A victory with a thousand flavors
The 24 Hours of Le Mans goes beyond the scope of competition. They represent a titanic challenge where the taste of victory can take on varied nuances. For some, it’s a long-awaited revenge, a dream finally realized after years of work and sacrifice. For others, it is the relief of having survived an insane ordealwhere each round is a battle against time, mechanical failures and the weather elements.
But this moment of triumph can also have a more bitter flavor. The 2013 edition remains marked in this regard. While Tom Kristensen claimed a record ninth victory, the tragic death of Allan Simonsen, his compatriot, brought a poignant contrast to the celebration.
Seeing the checkered flag: a victory in itself
Participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans means accessing the highest level of the endurance pyramid, but above all it means taking up an unparalleled challenge. Many teams view simply crossing the finish line as a form of victory. This feeling reflects the unique nature of the event, where the journey taken matters almost as much as the end result. Through technical, sporting and human challenges, the very essence of endurance is expressed.
Over the past two years, Ferrari AF Corse has tasted victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kenji Concymechanic of the Italian team and assigned to the Ferrari 499P, enjoyed the greatest of consecrations by winning the Centenary edition. He shares his feelings about what the taste of victory represents. For him, the latter is above all « insatiable ». “When you win this race, you always want to taste victory again. When the start is given, we don’t know what to expect. When you are at the top of the general ranking, the more hours pass, the more you believe in it. But what is paradoxical is that doubt sets in even more, because anything can happen until the last moment. It is when the checkered flag is lowered that the click is made. There, we truly taste victory,” he confides.
Asked what best symbolizes this taste, the mechanic answers without hesitation: “Champagne, which we consume in moderation. » But more than the celebration, it is the memory of the teamwork that will remain engraved in his memory. “Since the start of the program, we have achieved many milestones. Over six months, we carried out a lot of tests. Before these tests, there was all the assembly of the car too. It was trying. I would think back to this path that leads to victory. It is strewn with pitfalls and short nights. »
An unforgettable flavor
Through hearing, sight, smell, touch or taste, the 24 Hours of Le Mans represent an experience where each emotion is experienced intensely. Victory, when it arrives, is the fruit of a journey strewn with pitfalls. But it is precisely this mixture of efforts, doubts and hopes that makes its taste so unique, so precious. At Le Mans, triumph has the aroma of collective work, the flavor of accomplishment and the echo of a dream come true.
