The circuit is partially a permanent track where all the grandstands and facilities are located. But three-quarters of the track is public road. There were plenty of spots along the track to discover and take photos. Especially if you're a bit creative with the limitations of the spectators, you can create some fun things. It's become a sport, so to speak, to constantly find new angles to create something different. That's something that remains fun every year. The photo below was taken through the fence at the beginning of the start/finish straight during warm-up.

Between warm-up and the start of the race, several support races featuring Ferraris and classic cars took place. Johnny Herbert also lapped the circuit in the Mazda 787B he won Le Mans with 20 years earlier, in 1991. What a car! This car is the first Japanese car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the only one to do so with a Wankel engine. A serious piece of engineering, and an even more serious sound – fantastic!

It demonstrated the diverse range of cars that have already participated in this race and the constant development of new technology. For example, Audi and Peugeot were now competing with highly advanced diesel prototypes, something that would have been laughable years ago. But they made those engines so efficient that they were faster and more fuel-efficient than the rest of the field. The Peugeot 908 Hybrid4, which Peugeot was supposed to enter the following year, was also on display at the event grounds, but was canceled due to Peugeot's financial problems. Audi would, however, introduce a hybrid that year. Throughout history, this race has contributed to the development of disc brakes, windshield wipers, ABS, aerodynamics, and many other features found on road cars today. Due to major incidents, this race would also lead to the further implementation of rearview cameras and radar, something now used in cars for parking.

After Johnny Herbert's demonstration, the buildup to the race began. This in itself is quite a spectacle to watch from the grandstand. You see the stands and standing areas fill up with a diverse crowd of people in all sorts of attire, and the starting grid fills with the cars and their teams. The competitors' national anthems were played, with the French and English in particular singing along loudly. Fighter jets from the Patrouille de France flew overhead. And around 3:00 PM, at the start of the warm-up lap, they recreated the race start of years past by having the drivers sprint to their cars. After the warm-up lap, the field slowly rolled towards the start. Accompanied by Star Wars music, they covered the final meters to the starting line, after which the starting flag waved and the gas was put on. The first hour was packed with action. There was a fierce battle for the lead. Both the new Aston Martin LMP1s retired with problems on the third lap. It was a good thing I'd already been able to photograph them during warm-up. After an hour, Allan McNish, driving the #3 Audi, overtook a teammate and another Ferrari at the Dunlop bridge. He hit the Ferrari, resulting in a massive crash. It was truly a miracle that McNish was able to get out unscathed and that no one was hit by the fragments of the shattered car. In the years that followed, I would meet the Dutch marshals stationed there at checkpoint 8bis on the bridge, who helped Allan out of his car during that incident.

This was followed by a lengthy safety car period during which the tire stacks in that corner had to be replaced and the mess cleared. This was a good opportunity for me to explore the grounds further, looking for new photo spots. And, of course, a cheap baguette with kebab... Equipped with a simple radio I'd bought, I could listen to Radio Le Mans anywhere along the track. Essential for a fan who wants to stay informed of what's happening wherever they go. The mainly French commentary from the trackside speakers is difficult to follow with all the noise. But with a radio clamped to your ear, it's perfectly fine.
That evening, I attended a Concrete Knives and Razorlight concert. Afterward, I walked to the track and saw everyone staring at the video screen in shock. Mike Rockenfeller's #1 Audi had tried to overtake a slower Ferrari in the middle of the night, and Mike's Audi also crashed into the guardrail. Now there was only one Audi left, against three factory Peugeots and one more Oreca; it seemed their chances had shrunk considerably.

During the ensuing long safety car period, I took a nighttime ride on the Ferris wheel, a remarkable experience. And after some more nighttime photos, I decided to get some rest on the bus around 2 a.m. Sleep wasn't an option; I simply can't. So, sometime after 5 a.m., even hungover, I walked through the parking lot toward the circuit. I turned on my radio with Radio Le Mans again. There was a fierce battle going on between the only remaining #2 Audi and the Peugeots. I hurried back to the circuit and watched the final hours of that battle unfold. Around sunrise, it's happy hour at Le Mans. That's when the track conditions are ideal for fast lap times. Ultimately, the Audi managed to drive for 3 hours and 20 minutes without changing tires . This while averaging around 240 km/h and having to overtake other cars. Quite an achievement!

The race's conclusion was truly fantastic. In the final hour, the leading Audi and the closest Peugeot pitted simultaneously. The Audi just had time to change tires, but the Peugeot had to leave the pits without fresh tires to keep up. As the minutes ticked down, a light rain began to fall. And towards the end, the #49 Oak Racing LMP2 passed by smoking and seemed to be leaving a trail of oil. But despite this, the sole remaining Audi still managed to cross the finish line a few seconds ahead of the Peugeot, securing the victory. One of the closest finishes in this race!

It was also wonderful to see how even the smaller teams in the garages across from me were just happy to have made it to the finish. That's an achievement in itself that shouldn't be underestimated, especially for the more amateur teams like the Lotuses or the Ford GT of the Robertson team, a racing couple from the USA. I wondered why the teams were already taking down their garages and tents along the pit wall before the finish. But when I saw the influx of fans on the track after the finish, and fans walking past with meter-long signs hanging from above the garage door, I knew why!

The podium ceremony took place before a sea of fans. Afterward, it was time to wander back to the bus. Back to another sleepless night. I was able to discuss the race with Dennis and show them the photos we'd taken. We'd stay in touch and visit many more races as friends in the years to come. That's also the beauty of this race. You get to know many fellow motorsport fans and experience the wear and tear together in your own way, just like the teams, the drivers, and the cars do on the track. It's always a whole new adventure where you never know what's going to happen. And sometimes it's a welcome distraction from the monotony, or the dramas that might be unfolding in your life. Especially in these times... Luckily, we still have the photos.