Continuation - Racing Sports Legends of the Past
For ca. one month I have been working on the continuation of the successful series "Racing Sports Legends of the Past". The first news article on this topic from 11th January 2013 still aptly illustrates which approaches this project is based on.
The focus will this time be put on a European neighbour with a great tradition in racing sports. It will take us to France, to the probably most famous long-distance race of the world in order to canvas the heroic chapters of the "24 Heures du Mans".
From 1923 to its 90th anniversary this year, the "24 Hours von Le Mans", for many the toughest and most prestigious race in the world has received the status of a racing sports legend of automobile history, due to the breathtaking driver duels and the competition between the manufacturer brands.
At this paragon of many long-distance races, not only reliability and the level of development of the engines had to be proved. Moreover, it was also about accessories kits and especially the lights of the vehicles taking part, the development of which was still in its infancy. For this purpose it was decided to send drivers into a race which was also continued at night – the moment when 24-hour races were born.
For an overall victory, one had to cover most laps on a road circuit in the outskirts of Le Mans within 24 hours when crossing the finish line.
With the upcoming painting series under the title of “Racing Sports Legends - Le Mans“, I will put a spotlight on the overall champions of the historic "24 Heures Du Mans" between 1923 and 1939 and also highlight the victorious racing car brands of that time.
In the “Hall of Fame“ of these first 16 races until the forced break of 10 years because of the Second World War, names like Bentley, Alfa Romeo and Bugatti appear, whose radiance still persists today with the more developed models of these companies. On the other hand, we also find names like Chenard & Walcker, Lorraine-Dietrich, Lagonda and Delahaye that are not that well-known today and which partly make only racing sports enthusiasts and vintage car fans go into rhapsodies.
