Le Mans

Your attention, please.

Your attention, please.

There has been an accident

at Maison Blanche.

lt involved Porsche Number 64,

driven by Michael Delaney,

and Ferrari Number 18,

driven by Piero Belgetti.

Signora Belgetti.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

On this circuit, the world's

most famous motor race is run.

Conceived by Charles Faroux

and Georges Durand

shortly after the First World War,

the course was named

after the nearest town

and the number of hours

that men and machines

are put to the supreme test

of speed and stamina.

The circuit is 13.469 kilometers.

Or 8.418 miles.

Composed of country roads

linked through the main highway,

nearly all of it open to traffic

Along the 3.2-mile Mulsanne Straight,

the cars reach a maximum speed

in excess of 230 miles per hour.

The first race was run in 1923.

The lap record

was nine minutes 39 seconds.

The average speed,

Last year, the lap record

was three minutes 22 seconds.

The average speed,

The race is open to six classes of cars.

From the smallest production models

to the largest sports prototype engines.

All competing at the same time

on the same circuit.

There are 55 cars and 110 drivers

representing countries

from all over the world.

They will drive day and night,

through sun and rain.

Beneath his racing suit,

each driver must wear

fireproof underwear

capable of withstanding

the temperature of burning gasoline,

for 15 seconds.

His blood type must be indicated

on either suit or crash helmet.

Each car has two alternating drivers.

No driver may total

more than 14 out of the 24 hours.

Each driver must have

at least one hour rest

between turns at the wheel.

No one may drive

more than four consecutive hours.

For the first time

in the history of this race...

--at the fall of the tricolored flag,

to test speed of action

for reaching the safe pit.

This year,

the drivers will be securely strapped

into their driving seats

prior to the start of the race.

Yellow flags

and yellow lights along the circuit

indicate the presence of an accident.

Or, as it is called in the racing world,

"the shunt."

Yellow means danger. No overtaking.

The race will start 4 p.m. Saturday

and finish 4 p.m. Sunday.

The car covering the greatest distance

in 24 hours shall be the winner.

ln the case of the faster cars,

this will mean a distance

in excess of 3,000 miles.

And so, ladies and gentlemen,

welcome to the most famous

motorcar race in the world.

The 38th running of the Grand Prix

of endurance and efficiency.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans.

We're pleased

to welcome Michael Delaney

back to Le Mans,

after his unfortunate accident

here last year.

And to see that he's in such good form

following his exciting race

a fortnight ago at the Nurburgring,

where Ferrari's top driver,

Erich Stahler, narrowly beat him.

The Delaney-Stahler rivalry

will be interesting to follow

on this very different circuit,

where the endurance of the car

is as important

as is the skill of the driver.

lt is now five minutes to 4.

Five minutes till start.

Will all drivers be in their cars

in one minute's time, please?

Drivers, to your cars, please.

Four minutes to start.

Three minutes to start.

Two and a half minutes to start.

Two minutes to start.

And once again, here are the first men

to qualify in position.

Number 25, driven by Kurt Ahrens.

Number 15, driven by Michael Parkes.

Number 21, driven by Johann Ritter.

Number 22,

driven by Paul-Jacques Dion.

Number 8, driven by Erich Stahler.

Number 5, driven by Lugo Abratte.

Number 6, driven by Vito Scalise.

Number 7, driven by Claude Aurac.

Number 20, driven by Michael Delaney.

Number 14, driven by Georges Marnier.

Over three minutes have passed.

We may expect the cars

through the chicane any moment now.

Will it be Porsche or Ferrari in the lead?

Here's the leading car,

Porsche Number 25,

in for its first pit stop for fuel

and possible driver change.

And here comes

Erich Stahler, Ferrari Number 8,

closely followed by the first

of the Gulf Porsche cars,

Number 20,

driven by Michael Delaney.

And watch out for the red Lola. Lola.

Okay.

And here comes 20 back on the track.

Gulf Porsche Number 21,

driven by Johann Ritter,

entering the pit.

And Porsche Number 20, Delaney.

Twenty by four.

Okay, thanks.

My colleague

has just handed me a weather report

and it looks as if the possibility of rain,

which was previously forecast,

will shortly be upon us.

Just one more, Mr. Delaney.

- Hello.

- Hello.

You had a very good start.

lt's a long race.

Are you well?

Excuse me.

Thank you.

What will you tell Peter and Erica

when they get old enough to ask

what their father does for a living?

l'll tell them that their father

is the greatest chauffeur in the world.

lf you had a choice, would you like

to tell them something else?

For example:

"Well, this week,

Daddy's flying to Switzerland."

Yes.

The new motor factory

is almost completed

and l have to interview

various applicants for...

What are you trying to tell me?

Would you like that better?

Only if you'd like it better.

lf they ask me what their mother does

for a living, l'll say, "She lies."

She can look straight into your eyes

and tell the biggest lies

you've ever heard in your life.

Really?

Yes.

lt's the right time to stop.

l can finish quite well in this race.

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