The most important sprint that decides nothing

Anyone who’s ever had to sprint a few metres towards a car in front of tens of thousands of people knows that feeling of nervousness. It’s about twelve metres from one side of the road to the other. That’s where the racing cars are waiting. Le Mans start. It’s now only seen at the Le Mans Classic. And you can see the nerves in most of these seasoned racing drivers, even though for most of them the walk from the bedroom to the bathroom is probably longer. They hop about, shuffle on the spot, then get into the sprinting position – and off they go!

This starting procedure was originally introduced in the 1920s to prevent false starts. Back then, all drivers even had to lift their bonnets before the race so that no one could start the engine unnoticed. They were only allowed to set off after the official starting signal. The starting line was deliberately positioned on the opposite side of the track to ensure that no one set off too early.

Even though the race lasted 24 hours, this short sprint was a moment full of pressure – and nerves. Olivier Gendebien, a four-time Le Mans winner, later recalled how his team-mate Phil Hill had become restless days before the race. The mere thought of standing motionless next to the car for several minutes whilst thousands watched was enough to fray the nerves. Some drivers practised the sprint the evening before – not because of the track, but because of the stage.

Today, the Le Mans start is no longer practised for safety reasons. At Le Mans Classic, however, it lives on – at least as a ritual. The drivers line up in rows, sprint to their cars – and thus bring to life a scene that has shaped generations of racing drivers. Just like the cars, which then take part in a wide variety of races at Le Mans by the dozen.

→ lemansclassic.com