BACK ON TRACK
The Le Mans Classic returns after an extended four-year break – so this year’s event promises to be a crackerjack FRANCE LE MANS CLASSIC, CIRCUIT DE LA SARTHE, LE MANS 72100. 30 JUNE-3 JULY
The long wait is almost over! The Le Mans Classic – hugely popular with British classic enthusiasts who make the pilgrimage to the French circuit in their thousands – is now just over a month away, after an enforced four-year break.
Although usually staged every two years, the 2020 event fell victim to the pandemic as did its postponement to 2021. That means that 2022 will see what is undoubtedly one of the world’s most spectacular and glitzy historic motor sport events being held for the first time since 2018. Thus the appetite for its high octane action will be bigger than ever – especially as it will also mark the 20th anniversary of the firstever Le Mans Classic.
The motor sport festival aims to re-create the spirit, style and sensationalism of past Le Mans 24hour races with six grids spanning 500 cars from the eras 1923-’39, 1949-’56, 1957-’61, 1962-’65, 1966-’71 and 1971-’81. Priority is given to cars that actually competed at Le Mans in period. There will also be Group C action (1982-1993) while a brand new grid for this year, Endurance Racing Legends, will cater for younger spectators by fielding GTS and Prototypes from the 1990s up to 2013.
Jaguar also has a 75car race of XK120S, 140s and 150s plus C-, D-, and E-types, and Porsche has been given a similar privilege. Its marquespecific race will see more than 70 competitors from 911s of 1965 to 935s of 1981.
Beyond the track, there will be in excess of 8500 classics on display, but it’s the party atmosphere of close to 200,000 spectators enjoying epic historic racing that makes the Le Mans Classic so unmissable.
■ lemansclassic.com