Le Mans is one of the most iconic automobile events in the world. The 24-hour event that happens every year is a testament of the love, passion, and skill. Finishing the entire Le Mans is an achievement in itself, let alone getting a podium finish. There are so many reasons why the Le Mans is as iconic as it is (probably a lot more fatigue-driven but still fun!).
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The iconic race – Le Mans
Le Mans is derived from the ancient Gallic tribe of the Cenomani. The entire name of the race is "24 Hours of Le Mans". This is an endurance-focused race that is held in Le Mans, France.
The Le Mans is the oldest existing endurance race in the world. The duration of the race is what sets it apart from races such as F1.
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The track at Le Mans
The race happens at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France. The entire length of the track is currently 13.626 kilometers (8.466 miles). There are about 38 turns (with several hairpin bends) that test the driver's skill to the maximum.
The several innovations at Le Mans
One of the most iconic things about Le Mans is that it has been home to some of the best innovations in the history of automobiles:
- Road Surfaces (1922): Earlier, the race happened on dirt tracks. In 1922, the road was remanufactured with tar-coating.
- Aerodynamic car bodies (1925): Streamlined bodies became a staple since 1925 thanks to Le Mans
- Fog Lamps (1926): Fog lamps were introduced due to mist problems on the track.
- Front-wheel drive (1927): A shift from the traditional drive, the front-wheel-drive was introduced at the 1927 Le Mans.
- Rear engine (1949): The Renault 4 CV was the first rear-engine car introduced in 1949.
- Direct-injection engine (1952): A new system that increased performance while saving fuel efficiency was introduced at Le Mans.
- Disc brakes (1953): Disc brakes – a system used in aircraft was introduced here to improve brake efficiency.
- Quartz Iodine Headlamps (1962): To combat the night race, which was plunged in darkness, these headlamps were introduced.
- Gas Turbine Engine (1963): The engine didn't meet the race regulations but did make quite some noise at the race.
- Slick Tires (1967): Tires with smooth treads were introduced. They provided better traction.
- Rotary engine (1970): The technology was introduced here but didn't provide positive performances.
- Hybrid engine (1998): Hybrid engines were introduced to the world that used electric motors and traditional combustion engines.
- Racing Diesel (2006): Improvements in diesel injections
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Rivalries that transcend boundaries
One of the most iconic rivalries in automobile history – Ford vs. Ferrari blossomed at Le Mans. One of the best movies of 2019, "Ford vs. Ferrari," starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon, highlighted this rivalry.
Another iconic rivalry that happened during Le Mans was Jaguar vs. Porsche.
