Motorsport movies have recently experienced a growing resurgence of interest, but with a very different approach from the likes of Grand Prix (1966) and Le Mans (1971). While those two releases presented fictional scenarios built around breathtaking racing scenes, the last two great motorsport films were based on true stories.

Directed by Ron Howard and released in 2013, Rush centred on the real duel between Niki Lauda and James Hunt (played by Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth, respectively) during the 1976 Formula 1 season against a backdrop of sporting rivalry, friendship and mutual respect. Its success opened the doors for other projects, culminating in Le Mans '66 (Ford v Ferrari) in 2019.

Ford-Ferrari, a very camera-ready duel

While there is no end to the number of historic events and eras in the legacy of the 24 Hours, director James Mangold and screenwriters Jez and John-Henry Butterworth focused on one of the most legendary: the epic duel between Ford and Ferrari in the mid-1960s.

Beyond the sporting rivalry, the fabric of Le Mans '66 (Ford v Ferrari) is also based on the extremely strong personalities of Enzo Ferrari and Henry Ford II, as well as the relationship between Texas native and 1959 24 Hours winner Carroll Shelby and British driver Ken Miles, head of the Ford factory team and the development driver for the mythical GT40, respectively. Mangold enjoys highlighting extraordinary characters such as Johnny Cash played by Joaquin Phoenix (who won an Oscar for his portrayal) in Walk the Line.

The A-listers initially earmarked for the roles were Brad Pitt (Shelby) and Tom Cruise (Miles), a reunion on the big screen 20 years after Interview with a Vampire (1994). But in the end, Damon donned Shelby's signature Stetson and Bale lent his uncanny physical resemblance to Miles.

A true story with a necessary measure of dramatic licence

In 1970, Le Mans producer and star Steve McQueen decided to film sequences on the track in the heart of the action during the race and then at the circuit in the months that followed.

Mangold, however, dedicated the last half hour of his 2h32m movie to the 1966 24 Hours itself, with certain circuit infrastructure of the era meticulously reconstructed in the U.S. To that end, the script was given to the ACO, and mainly to 24 Hours Museum Director Fabrice Bourrigaud, and the city of Le Mans hosted the crew for the filming of several scenes.

As in any feature film inspired by a true story, it was impossible to remain 100% faithful to reality, both for budgetary and dramatic reasons. Miles arguably never gave Ford II a GT40 baptism by fire on the track any more than he punched Shelby in the middle of the street.

In the same vein, Enzo Ferrari never attended races. During the 24 Hours at the time of the Ford-Ferrari duel, he was however in almost constant telephone contact with his sporting director, Eugenio Dragoni. But, his presence made for a better story from a scriptwriting point of view, especially since Ford II was present at the circuit to give the start in 1966.

Also, three descendants of Ford drivers of the period took part in the filming: Derek Hill, Alex Gurney and Jeff Bucknum – respectively the sons of Phil Hill (three-time winner with Ferrari and Ford driver in 1964 and 1965), Dan Gurney (1967 winner, pole-sitter and in-race lap record holder in 1966) and Ronnie Bucknum (third in 1966). Born on 12 July 1966, barely one month after his father reached the podium, Bucknum is the only one of the three progeny to have taken the start himself in the 24 Hours (retirement in 2003 at the wheel of a Pilbeam prototype).

These contributions amounted to one of the very best motorsport films ever made, awarded in 2020 both at the Golden Globes (Best Actor in a Dramatic Role for Bale) and the Oscars (Best Editing and Best Sound).

Brad Pitt goes from the 24 Hours to Formula 1

Though Pitt did not end up playing Shelby in Le Mans '66 (Ford v Ferrari), he did serve as the official starter at the 2016 24 Hours, and is currently attached to a film co-produced by seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton about Formula 1 for which he will take the wheel for several scenes in July at the Silverstone circuit.

PHOTOS (Copyright - 20th Century Studios). From top to bottom: the Ford GT40 and Ferrari 330 P4 also star in Le Mans '66 (Ford v Ferrari); James Mangold on set; Christian Bale (at left) and Matt Damon playing Ken Miles and Carroll Shelby, respectively; the 1966 24 Hours reimagined with Matt Damon, Christian Bale, James Mangold and Josh Lucas (in brown jacket) in the role of Ford's Special Vehicles Chief Leo Beebe; the movie's version of the 1966 24 Hours start.