Photo : ACO/Nikon

 

For the quadruple World Champion in Formula 1 as for many other drivers (including some winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, such as Benoît Tréluyer), evoking their years of karting often awakens memories: whose real debut in motorsport it was, where the dream becomes a passionate reality: "This is real school discipline, finding the right driving position, for example and also builds character if you want a career in motorsport."

If Alain Prost had never raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, he is a regular supporter of his son Nicolas, who has already had six entries at the Sarthe. In recent years, the 24 hours, as well as endurance races in general, have become real sprints. "This situation corresponds to the evolution of motorsport in its entirety," says the man nicknamed the Professor. "The competition is exacerbated and affects reliability, performance and safety as well. There is not enough emphasis on it, but in endurance, like other disciplines, it is not only the search for performance that matters. It is also a quest for optimization and reliability. In my day, there were many early retirements. Today, cars have never been more reliable and efficient, and this is what makes the 24 Hours of Le Mans in endurance racing and also Formula 1 fabulous disciplines."

Click HERE for more information about the inauguration of the International Karting Circuit.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translated by Tony Light/ACO

PHOTO: CIRCUIT OF THE 24 HOURS (Le Mans, Sarthe), QUALIFYING, June 14, 2012. Alain Prost (left) visiting Rebellion Racing, the team with which his son Nicolas (right) would finish fourth in the 80th edition of the 24 Hours, along with Neel Jani and Nick Heidfeld.