A 300,000 sell-out crowd has pitched up at the Sarthe’s
Bugatti circuit to follow motorsport’s mythic test of endurance first run in
1923.
Toyota have won the last five editions but new regulations
to the premier Hypercar class has attracted several new and old constructors to
throw their hats into the Le Mans ring.
One of the Japanese marque’s new rivals are Ferrari, making
their return after a 50 year absence.
And their two cars secured pole in Friday’s qualifying, but
Toyota’s No.8 car, last year’s winner, took the lead shortly after the start.
When the winner takes the chequered flag at 1400GMT on
Sunday it will have covered over 5,000 kilometres – roughly the distance
separating Paris from New York.
Adding to the suspense this year is the weather, with
storms, strong gusts of wind and heavy rain forecast in the region until Sunday
night.
In all there are 16 Hypercars vying for the win in the Le
Mans centenary compared to only five last year – but Toyota remain favourites
to notch up their sixth successive win after cleaning up in the first three
rounds of the world endurance championship.
“We’re thrilled to have competition at last,” said Pascal
Vasselon, Toyota’s technical director.