Le Mans

This column will appear at a time of year when, once, I would have been looking forward to Le Mans. I can remember when Le Mans rated more coverage in the regular British motoring weeklies than any Grand Prix. The Motor and The Autocar used to illustrate every single entry before the race and not only was the report lavish, but there were articles for weeks after. These days, Le Mans is just another race.

Le Mans is a public holiday laid on by the French for the British. Every year, about 50,000 Brits make the trip and no sports car race in Britain has ever seen that number. The difference is that you go to Silverstone to watch a race, but you go to Le Mans to enjoy an event. You need know nothing about motor racing, you just pack your taste buds and go.