24h Le Mans
NASCAR : Le Mans
It's already here… who would have thought?
OK it's a photo montage, but with the NASCAR season opener tonight, the Daytona 500, it is an opportunity to remember that cars of the American stock car series did once visit Le Mans!
The 1976 24 Hours of Le Mans was marked by some unusual guests, after the ACO President, Raymond Gouloumès, visited Florida in late January, Bill France, founder of NASCAR, was invited to drop the starting flag of the 44th 24 hours. The American did not come alone, but accompanied by two of his regular championship competitors !
Spectacular both in size and sound, the big V8 "monsters" more at home on oval circuits proved exceedingly clumsy on the more winding portions of the Sarthe circuit. The first, a Dodge Charger, was the first retirement of the race in the second lap, while the second, a Ford Torino, went a little further, but was never on the pace. Although it attracted much media attention, the experience was disappointing as was not repeated the following year.
It took until 2012 to see a new rapprochement between the ACO and NASCAR. This time it was not to bring stock cars to the 24 Hours, but the unification of the American Le Mans Series and Grand-Am in the same series, to be launched in 2014.
Illustration : Marcos Ambrose on the attack in his Ford Fusion... the illusion is perfect !
