My Passion With James Waterhouse

I HAVE a passion for motor racing. Not the processional, superstar laden technology parade that is Formula One – where the excitement of the odd overtake occasionally breaks into the celebrity fest... no, the motor racing of an earlier time, when the gentleman would turn up with his Bentley, battle it out for a few laps before driving it home again afterwards!

This weekend sees the return of the spectacle that is the Le Mans 24 Hour.

This is about the only major race in the world where this gentlemanly approach still exists – and it is one of the most exciting weekends of the year. If you aren’t already a Le Mans enthusiast you could be excused for not realising the race existed.

The TV coverage is woefully poor and the race not heavily covered on UK networks.

Even so, every year, over a hundred thousands Brits head for the Channel and the long cruise through northern France to this unassuming little French town, waving at the thousands of Frenchman lining the route to get a view of the largest free motor show in Europe as it feels like everyone with a Ferrari, Lamborghini or Aston Martin heads down for the race.

So what makes Le Mans so special?

Firstly the mix of “classifications” racing – from the pace setting prototypes cars of Audi and Toyota, to the ProAm Le Mans GTE Class. ProAm because If you have the money, and can persuade a couple of “real” race drivers to join you on the journey, you too can race.

It is this hark-back to the gentlemanly days of motor sport – and the vast speed difference between the cars and drivers, that makes Le Mans such a spectacle.

I first made the run with friends in 1988. Silk Cut Jaguar were our team and with wins in 1988 and 1990, and then second, third and fourth in 1991.

This race made all the more memorable with the German Mercedes team dropping out through the night leaving the leading Mazda and the three Jaguars out there – you can imagine the reaction of the British crowd, on French soil, with the fall of the mighty German army... even if the winning car was Japanese.

After a gap of many years where work, kids and life got in the way I have now begun my pilgrimages once again. The technology has advanced, the safety measures at the course improved (necessary although a little frustrating at times) and our accommodation is now more appropriate to someone my age but the excitement is just the same.

What makes Le Mans so different – it’s a 24-hour party with a race attached... one of the most exciting and amazing races you will ever get to see.

Come along next year and find out for yourself.