French heritage is not limited to old stones. Proof of this is yesterday evening during the final of the Favorite monument of the French, presented by Stéphane Bern from the Château de Rambouillet (Yvelines). Far ahead of the Belfry of Douai (Nord) and the Château de Trévarez in Saint-Goazec (Finistère), in 2nd and 3rd positions, the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit (Sarthe) won the hearts of viewers. Candidate from the Pays de la Loire, the historic site is said to have collected between 500,000 and 600,000 votes during the vote which took place from 12 to 24 July by telephone and online on the show’s website.
An icon of the region
This result ” testifies to the attachment of our compatriots to the greatest endurance car race in the world and this adventure that is both human and technological, which celebrated its centenary last year and which hosts an authentic popular festival every year. “, comments Stéphane Bern in a press release. “ It is an immense honour and a great source of pride to receive this title of Favourite Monument of the French.adds Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, the association that created and organized the race. The 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit is an icon of our sport and our region, which welcomed more than a million people last year. »
Pierre Fillon and Stéphane Bern on the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit © ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest)
It all began in 1906, during the first Grand Prix in history, around La Sarthe. Seventeen years later, in 1923, the 24 Hours took place on roads that were barely tarmacked and marked on the ground. From this first edition, the public and the press were interested in this unusual international race that had become a motoring spectacle, in which drivers and manufacturers from all over the world participated. Three-quarters of the circuit used road sections, open to public traffic the rest of the year. One of the longest circuits in the world, it quickly became known as one of the most prestigious mechanized events alongside the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. Since 2018, the autodrome has measured 13.626 km by improving the legendary layout.
View of the 2024 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans © ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest)
A movie star circuit
This pride of Sarthe has also inspired the arts. The circuit has become a movie star over the years. It is at the heart of Le Mans (1971) by Lee H. Katzin, starring Steve McQueen. The film follows Michael Delaney, a race car driver who returns to the circuit one year after a serious accident. The film was shot largely during the 1970 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with three cameras mounted on a participating car. The circuit was also used for the filming of Luc Besson’s adaptation of Michel Vaillant’s comic book in 2003 and for Le Mans 66 by James Mangold, with Matt Damon and Christian Bale in 2019.
Le Mans 66 | Trailer [Officielle] VF HD | 2019
In 1975, a new phenomenon at the crossroads of design, technology and art was born. Hervé Poulain, auctioneer (co-founder of Artcurial) and French racing driver, asked Alexander Calder to paint a BMW 3.0 CLS as a canvas that would then take part in the 24 Hours. The tradition of BMW Art Cars was launched. Frank Stella (1976), Roy Lichtenstein (1977), Andy Warhol (1979), Robert Rauschenberg (1986), David Hockney (1995), Olafur Eliasson (2007) and Jeff Koons (2010) played the game by perpetuating this tradition. Unveiled at the Centre Pompidou in 2024, the 20th BMW Art Car was created by Julie Mehretu. The New York artist transformed a BMW M Hybrid V8 into a ” performance painting “, visible later during the race.
The AF Corse Ferrari 499P No. 50 won the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. © ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest)
The secrets of racing
During the European Heritage Days, on September 21 and 22, the temple of speed will open its doors to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. to introduce visitors to the world of motor sports. Visitors will be able to discover the 24 Hours of Le Mans museum, which has a permanent collection of more than 70 vehicles, from the genesis of the automobile to the latest endurance prototypes. The tour offers visitors the chance to discover the secrets of racing. The restoration workshop will exceptionally open its doors. In 2026, an expansion project should make the place the “ first museum in the world » on the theme of motorsport.
[Bande-annonce] The French people’s favorite monument in 2024
