The Centenary Parade

- The Centenary Parade, 24h Le Mans -

It's been a few years since I've been back to the 24h of Le Mans, but 2023 was a very special year for Le Mans, as it was the event's centenary year.

I was fortunate enough to be able to experience the event at close quarters, in the bucket seat of the co-driver of the Bugatti EB110 Le Mans, who competed brilliantly in the 1994 edition.

What was the Centenary Parade all about? Quite simply, it brought together as many cars as possible that had raced (and often won) the 24 Hours of Le Mans over the past 100 years. 1 car per year, from 1923 to 2023, with countless legendary drivers.

Join me on this unforgettable day.

I joined the team in charge of the Bugatti EB110 Le Mans in front of the circuit's museum, as the first step is to collect the car, displayed in a glass cube. Once out of its box, the EB110 is pushed to the rear of the museum, and waits to go to a closed park between the La Chapelle and Le Musée corners, in the company of some 24h legends, like the famous and very sonorous Mazda 787B, which won the 24h in 1991.

1994 Bugatti EB110 LM, 1991 Mazda 787B

1994 Bugatti EB110 LM, 1996 TWR-Porsche WSC-95 Joest Racing, 2000 Audi R8 LMP, 1994 Bugatti EB110 LM

The weather was capricious and a few stormy showers fell on the circuit, forcing drivers to take shelter in their cars. That's when I realize that the round openings in the EB110's polycarbonate windows let in a lot of water! Some Le Mans winners arrive in good spirits and take the opportunity to take photos, including the Bentley and Audi boys, Tom Kristensen, Dindo Capello and Guy Smith.

1994 Bugatti EB110 LM, 2011 Audi R18 e-tron Quattro, 1987 Jaguar XJR9 LM, 1988 WM P88 Heuliez, 1994 Bugatti EB110 LM

1991 Mazda 787B, some Le Mans winners and a car owner (Tom Kristensen, Shaun Lynn, Dindo Capello, Guy Smith and Benoit Treluyer), 1969 Matra MS630, 1994 Bugatti EB110 LM

It's time to start the engines and head for the pre-grid under the Dunlop arch. The Bugatti's quadri-turbo V12 wakes up with a bark, and we zig-zag off to warm up the rubber, passing a few spectators walking along the circuit and watching the Italian beauty go by, applauding.
It's quite emotional to park at the Dunlop Passage, such a mythical place. Once out of the Bugatti, it's a bit of a marvel on all sides, with the 80s sports prototypes arriving one by one, and cars from the 50s and 60s already parked waiting: Ferrari 250 GTO, Ford GT40, the Aston Martin DBR1 from the 1959 victory, Maserati Birdcage...etc. I don't know which way to turn!

1994 Bugatti EB110 LM, 1999 BMW V12LMR, 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, 1994 Bugatti EB110 LM

2003 Bentley Speed 8, 1987 Jaguar XJR9 LM, 1973 Matra MS670B, 2011 Audi R18 e-tron Quattro, 1971 Porsche 917 LH, 2000 Audi R8 LMP

1966 Ford GT40 MkII, 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, 1935 Lagonda M45R, 1929 Bentley Speed 6, 1980 Rondeau M379, 1977 Porsche 936

2022 Toyota GR010, 1970 Porsche 917 K, 1959 Maserati Tipo 60/61 Birdcage, 1970 Porsche 917 K, 1986 Porsche 962/C

1950 Cadillac Series 61 Le Monstre, 1971 Porsche 917 LH, 1957 Jaguar D-Type, 1951 Porsche 356, 1952 Mercedes 300 SL W194

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, 1965 Ferrari 250 LM, 1977 Porsche 936, 1996 TWR-Porsche WSC-95 Joest Racing, 1986 Porsche 956 B

1959 Aston Martin DBR1, 1957 Jaguar D-Type, Dindo Capello and Gérard Larrousse

2007 Audi R10 TDI, Jacky Ickx and Yojiro Terada, 1994 Bugatti EB110 LM, 1959 Maserati Tipo 60/61 Birdcage, 1966 Ford GT40 mk1

Once all the vehicles have been lined up on the pre-grid, it's time to take to the track. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, we refuel the Bugatti. As all the drivers, we settle into our seats. The older cars take off ahead of us to take up their positions on the pit straight. Derek Bell gives us a thumbs-up - very nice! We're behind the Mazda 787B, my God, what an amazing sound this car makes. The Japanese engineers are taking great care of it before it takes off.
It's our turn, and the track marshal gives us the starting signal. The Mazda screams in the distance, and it's quite thrilling. We make our way down the S's of the Dunlop walkway, down the pit straight on the outside, turn around at the junction and head back the other way, on the inside, to line up our positions.

We place the Bugatti in the position corresponding to the 1994 edition, then get out of the car and stand in front of the crowded grandstands. Everyone's smiling - it's a day of celebration!

Let's take a stroll down the legendary straight of the Le Mans 24 hours, where a hundred years of racing have been lined up, from heroic times to the era of electronics and electric propulsion.

1991 Mazda 787B, 2011 Audi R18 e-tron Quattro, 1994 Bugatti EB110 LM, 2022 Toyota GR010, 2023 Toyota GR010, Stefan Johansson with Tom Kristensen, 1957 Jaguar D-Type and 1959 Aston Martin DBR1

1957 Jaguar D-Type, 1994 Bugatti EB110 LM and 1959 Aston Martin DBR1

1959 Maserati Tipo 60/61 Birdcage, 1991 Mazda 787B, 1988 WM P88 Heuliez, 1986 Porsche 956 B, 1987 Jaguar XJR9 LM, 1980 Rondeau M379

1986 Porsche 962/C, 1973 Matra MS670B, 1977 Porsche 936, 1970 Porsche 917 K, 1971 Porsche 917 LH, 1966 Ford GT40 Mk1

1969 Matra MS630, 1951 Porsche 356, 1965 Ferrari 250 LM, 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, 1952 Mercedes 300 SL W194, Yojiro Terada and Kazuki Nakajima, 1950 Cadillac Series 61 Le Monstre, 1957 Jaguar D-Type

1952 Gordini T15S, 1937 Simca Fiat 'Cinq' Berlinette Gordini, 1966 Ford GT40 MkII, 1929 Bentley Speed 6, 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300

1965 Ferrari 250 LM, 1935 Lagonda M45R, 1927 Tracta Type A-GePhi, line ups, 1926 Lorraine Dietrich B3/6, 1925 Chenard& Walcker 1100 Tank, 2023 Toyota GR010

1924 Bentley 3L, 1925 Lorraine Dietrich B3/6, 1999 BMW V12 LMR, 2007 Audi R10 TDI, Gérard Larrousse and Derek Bell, 2023 Toyota GR010

The big moment of the parade arrives: the 24h-style start, i.e. the drivers are in front of their cars and once the flag is waved, they have to run, get behind the wheel and start as quickly as possible. Bentley drivers are on their toes. Of course, there's no mass start to avoid disaster, so the cars start one by one, from the oldest to the 2023 Toyota.

The Mazda takes off with a rocket-like roar, the Bugatti EB110 Le Mans rips off the tarmac a few seconds later, the 4 turbos discharging at every gear change. What a symphony!

We pass the pit straight and then up to the Dunlop walkway, where we have to cut our run-up. The cars line up and are parked again. The next day, the cars are still in the closed park, time enough to take a few more photos of this flagship event of 2023.

1966 Ford GT40 Mk1, 1982 Porsche 956, 1966 Ford GT40 mk2, 1970 Porsche 917 K, 1965 Ferrari 250 LM, 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2, 1966 Ford GT40 Mk1, 1950 Cadillac Series 61 Le Monstre, 1959 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Tipo 59/60