Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience

Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience

Race Start

It looked absolutely stunning, seeing all the cars lined up ready to go. With a glass of champagne and a great view, it gave me a real perspective of what was to come. The opening with the  French patrol fly-past was just unexpected but amazing. Then the countdown began, I could hear all the crowd roaring and off they went like a bullet train out of control. Realising that I had a whole 24 hours to take the race in, it was superb and perfect timing to have to soak up the atmosphere and the food.

This is the unique aspect to Le Mans 24 Hour, you have 24 hours. With an epic four locations of exclusive access, to this event, I was so excited to be here. I too had to endure this race from a luxury VIP point of view.

Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell ExperienceLe Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience

The Management Pressure

Raj Nair is a gentleman with the same courage as King David himself. I was told about how the Ford GT was created in top secret and that was thanks to Raj Nair. Throughout the race, I always pondered how Raj was feeling throughout the Le Mans 24 Hour event. Nervous of steel amongst other thing comes to mind.

Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience

Insane Chicane Experience

When interviewing the drivers they kept highlighting to me, the same message. That as a Le Mans driver, the corners and breaking was the most challenging skill over the Le Mans 24 hour race. I was taken on a two hours tour, thanks to Serengeti Eyewear to take a closer look at this epic racing event. It was at this moment, I really began to understand why this is one of the most dangerous races in the world.

The area I was allowed to observe really closely was called the Mulsanne. This is an area where the drivers are driving flat out between trees at top speed. The next section was created for safety purposes and is called a chicane. It has been created for the race so the drivers get distracted during the long hours, it’s put in for safety measures, to alert and wake up the brain about what they are doing. During the night this is important because as exhaustion sets in this can lead to crashes.

Pure madness is the only way I can describe this section. Can you imagine doing this at night, let alone in the rain? For anyone wanting to understand car technology at its best, then this is the insane chicane to experience.

What was great at this section I could enjoy watching these supercars perform, whilst eating some fresh oysters and drinking some champagne. I felt very guilty and privileged observing this race, at such a leisurely pace. When I saw the Supercars driving down the straight at the average top speed of 200 mph plus and then, for the drivers to be greeted by a chicane.

I was left gobbed smacked; this section really impacted me there and then, the insanity of these racing car drivers, and at the same time, to see the latest car technology at its utmost luxury best in action, is a priceless experience.

When interviewing the drivers. I was astounded that they all said, they are not afraid of speed at all! But the biggest challenge is braking and cornering. This Mulsanne is a perfect example of this in action.

 

Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience

Night Time

After the tour, I settled back into the Panoramic 24 and sipped some more champagne and ate some more, to soon realise the journey that lay ahead. I was only five hours into the race and pondered how Ford Performance team were feeling. As I watched the drivers pull up at the pit suite, opposite me. I just was in awe of this epic team and all of the drivers. These guys have big balls!

As day turned into night, the sound of the cars roaring lingered on and I could sit, relax, chat and soak it all up. Kindly reminding myself that Ford Performance was never going to sit and chill, this was the case for car brands competing. I can only explain, that you certainly have to be one of a kind to participate in this sport, that’s for sure.

I headed over to the Ford Performance Pit Suite, around 9 pm as I had a garage tour at 11 pm. This was great to be part of. This sport for me what separates, the boys from the men. This is where it all starts to get very interesting regarding the car and man technology.

Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell ExperienceLe Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience

Garage Tour

This was one of the highlights of the event at Le Mans 24, if there was such a thing. For the simple reason, everything at this event was a highlight.

Having a tour in the garage, whilst the racing was going on, was just too cool for school. Observing the Ford Performance team in action was a dream come true. The calm environment was admirable and then suddenly having a car pulling up for fueling, was just insane. Everyone running like hell and doing things so precise also highlighted once again that every team member was crucial to the success of Ford Performance.

The pressure on humans at Le Mans 24 is huge due to the financial implications involved. It is a billion-dollar industry plus, in fact, the total cost is insane as the sport itself. I never could get the exact amount, but Le Mans 24 Hour is not about money, it’s about boasting. Le Mans 24 is an environment where a man can show off, showcase and spread his technological wings.

It was around 2 am, I decided to rest up as I really wanted to enjoy the rest of the day. I returned at 8:30 am, to be greeted with the relentless roaring sound of these supercars. I was relieved to hear Ford Performance had four cars still going strong. Sad to hear, that Toyota had some real bad luck, but that’s the name of the game.

The atmosphere was quiet at Ford camp and I could see that Ford spectators, who stayed up all night were suffering. Can you imagine the drivers at this point when they had 7 hours to go. Some wonderful food in my stomach and more champagne and off I went to observe at the Ford Pit suite. It was just refreshing to see the cars coming in and out of the Pit suite, roaring fast and furious on the track. This is a tough part of the race, as anything can go wrong here. Whether exhaustion sets in, or a car breaks down, this is what makes Le Mans 24 mystique. Anything can happen at any time and it’s not over until the fat lady sings.

Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience

This shot was taken about midnight

Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell ExperienceLe Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell ExperienceLe Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience

The Last 3 Minutes

This has to be the most adrenaline, thrilling, nail braking ending to any car race I’ve seen so far. Le Mans 24 Hour is a race that I call the last 3 min of hell. On this occasion, it was clear Porsche would win and Ford Performance would come in second.  But hey, this is Le Mans 24 Hours and the cars and the drivers can mess up at any time.

There is a cruel part of Le Mans 24 Hours and I was about to witness it. Can you imagine being in the first place, driving 24hours and less than one lap to go, the unmanageable, the unthinkable happens. Yes, the technology just like man, can let you down, at the very moment you need it.

It was between Corvette and Aston Martin, they were fighting for first place and if I had to sum up the #GoLikeHell hashtag, this was it. If you think it could not get any faster, more accelerating let alone dangerous, well you are very wrong. These guys know their limits but hey it’s a race after all and its dog eats dog kinda moment.

Brilliant pressure by Aston Martin as I knew it was the only time he could overtake. I wondered what the radiomen were saying at this point to both Aston Martin and Corvette the driver.

Corvette was leading all the way and then, then cruel fate takes its toll. I screamed, What The Hell! It was over and out for Corvette, thanks to a punctured tyre. I could only imagine what Harry was feeling when he had to go like hell at the very last minute. I thought I was going to have a heart failure, at this point.

Tincknell from Ford had to grab the opportunity to pounce and take second place, just as the chequered flag fell. The crowd were screaming, which was absolutely delightful to be part of.

 

Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience

Pit Grid Ending

This was great to experience, to be able to run with the public after the race and be able to congratulate the team.  Through the whole four days, I could honestly say Ford is a company which, I was part of it can only be summed up as a family.

Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience

Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience

Conclusion

Meeting the Ford family, later on for an evening of celebrations, it was one of the most inspiring speeches from Edsel Ford himself. Edsel made it very clear by highlighting that everyone seated was a contributing factor for the success of Le Mans 24 Hour experience. Ford is all about a team effort, including us the press. Which is why I would like to thank Ford Performance and Serengeti Eyewear,  for allowing MenStyleFashion to be part of such an iconic motorsport event such as Le Mans 24. To Ford Performance, thanks for confirming, what I’ve known all my life.

Gracie Opulanza loves super cars too, see you on the track in that FORD GT!

Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience

Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience

Le Mans 24 Hour – Ford Performance GoLikeHell Experience

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About The Author

Gracie Opulanza

Global menswear and luxury lifestyle journalist. Co-founder and editor in chief of Men Style Fashion. GracieOpulanza.com is my personal blog.

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