You could just imagine the scriptwriters in Hollywood sharpening their pencils as this year’s 24-Hours of Le Mans race unfolded…
Let’s set the scene. The quest for ultimate honours was always going to be between the Audi and Peugeot teams (the gap between the diesel and petrol cars being as great as ever). French tears were spilled during last year’s event as one-by-one each of the Peugeots retired from the race – leaving the German Audis to cross the line in formation – so there was more determination than ever before in the Peugeot camp this year. Interested yet?
Our story begins with each of these top two teams revealing their cast of three cars – three drivers per car. Unlike last year’s event where the Peugeots were the fastest cars in the field (while they were running) it looked as though, this year, the cars were fairly evenly matched in terms of pace. However, as our plot unfolded, it appeared as if the Peugeots of 2011 were able to go one full lap longer on a tank of fuel than the Audis. Advantage France! It meant the Audi drivers were going to have to make the most of every lap, for every minute of the 24 hours, in an attempt to make up the time lost during the additional pit stops.
The race started with two Audis at the front of the grid, Peugeots in third and fourth, then an Audi, followed by the last Peugeot. Perfect for our story.
The opening few laps were frantic. You would be forgiven for thinking that this was a sprint race judging by the way paintwork was being swapped and positions being ruthlessly defended. Had they forgotten that this was a 24-hour event?
No sooner had our audience caught their breath and one of the Audis made contact with a Ferrari (just to add a touch of glamour) and flew off the track in one of the most spectacular crashes the racing world had ever seen. Even Michael Bay and the Transformers special effects crew would struggle to match the “visual” severity of this impact. Show this one in slow motion and 3D and you would have to place an age restriction on this flick. Safety car out, Alan McNish somewhat miraculously appeared unscathed from the wreckage. Two Audi’s left in the race.
Of course, this was the high profile storyline. Sub-plots were unfolding all over the racetrack. Each race category and class had its own heroes and villains. Who did you want to win?
Nine hours into the race, with headlights beaming bright and just a hint of rain in the air, the French commentator screamed into the microphone. There had been another almighty accident on one of the fastest sections of the track. With no television cameras positioned at this spot, the audience was shown only some spine-chilling on-board footage of a car being clipped – by a Ferrari – and veering off the track. The footage ended abruptly as the car ploughed into the armco. Mouths were hanging open in the theatre. Popcorn was falling onto the floor. It’s one of the Audis! Surely not. The plot thickened. At this point Hollywood would probably have thrown in a scene where one of the other participating drivers (perhaps Stallone) stopped his car next to the wreck to pull the injured driver out, moments before an explosion, but thankfully the driver, American Mike Rockenfeller, appeared to be unharmed.
As daylight broke we saw that the last remaining Audi in the race, piloted by the most inexperienced of the team’s drivers, was actually in the lead. All three Peugeots were still present and accounted for and the race to the finish line was on. Our audience was captivated by the bravery and courage (a tad dramatic, but you get the point) of our young heroes behind the wheel of the lead car. The Peugeots were spaced out around the track and the Number 2 Audi was forced to lap two of them in the quest to finish first. Suddenly what should have been simple overtaking manoeuvres, assisted by blue flags being waved at the slower car, were turning into a sub-plot of its own as the Peugeot pilots had seemingly been ordered to slow the Audi drivers down – by whatever means necessary. Sounds unlikely? Well, the television footage doesn’t lie. Is it me or do the tinted windows on the Peugeot racing car remind you of the tinted visors of the enemy pilots in Top Gun?
After twenty-three-and-a-half hours of racing, the gap between first and second place was just 14 seconds. No time for any more pit stops. The young pilot behind the wheel of the lead Audi, Andre Lotterer, had been in his seat, at maximum concentration, for just under four hours. He crossed the finish line first and Scarlett Johannson was waiting for him in the pits to give him a huge kiss and to accept his proposal.
Okay, so Scarlett wasn’t there, but after the events that transpired over 24 hours at the Le Mans race circuit over the weekend of 11-12 June 2011, it isn’t too much of a stretch to imagine that she could well have been. This Le Mans was the stuff of movies.
