- [Voiceover] At the
dawn of the 20th century,
three men had an idea that
would change the face of racing.
They asked themselves, what would happen
if drivers raced for 24 solid hours?
For almost every year since 1923,
drivers from across the world
have traveled to Le Mans, France
to compete in the world's oldest
sports car endurance race.
Unlike some other races, Le Mans focuses
on reliability and
efficiency, as well as speed.
The 24 hours of Le Mans test the limits
of human and mechanical ability.
And while the specifics
may have changed over time,
the basic rules remain the same,
whoever covers the longest distance
over 24 hours will be declared the winner.
The very first Le Mans winners
were the Chenard-Walcker team,
driven by André Lagache and René Léonard.
Originally, British,
French, and Italian teams
dominated Le Mans.
Popular marks included Bentley,
Alfa Romeo, and Bugatti,
but the road wasn't always smooth.
The outbreak of World War II, for example,
led to an eight-year hiatus.
However, Le Mans resumed in 1949,
expanding to include teams from nations
such as Germany, United
States, Australia, and more.
Over the next few decades,
world famous racers
like Woolf Barnato, Jacky
Ickx, Derek Bell, and others
built a reputation with multiple
wins in the competition.
Manufacturers also built
their names in the race,
as Porsche and Audi emerged to become
some of the Le Mans frequent winners.
But along with the racers, the real star
of Le Mans has always been the tech.
Automotive engineering evolved
in-step with the race itself.
As the years passed, Le
Mans became a proving ground
for the latest innovations
in safety, efficiency, and performance.
Take headlights, for example.
As one of the earliest races
to include night driving,
lighting played a
crucial role in the race.
The first years of the race
were plagued by headlight issues.
By the 1960s, iodine vapor lights
became the standard for Le Mans.
And then on to halogen, xenon discharge,
and recently, LED headlamps.
In each case, the Le Mans technology
paved the way for
innovations in consumer cars.
Other parts of the car had remained
relatively unchanged, like tires.
The very first Le Mans
winner used Michelin tires
and the experts at
Michelin have spent decades
refining and testing the latest methods
to improve upon existing tire designs.
Multiple Le Mans teams
noticed the difference too,
forming partnerships with Michelin
that have continued for decades.
Le Mans continues to
explore the cutting edge
of car technology, in terms of safety,
performance, and reliability.
Since the early days of the race,
the competition has focused
on the balance between these elements.
Some improvements, such as the move
from an open to closed cockpit design,
were the result of safety concerns.
Others, such as the hybrid engine
of the Audid R18 E-tron Quattro,
pushed the limits of alternative power.
Since 1923, Le Mans and car
tech have gone hand-in-hand
and will continue to do
so for years to come.
