“In the car!” No. 10: 24 Hours of Le Mans, the automobile Olympics

Dear readers,

The French love cars. They demonstrated it again last weekend. The 24 Hours of Le Mans broke yet another attendance record, with over 350,000 spectators. This is no coincidence. The 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit is a monument. It was even the French race's favorite in 2024, according to the internet vote for the show hosted annually by Stéphane Bern.

Founded in 1923, Le Mans is a source of national pride. Its reputation is international. Since its inception, every driver and manufacturer has dreamed of adding their name to the list of winners. Currently, it is experiencing a golden age that could make it seem like the Olympic Games of motor racing. The premier class boasts the world's largest automotive groups: Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche, and Toyota. Hyundai, through its luxury brand Genesis, as well as Ford and McLaren, have announced their arrival. Having two French manufacturers involved (Alpine and Peugeot), as well as Total Energies, as a partner of the event, and ORECA, the chassis supplier for the LMP2 category, are also reasons for pride.

To welcome this exceptional field, which highlights the dynamism of the automotive sector and also the appeal of this more than century-old race, it is regrettable to note that only Nathalie Delattre, Minister Delegate for Tourism, attended the start. The absence of key members of the government at these automobile Olympics is a testament, if proof were needed, to their disconnect from the French people.

Happy reading and safe travels!