Le Mans Panoramic
By Gavin Ireland
The 24 Hours of Le Mans may be the single most relevant race in the world, establishing itself through 90 runnings as the definitive test of automotive speed and endurance. In its formative years it was the latter of those two terms that took precedence as all the entries aimed to make the finish first, go fast second. During the past several decades, however, car builders have more or less mastered the reliability aspect so that the race has become a flat-out sprint from beginning to end.
As its name suggests, this book is primarily photo-centric, panoramically so, although various splashes of complementary text can be found throughout—in both French and English. The wide-angle photos come from just the 2010 and 2011 events, but the focus strays briefly from the Circuit de la Sarthe itself to take the reader/viewer into the ancient town that gives the race its name, illustrating the inextricable link between the two. You are then taken through the 24 hours visually, from Saturday afternoon’s start, through the night and back around to the finish. If it came with a soundtrack it would be very much like being there.
Available for US$69.95/£35 from enthusiast bookstores or direct from publisher Veloce at www.veloce.co.uk
