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Writer's pictureRick Kiewiet

The Le Mans Centenary Celebrations!

On Friday, June 9, there is no room for uncertainty around the fact that Le Mans is where you should be spending your time. On Friday, the programme features support racing track activity in the morning, followed by the Drivers' Parade beginning at 14:00. This makes the day extremely enjoyable for spectators. The atmosphere of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is first established by the support races that take place before the main event.



The public will be able to walk around the 24 Hours of Le Mans racecourse between the hours of 15:00 and 20:00. Access to the infield and spectator activities will require the purchase of a ticket, while the road portion of the circuit, which stretches from Tertre Rouge to the Porsche Curves, will be free for walkers and anybody utilising soft transport, such as bicycles, roller skaters, or kick scooter users.


The 27th Drivers Parade will take a path through the central business district of the city. During the 24 Hours of Le Mans, all of the drivers participated in a procession through the streets of the city while perched atop classic automobiles. A carnival-like atmosphere is brought to Le Mans by the Drivers Parade, which is organised by Classic Automotive in cooperation with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. This event takes place the night before the actual competition begins the following day. Please take notice that the procession starts three hours earlier than normal this year, at 14:00 and continues until 16:30.


On Friday, June 9, the track will serve as the setting for an exciting auction that will take place from 15:00 to 18:30. RM Sotheby's will be auctioning off an incredible 21 automobiles, all of which have competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Each and every one of these vehicles will be up for sale. There was a 1967 Alpine A210, a 1984 Lancia LC2, a 1997 Chrysler Viper GTS-R, and a 1932 Aston Martin LM8 among them. There was also a 1955 Ferrari 121 LM. If you want to get a good look at all of the incredible machinery, you should go to the pit straight grandstands.


The Automobile Club de l'Ouest has planned a dazzling ceremony to commemorate everyone who was involved in the organisation of the world-famous event in order to mark the 100th anniversary of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's race in grand fashion. The ceremony will begin at 19:00 on the pit straight. Be on the lookout for the parade of legends, which will begin at 19:30 and will feature the cars that are part of the centenary exhibition. These cars will line up on the pit straight in preparation for a demonstration of the iconic Le Mans style start, in which drivers sprinted to their vehicles in order to start the race (which will begin at 20:45). In the grandstands, it's important to have your wits about you. If you are fortunate enough to find a t-shirt with a specially embroidered design, you will be entered into a drawing to win a flight in a helicopter or a ride as a passenger with a racing driver. At 19:15, all eyes will be turned skyward to see the Patrouille de France, the acrobatic squad of the French air force, do a flypast as part of an air display that will last for the entire hour.


In the late 1990s and the early 2000s, the French electronic music producer and DJ Christophe Le Friant, better known by his stage name Bob Sinclar, propelled French house music to the forefront of the musical landscape all over the world. His three albums—Western Dream, Soundz of Freedom, and Born in '69—all earned gold certification in France towards the middle of the 2000s. His song "Love Generation" topped the charts all over the world in 2005, and the following year, he was nominated for a Grammy for another popular song, "World, Hold On (Children of the Sky)," which featured Steve Edwards.


To join the audience beginning at 8:00, locate the Fan Zone Pop Art Concert by following the signs there.


The events commemorating the 100th anniversary culminate with a spectacular spectacle performed during the evening. The centenary celebrations will culminate with a stunning nighttime spectacle that will involve pyrotechnics and 400 drones, so be sure to keep your eyes on the sky! To get to the Fan Zone Pop Art Concert, just follow the instructions there.


Please be aware that only week pass holders can participate in the activities on Tuesday and Friday of each week.


After that comes the much-anticipated start of the race, which will take place at 16:00 on the 10th of June. The beginning ceremony is always moving to see, but this year it will have an additional special significance. After many hours of racing, be on the lookout for fireworks after dusk, an aerial show by drones, and an unforgettable performance by international superstar Mika.


On June 11 at 16:00, the winner of the 100th anniversary race will cross the finish line. This event will take place on Sunday. Which team will receive the one-of-a-kind Centenary Trophy, which was crafted by the Paris Mint and sponsored by Rolex? Who is going to get your money? Porsche, Ferrari, Toyota, Peugeot, Glickenhaus, Cadillac or Vanwall? In eighteen days, we will know for sure!

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