Today the roar of engines will resound on the big 13,629-km Le Mans circuit as the test day gets under way. For almost a year people everywhere have been waiting for this moment!
It all began at the end of May when the ACO’s sporting module was decked out in the colors of a partner. Then lorries, cranes and different types of construction equipment invaded the circuit. Here and there ephemeral structures emerged from the ground, each one more imposing than the other. The grey walls of the garages were covered in lacquered panels, necessary to protect the technology of the cars, which arrived at Le Mans hidden under white covers.
The test day kicks off today which will come to a climax on 23rd June with the huge crowd of supporters flocking to the track under the podium. Between now and then laughter and tears will follow each other in rapid succession! Thousands of stories, whether of great or little import, will be written between the centre of
Le Mans and the Mulsanne corner at the southern extremity of the circuit. Today the 56 garages on the pit lane will be the theater of joys and disappointments. There is always something at stake at the test day. It is THE day that plunges teams into a state of doubt or panic or, on the contrary, gives them the impetus and the confidence to reach for the heights. In short, it sets the tone. This year there are many questions: will Audi or Toyota come out on top psychologically speaking in LM P1? Which of the 24 LM P2s prototypes will find the best setup as they are all potential category winners? Will the new Vipers, back in GTE Pro after a 10-year absence, be able to match the pace of the Ferraris, Porsches, Corvettes and Aston Martins? Will actor Patrick Dempsey be as much at ease in his Porsche GTE Am as he is in the white coat of Dr. McDreamy, his character in Grey’s Anatomy? This evening they all still believe in their chances.
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The Le Mans 24H race starts on Saturday June 22 13:00 GMT (15:00 CET) with the finish a day later at Sunday June 23 2013.
