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Added on the 19/06/2017 09:25:18 - Copyright : Auto Moto EN
Subscribe for more car videos: http://bitly/AutoMotoTV Well prepared for the big one - Le Mans 24 hour race | AutoMotoTV Follow us @AutoMotoTV ...
For Mercedes-AMG, this year’s TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa is all about a special anniversary: 50 years ago almost to the day, the classic race at the Ardennes circuit resulted into the first major success that put the still young AMG brand onto the major motorsport stage almost overnight. Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz won their class and finished second overall with the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG, a sensation that still has its effect on the Mercedes-AMG spirit to the present. As homage to the legendary red saloon car that defeated the opposition with the considerably lighter race cars back in 1971, Mercedes-AMG has developed the limited edition “50 Years Legend of Spa”. It includes all three GT3 generations that have been available since 2010. For maximum exclusivity, the number has been limited to one of each. Next to the iconic red livery, the three unique pieces incorporate further exclusive characteristics and specifications. The special editions as well as a replica of the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG are on public display for the first time during this year’s 24-hour race at Spa.
The Porsche GT Team will take up the 88th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans from pole position in the GTE-Pro class. In today’s Hyperpole, the Italian Gianmaria Bruni turned the fastest lap at the wheel of the No. 91 Porsche 911 RSR in 3:50.874 minutes. His brand colleague Michael Christensen from Denmark planted the No. 92 sister car on sixth place. In the GTE-Am category, works pilot Matt Campbell was the fastest Porsche driver. The Australian claimed the second grid spot in his class with the No. 77 Porsche 911 RSR fielded by Dempsey-Proton Racing. He was only 0.056 seconds off the top time.
Fans of endurance racing have rarely had so much time to look forward to the 24 Hours of Le Mans as they have this year. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the French classic was moved from its traditional mid-June date to 19/20 September.There has only been one other delayed start in the almost 100-year history of the race: in 1968, the Le Mans 24-hour race was contested on 28/29 September due to ongoing unrest in Paris. The postponement of the race also has wide-reaching consequences for the Porsche GT Team. This includes changes to the schedule as well as the waiving of popular fan events such as the technical scrutineering in the town square and the drivers’ parade the day before the start.In mid-June around the summer solstice (20 June), the days are longest in the northern hemisphere. On the originally planned date for the 88th edition of the endurance race on 13/14 June, the vehicles would have driven in darkness for only 8.02 hours. On the new September date, the sun will set on the Saturday evening at 20:01. The first rays of light will appear on the Sunday morning at 07:44 – which means that the period of darkness is almost four hours longer than it would have been shortly before the official start of summer. In the fight twice around the clock on the Circuit des 24 Heures, teams will spend only around 12 hours in daylight.
Pascal Zurlinden shares some behind-the-scenes insights from the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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