The unique "Le Mans"style start which had drivers running across the track before getting into their cars.

Saturday, June 14, 1969, 4:00 p.m. - For his first participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the young Jacky Ickx stands still. When his competitors run across the track to settle as soon as possible into their cars, he walks slowly across. What audacity! The Belgian wants to protest against what he considers the dangerous start. It is true that cars, whose power is growing every year, start more quickly and collisions are more and more common. Worse, some drivers do not take the time to fasten their harnesses and drive at over 300 km/h on the Mulsanne Straight... without seatbelts! The next day, despite his poor start, Ickx and Jackie Oliver still win by 120 metres ahead of Hans Herrmann and Gerard Larrousse! The typical start of "Le Mans " may be dead.

In 1970, it was partially abandoned. Today, it still continues at Le Mans 24 Hours Moto race... And yet, the origin of its existence couldn't be more linked to the automobile. The "herringbone" start was created in 1925 for the third edition of the race. The cars were then fitted with a removable hood. To verify that these were strong and easy to implement, the regulations required the hood to be put up initially and do twenty laps ... And so to prevent drivers from working on their cars before the start, they were placed across the track. Of course, nothing justified this procedure in 1969, if only nostalgia.

Julien HERGAULT / ACO - Translated by Tony Light/ACO