2023 LE MANS CLASSIC

Over 800 competing cars, 900 drivers, 9,200 club vehicles and a colossal 235,000 spectators firmly established the Le Mans Classic as one of the most popular motorsport events on the planet. A fitting centenary celebration of the Le Mans 24-hour race, this year’s Le Mans Classic embodied a passion for classic motorsport and the culture surrounding it. To set the tone for the four day event, spectators were encouraged to follow a dress code set by Paris-born fashion brand ‘Vicomte A’. Overalls, trenchcoats and uniforms were positively encouraged, allowing guests to travel back in time and become part of the show and what a show it was.

THE PROGRAMME

Richard Mille partners Rafael Nadal and Didier Drogba started the proceedings (Richard Mille also presented its RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic watch which was dedicated to the 2023 event), with the cars being divided into six grid categories according to their age.

The racecars selected for the event were exclusively those that participated in the Le Mans 24 Hours race between 1923 and 1981, with many of the machines taking to the track having actually raced in the event back in their day.

Grid 1 (1929 to 1939) was for the pioneers of the race, with some of the cars racing being over 90 years old, with no rear brakes, but still with the ability to hit 160 km/h on the Mulsanne straight.

Grid 2 (1949 to 1956) had Jaguar, Ferrari and Mercedes battle it out once more, with the Jaguar C and Ds charging hard, as they did back in the 1950s.

Grid 3 (1957 to 1961) paid homage to the ‘Reds’ years’ where Ferrari achieved seven victories from 1958 onwards. Their period adversaries, namely Aston Martin, Bentley and Jaguar, joined the Ferraris.

Grid 4 (1962 to 1965) saw the big rivalries take to the circuit as the Ferraris – which in 1962, Ferrari monopolised the podium and became the most titled manufacturer in the Sarthe – were joined by the equally legendary Ford GT40s. Other mythical cars taking part included the Lola GT and the Cobra Daytona.

Grid 5 (1966 – 1971) got serious, as the mid-engined monsters from Porsche joined the grid. At the time, records were being smashed across the board, many of which – including Porsche’s 222.3km/h average speed for the 24 hours – have yet to be equalled.

Grid 6 (1972 – 1981) had a mixture of marques from the era, where the likes of the Ferrari BBLMs were joined by the techniocally advanced newcomers, such as Renault with its Alpine, the Matra V12s and BMW with its M1.

Some of the cars racing being over 90 years old, with no rear brakes, but still with the ability to hit 160 km/h on the Mulsanne straight.

Many other races supplemented the programme, offering an opportunity for some legendary Group C cars to relive their former glory, while curiosities such as the aptly named 1950 Cadillac Monster, the 1968 Howmet powered by a helicopter turbine and the 1976 NASCAR Ford Gran Torino added to the occasion. The only downside to the Le Mans Classic is that we’ll have to wait until 2025 for the next one.