Chopard

Le Mans 2016 - Chopard Superfast Porsche 919 edition was returning to where it began

 

Dear friends

 

Another event on my agenda for this year was the mythical 24h race in Le Mans. Crazy me, I've taken some 2000 shots and brought home roundabout 800. Rest assured that I don't want to bore you with a fraction of these and bring it down to two hands full.

 

Let me share my experiences after spending Wednesday till Monday on a camping site just 200m away from the Porsche curves of the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.

 

In my opinion, Le Mans is fantastic and an absolute unique piece of racing history that lives on today. It cannot compare to anything I have experienced before in modern racing. If you are anywhere near to being interested in motor sports, I'd call it a must-go-event.

 

Some of the highlights using the   ==>  CHOPARD  <==   guidance starting from the back.

 

==>  D for Drivers  <==

You will find all sorts of drivers competing. From names that I have never heard before to people that I better knew as goalkeepers (Barthez) and last but not least, famous ones like Mark Webber.

But do you know how long it took me to understand the specialty of three drivers going for their stints during 24hours? Did you ever think of the fact that mainly all other race events would adjust one car to specific needs of one driver? If so, isn't it remarkable that here, 3 drivers have to get along with one common car setting?

 

 

 

==>  R for Race  <==

Having all different classes LMP1, LMP2, GT Pro and GT Am racing one race will assure two things:

1. There won't be a moment the 13.6km track turns silent
2. Plenty of overtaking reminding you how powerful braking and accelerating can be.

It was exciting throughout the race. LMP1 leaders had never more than 1 lap distance in between. Very close and no room for error.

 

 

==>  A for Advertisement  <==

This race car world actually is a watch world, too, if you just look at the number of brands being represented.

Jaques Lemans

 

HYT

 

Oris

 

Rebellion

 

Richard Mille

 

Rolex

 

Tag Heuer

 

Chopard

 

 

==>  P for Performance  <==

In the highest class LMP1, there are different engine concepts as a result of less restricted rules. Leading are the hybrids with typically 1000hp combined power, but very much different from Audi's V6 4liters Diesel engine, Toyota's 2.4 V6 to Porsche's 2liters V4.

 

While LMP2 is dominated by Nissan 4.5liters V8 motors, GT class is pretty much mixed with even higher displacements like 5.5 liters V8.

 

Porsche 919 engine (it's indeed small)

 

 

 

==>  O for organisation  <==

There is so much going on in terms of concerts, exhibitions, scrutineering or driver presentation in town, and of course all race related programme points like practises and other race series. There are not many events I know of that would pack so much stuff into one event.

Just imagine an all day long pit walk and talking to the crews with your general admission ticket. Cycling around the race track and standing on the finish line the day before the event. Does this exist somewhere else?

 

Proudly carrying the #1

Pit entry the night before the race

 

==>  H for highlife  <==

When fellow Purist Arie replied to my earlier post about fun on the campsite, I admittedly did not know what to expect. It was our joy to see all these various intentions that were present with the people staying there. Leading by example, I really admire the English for bringing all their race cars including cars for significant amounts, just to be parked next to their regular tents and in the middle of the mud.

 

A race anywhere?

 

What rain and mud?

 

 

==>  C for Champions  <==

For the Porsche 919, it finished with 22'984 number of gear changes during 384 laps. As for all finishing cars, this was 24hours after the start and sadly endurance racing means that you have to race till the last minute (chapeau Toyota).

 

Winner LMP1

 

Winner LMP2

Winner GT Pro

Winner GT Am

Concluding, these were just few impressions and thoughts from my side, as I am still very happy to have made this incredible experience. With the race decision in LMP1 class literally made in the last lap, 2016 will be memorable for many people for a very long time. As to all other drivers and teams writing this piece of history, I would like to send my congratulations to Porsche and Chopard.

This was the 84th edition of the 24h of Le Mans and my very special Chopard Porsche 919 edition attended the event. In other words, the watch returned to where it was first presented to the public.

 

 

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed a little and appreciated the race as much as I did.

 

Cheers,

Kolosstt

P.S. Apologies that I am a bit slow in contributing lately, since I save my 919th post for a special thread.