Imagine driving your corvette for 24 hours over a twisting, winding, and, in parts, flat out course. Speed is not an issue - go as fast as you want. The issue is whether you will cause an accident, have mechanical failure or get caught up in something not of your making. And can you maintain your pace with 49 other drivers trying to catch and over take you?
This weekend, some of the top drivers in the world are at LeMans. The 24 hours of LeMans has been a perennial event for auto manufacturers, racers, and auto enthusiasts.
The classes of cars running at LeMans: LMP1, LMP2, GT1, and GT2. The corvettes run in GT class, while primarily roadster (think Batmobile) / daytona prototype cars run in LMP.
A LeMans win on a driver's resume is a big deal. AJ Foyt has one from 1967, which is the same year he won his third Indianapolis 500. Dan Gurney was his co-driver.
Liz Halliday, who is virtually unknown outside of racing cirlces, but a female who has actually won road races, is trying to win her division at LeMans.
The American LeMans series is well represented at the race, but the "better" known series such as Nascar and IRL are not - primarly due to their schedules. (Do you think you could keep some of those drivers out of this if they had the chance to go?)
LeMans holds the distinction of being the stage for the worst auto racing accident in history. In 1955, a car flipped over a safety barrier, broke into pieces and caught fire. The result was the death of over 83 spectators, and injuries to over 100. Ironically, the race continued, as officials were concerned if they stopped the race, the spectators would leave, causing traffic problems which would have hindered rescue efforts.
The race is being carried by SPEED.
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