The centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a very big deal, for the race, for endurance racing and, for that matter, for motorsport as a whole.
We’ve known for some time that impressive plans were being worked on for the event but DSC can now reveal a key component of the festivities.
The 99 years from 1923 have seen the race take place 90 times, with 2023 set to host the 91st running.
85 individual cars have won the race overall, five of them have won it twice. The Bentley Speed Six ‘Old No. One – LB 2332) (1929 and 1930), Ferrari 275 P Chassis #0816 (1963 & 1964), Ford GT40 Mk I P1075 (1968 and 1969), Porsche 956B #117 (1984 and 1985); and the Porsche-powered TWR-WSC 95 – 691 – #001 (1996 and 1997).
Of those 85, DSC believes that close to 70 will be assembled for an exhibition in a new wing of the Le Mans Museum starting on 1 June.
That will include the first winner, a 1923 Chenard et Walcker which has been restored to operating condition for the centenary.
The ‘missing’ cars include several that no longer exist.
In addition there will be other cars displayed (into double figures) that DSC understands represent the technological leaps forward that have been debuted and showcased at the race, plus some of the ‘oddball’ cars that have defined the event for so many fans.
This celebration also explains why the timetable for the 2023 race week has been altered so dramatically, shifting support races away from race day and instead taking part earlier in the week.
In all the exhibition will be the most significant collection of Le Mans cars ever assembled.
But that’s only a part of the plan…
DSC understands too that the vast majority of the cars in the exhibition will be displayed on-track at Le Mans twice, on both Friday and Saturday. Each car will lap the circuit, at pace, alone to allow fans trackside to see and hear these amazing machines.
Several manufacturers are collaborating with the event and we expect that many of the cars will be driven by some very significant drivers.
The ACO has also commissioned a film to capture this unique occurrence.
Friday is also set to see another remarkable event, with a live auction on the pit straight of 24 historically significant cars from Le Mans’ history.
All in all this is shaping up to be a truly extraordinary celebration of a truly extraordinary event!
