Mike Rockenfeller, official Audi driver, will participate in a 24-hour race...on a bike on Saturday at N

Le Mans, Ignite your senses | At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, sound isn’t just background noise – it’s a defining feature of the race. The thunderous roar of the engines resonates in spectators’ memories, with some cars earning legendary status for their distinctive acoustics.

More than just raw decibels, an engine&rsquo;s sound embodies the technology, spirit, and philosophy of its time. Some cars have entered the 24 Hours history books as much for their distinctive sonic signature as for their record-breaking performance.

<h2>Engines that have marked history</h2>

In 1991, the&nbsp;Mazda&nbsp;787B&nbsp;became the first Japanese car to win Le Mans and stands as the perfect example. Its rotary engine delivered a sharp, almost metallic sound that lingers in racegoers&rsquo; memories. Each pass along the pit straight or the Mulsanne Straight plunged spectators into an unforgettable auditory experience. The deep, powerful tone of the&nbsp;Ford&nbsp;GT40&rsquo;s V8 engine defined the late 1960s, as the car claimed four consecutive victories from 1966 to 1969. Its rumble became a symbol of American dominance and the soundtrack to the legendary rivalry with Ferrari. The shrill wail of the&nbsp;Porsche&nbsp;917&rsquo;s Flat-12 engine was matched by its glorious aerodynamic silhouette. This car made history not only with its victories in 1970 and 1971 but also with its distinctive&nbsp;piercing sound. Then there&rsquo;s the&nbsp;Peugeot&nbsp;905, whose striking, high-pitched tone came from its naturally aspirated V10 engine. It epitomised an era defined by technical excellence combined with French savoir-faire. Last but certainly not least, the powerful, throaty growl of the Chevrolet Corvette V8 engines is another signature feature of the Le Mans soundscape. From the&nbsp;Corvette&nbsp;C5.R&nbsp;to the C7.R, the thunderous roar has become a hallmark in the GT class at the 24 Hours.

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<h2>Sounds that endure in the fans&rsquo; hearts and minds</h2>

ACO Club member Pascal, 58, is a devoted 24 Hours of Le Mans fan. For him, the sound of the Porsche&nbsp;911 RSR-19, a staple in the LMGTE class from 2019 to 2023, is unforgettable: &ldquo;The high-pitched tone of that car left a lasting impression on me.&nbsp;Since the switch to the LMGT3 class, it no longer competes but I can still vividly recall its distinctive sound.&rdquo; 
Sammy, 36, who first came to the 24 Hours in 2001, is equally fond of the classic engine sounds: &ldquo;The roar of the V8 engines on the Corvettes, Panoz, and Cadillacs is something I&rsquo;ll never forget.&nbsp;And the striking tone of the Judd&nbsp;V10 from the 2000s is simply unforgettable.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was the 2001 Corvette&nbsp;C5.R that sparked my love for Chevrolet. These engine sounds give me goosebumps and bring back so many memories.&nbsp;&nbsp;I think that&rsquo;s what ignites our passion for racing.&rdquo;

ONBOARD Camera  24 Hours of Le Mans 2018 : Porsche 911 RSR #91 Qualifying lap record

Caméra embarquée à bord de la Porsche 911 RSR #91 - Meilleur tour en qualification

<h2>The power of sound at the 24 Hours</h2>

For many fans, like Pascal and Sammy, the sound of an engine goes beyond mere mechanics. It captures raw emotion, triggering memories and igniting an enduring passion. The symphony of sound instantly immerses fans in the 24 Hours of Le Mans atmosphere.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As hybrid and hydrogen engines shape the future, the race&rsquo;s iconic acoustics continue to fuel the collective memory. They remind us that, far beyond lap times and victories, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a human experience, engaging all five of our senses.

The roar of legends: how sound echoes our emotions at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Porsche Penske Motorsport aims to make 24 Hours of Le Mans history next June with a 20th overall victory in the French endurance classic. The German manufacturer is working on every last detail of its 963 hypercar to meet this monumental challenge.

<h2>A strategy focused on Porsche 963 performance and innovation</h2>

Porsche has learned the lessons of <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/fia-wec-a-positive-2024-season-for-porsche-penske-motorsport-59162" target="_blank">a&nbsp;successful 2024 season</a>&nbsp;(wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Qatar 1812 Km and the 6 Hours of Fuji in the FIA WEC, and pole position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans), albeit one slightly tarnished by being ultimately pipped at the post in the race for the manufacturers&rsquo; title, losing out by just two points. &ldquo;The competition will be even tougher in the 2025 season,&rdquo;&nbsp;warns&nbsp; Porsche Motorsport Vice President Thomas Laudenbach. &ldquo;Our rivals will progress, and new competition will come onboard too. We feel well prepared. In the past few months, we have carried out intensive analyses. The results have already been incorporated into our preparations for the coming season.&rdquo;

Key to this strategy, therefore, is the work of the engineers in Weissach and at Porsche Penske Motorsport who are introducing significant alterations to the suspension of the Porsche 963. These adjustments are designed to optimise the hypercar&rsquo;s behaviour according to the characteristics of each circuit. An essential asset for a competitive edge in both the FIA WEC and in IMSA.

<h2>The 24 Hours of Le Mans, a core objective</h2>

On top of the technical preparations and organisational adjustments, Porsche hopes to strengthen its hand at Le Mans by potentially entering a third car. The German carmaker has picked up this third golden ticket along with its 2024 IMSA title. A decision will be made in the coming weeks. Lining up a third challenger would naturally improve the odds in the face of some tough competition.

As usual, Porsche Penske Motorsport is leaving no stone unturned in its ultimate quest &ndash; adding a 20th 24 Hours of Le Mans win to the manufacturer&rsquo;s role of honour. With improved suspension, <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/porsche-reshuffles-lineups-for-2025-59081">top-notch driver line-ups</a> and a restructured global organisation, all the signs seem to be positive for making 2025 a historic year for the German marque.

<h2>FAQ &ndash;&nbsp;Find out all about Porsche&rsquo;s 2025 Hypercar&nbsp;programme</h2>

What are Porsche Penske Motorsport&rsquo;s objectives for 2025?

The main target is to earn a history-making 20th win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and to clinch the FIA World Endurance Championship manufacturers&rsquo; and drivers&rsquo; titles.

What alterations have been made to the Porsche 963?

The engineers have improved the suspension to better adapt the Hypercar to the track characteristics of the various championship venues.

Who are Porsche Penske Motorsport&rsquo;s new drivers for 2025?

Julien Andlauer is joining the factory team and will partner Michael Christensen in the #5 Porsche 963. The #6 car will be driven by K&eacute;vin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor. Porsche will add a third driver to these line-ups for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Mathieu Jaminet will join Andlauer and Christensen, while Matt Campbell will be in the #6 car.

Will Porsche enter a third car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

The decision has not yet been made, but Porsche won an invitation with its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship title this season. This could boost its chances of success in the race. With the Proton Competition customer team also in the mix, there might well be four Porsche 963s on the grid at next year&rsquo;s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Who are Porsche&rsquo;s main rivals in the Hypercar class?

In 2025, Porsche will face prestigious manufacturers such as Toyota, Ferrari, Alpine, BMW, Cadillac, Peugeot and Aston Martin in its quest for victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Will Porsche’s new suspension provide springboard for 20th Le Mans win?

Two thrilling races got the Asian Le Mans Series 2024-25 season off to a flying start in Sepang. With closely fought battles, unpredictable weather and awesome feats on the menu, the Malaysian weekend certainly lived up to its promise.

<h2>RD Limited make a stunning impact in Race 1</h2>

Race 1 of the 4 Hours of Sepang offered a breathtaking finale with a historic win for RD Limited, the team set up owned by two-time Le Mans winner Romain Dumas. Fred Poordad, James Allen and Tristan Vautier clinched victory in an epic finish with their Oreca 07-Gibson edging out the AF Corse #83 car driven by Matthieu Vaxiviere by just 55 thousandths of a second after four hours of racing.

Despite four safety car periods, the intensity continued to ramp up as the race progressed. The final lap saw a spectacular tussle between Vautier and Vaxiviere, with the AF Corse driver briefly taking the lead before the RD Limited Oreca regained the advantage on the final turn.

In LMP3, Matteo Quintarelli of French team Ultimate saw off High Class Racing&rsquo;s Anders Fjordbach to win in the #35 Ligier JS P320-Nissan prototype. The #57 Ferrari 296 GT3 fielded by Car Guy took the GT class ahead of the #51 of AF Corse.

&nbsp;

<h2>Algarve Pro Racing storms to victory in Race&nbsp;2</h2>

Race 2 of the 4 Hours of Sepang was shook by a violent storm which forced the race to be red-flagged in the last hour. An audacious tyre change saw reigning LMP2 champions Algarve Pro Racing emerge victorious. Malthe Jakobsen, Michael Jensen and Valerio Rinicella led the #25 Oreca 07-Gibson to the chequered flag after switching to slicks at the right moment.

The temperamental weather tested the teams&rsquo; nerve as it turned the event into a real strategic puzzle.

Ultimate repeated the previous day&rsquo;s feat in LMP3, thanks to St&eacute;phane L&eacute;meret, Bence Valint and Matteo Quintarelli, hereby building a comfortable lead in the championship race. In GT, the #81 Mercedes-AMG of Winward Racing, driven by Rinat Salikhov, Gabriele Piana and Jules Gounon, overcame fierce competition to secure the win.

&nbsp;

4 Hours of Sepang Race 2 Highlights

Asian Le Mans Series 2024-2025 : les meilleurs moments de la course 2 des 4 Heures de Sepang

<h2>Battle has commenced!</h2>

The first two races of the season have begun to reveal which teams will be a force to be reckoned with. Here&#39;s how they stand:

<ul>
	<li>LMP2: RD Limited lead the way with a seven-point lead over AF Corse with Pure Rxcing a further three points behind.</li>
	<li>LMP3: Ultimate hold an eight-point lead over High Class Racing.</li>
	<li>GT: Car Guy have taken control, leading AF Corse by seven points and Kessel Racing by ten.</li>
</ul>

The 4 Hours of Sepang have laid the foundations for an exciting season with intense track battles in store in every class. All eyes now turn to the 4 Hours of Dubai where the competitors will again run two races on 8-9 February 2025.

Asian Le Mans Series – RD Limited and Algarve Pro Racing shine in Sepang

Le Mans, Ignite your Senses | At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, dawn is a fleeting moment when the soft, slanting light of the early hours bathes the circuit in a magical glow. There is something unique about it that captivates photographers and racegoers alike.

<h2>A challenge and a quest for photographers</h2>

For&nbsp;Alexis Goure, one of the official photographers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, sunrise is a hard-earned reward after several gruelling days of work. Yet, it&rsquo;s a moment that can never be taken for granted. It demands patience, preparation and a good dose of instinct.&nbsp;&ldquo;The light at daybreak is very precious. We&rsquo;re not guaranteed a gorgeous sunrise every year.&nbsp;You need to know the best vantage points, understand the sun&rsquo;s path, and sometimes dash from one spot to another to make the most of those&nbsp;15 or 20 minutes&nbsp;of magical light,&rdquo;&nbsp;the photographer explains.

The low-angled light streaming through the trees, the shifting shadows and the dramatic backlighting lend the atmosphere an ethereal beauty at this time of day. For photographers, it&rsquo;s a golden opportunity to capture iconic images, like the one taken in 2014 with a Porsche&nbsp;919 Hybrid almost lost in a cloud of dust at the Forest Esses.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the kind of shot that tells a story, revealing both the power and the fragility of these racing machines,&rdquo;&nbsp;explains Alexis.

<h2>Daybreak, a sacred moment for spectators too</h2>

For racegoers, dawn is just as special. Michel, a devoted fan who has been coming to the 24 Hours for over sixty years, describes it as almost sacred.&nbsp;&ldquo;That in-between time, between night and day, is magical&thinsp;&ndash;&thinsp;it&rsquo;s when a lot of the fans are waking up and we find ourselves wrapped in&nbsp;a veil of mist. Dawn is when we start reflecting&thinsp;&ndash;&thinsp;wondering what it all means, and what the drivers are really chasing as they go round and round the track for hours.&rdquo; 
At this point in the race, the drivers are battling exhaustion and seem to adopt a different attitude. Michel, who often watches this phase of the race from the Arnage corner, comments: &ldquo;Their driving becomes almost instinctive, pure.&nbsp;Their reactions are different compared to the start of the race. You can feel the tiredness and you can tell that it&rsquo;s been a long race for them.&rdquo;

Dawn is also&nbsp;a test for the spectators. Staying awake until daybreak feels like a personal victory, so it&rsquo;s a way of connecting with the drivers. &ldquo;When you see the day dawning, you share in their endurance, their struggle against the fatigue,&rdquo; Michel continues. 
And the visual experience? There&rsquo;s a striking contrast between the cars&rsquo; headlights, still piercing the early morning shadows, and the soft glow of the new day. The sun&rsquo;s rays filter through the trees, casting reflections on the track and creating a scene where, just for an instant, the race seems to take a back seat to the sheer beauty of the moment.

<h2>Alexis Goure&rsquo;s tips for sunrise photography</h2>

For Alexis, daybreak is the ideal time to&nbsp;broaden your perspective: &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t limit yourself to the cars on the track.&nbsp;This is your chance to capture the atmosphere&thinsp;&ndash;&thinsp;the fans emerging from their sleeping bags, details from around the circuit, all bathed in this special light.&rdquo; 
It&rsquo;s an opportunity to see the 24 Hours from a different angle, to appreciate it as an extraordinary human and visual experience.

Daybreak at Le Mans is about more than the competition&thinsp;&ndash;&thinsp;it is a celebration of resilience and beauty. In that fleeting moment, spectators and photographers alike reconnect with the very essence of endurance racing:&nbsp;staying the course, pushing forward and finding the light.

Sunrise at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: lighting the way ahead

<div class="donneesIPTC">The German driver boasts numerous victories at classic endurance races, namely the 24-hour kind: Le Mans and Daytona overall in 2010, Le Mans in GT2 in 2005, Spa in GT2 in 2005 and N&uuml;rburgring in 2006. This time it&#39;s on a bicycle that he will attack the Green Hell with seven other teammates entered under the banner of Phoenix Racing who has entered two teams at Rad am Ring.</div>

Mike Rockenfeller, third at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans, will join notably Timo Scheider, third in the GT2 class at the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Porsche, against whom he has battled all year long in DTM.

The start will be given Saturday at 12:05 p.m. (UK time).

24H LE MANS

A new sort of 24-hour race for Mike Rockenfeller

Related News

The roar of legends: how sound echoes our emotions at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

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Asian Le Mans Series – RD Limited and Algarve Pro Racing shine in Sepang

Sunrise at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: lighting the way ahead

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