Le Mans 24 Hour Race

As Grand Prix racing became the definitive test of motorsport ability throughout Europe, some in the industry realised the races had a fatal flaw. As races typically lasted only a few hours, car manufacturers focused only on produced cars that could outperform other vehicles in terms of engine power and speed. Almost no thought was given to the durability of the car. For this reason, the Le Mans 24 hour race was introduced. Its purpose was to encourage manufacturers to make cars that were reliable as well as fast. This made the process of designing the ideal racing car to beat all others much more difficult. All in all, racing became more interesting as teams were forced to change their ideas and incorporate more aspects into a car, making decisions to strike the desired balance between durability and speed.

As well as the cars, the drivers are of crucial importance in the Le Mans 24 hour race. Due to the length of the race (24 hours) it is impossible for one driver to complete the race alone. Again, this added further complications to the race. In the early decades of the race, it was usual for two drivers to share the race. They would swap over every few hours, allowing each of them to gain rest. There were some teams that attempted to use only one driver in a bid to save time - Pierre Levegh and Eddie Hall both attempted the feat. Inevitably, solo driving in the race was soon banned as it was deemed dangerous. Nowadays, at least three drivers must share the race, and each driver can race for no longer than four hours at a time. These rules make the race safer for the drivers.

Traditionally, the 'Le Mans start' began the Le Mans 24 hour race. This occurred at the beginning of the race. Cars would be lined up behind the starting line, in the order in which they qualified. The drivers would stand at the sidelines beside their car. At the wave of the flag which signified the race beginning, drivers would run to their cars and get in without any assistance. However, this tradition was soon abolished due to safety - many drivers failed to attach their harnesses correctly in a bid to save time. Nowadays, a rolling start is used to set off cars at the beginning of the race.

Although the Le Mans 24 hour race has been significantly altered since 1923, it is still a hugely popular racing event. It is set to be the race all teams aspire to for many years to come.

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