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The Observer

Damien Smith has been following the preparations for this weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans and is returning to Le Sarthe with mixed emotions: anxious to see how Jacques Villeneuve will handle his new challenge, excited with the prospect of a fierce battle for the win, and saddened by some of the changes made to the classic track...

"It doesn't matter who you are racing for, this is the one you focus on," says Allan McNish. "The other races, whether we like to admit it or not, are only to get between Le Mans each year."

Yes, the 24 Hours at the 8.3-mile Circuit de la Sarthe still means as much as it has always done: to the thousands of fans who make the annual pilgrimage, to the world's car manufacturers, to the teams and mechanics who take on the daunting challenge of Le Mans - and yes, to many of the world's greatest racing drivers.

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