The standout memories of Le Mans 2021

OPINION: With four of the five Hypercar entries unproven in a 24-hour race, it would not have been unexpected for at least one of them to suffer serious reliability trouble. That they all managed to make it through the race relatively unscathed, says GARY WATKINS, was something of a surprise.

Gary Watkins Aug 24, 2021, 1:47 PM

Upd: Aug 25, 2021, 1:13 PM

Autosport Plus content

The best content from Autosport Plus, our subscription service. <a href="https://www.autosport.com/plus/">Subscribe here</a> to get access to all the features.

What will I remember most about Le Mans 24 Hours in 2021? The start of what we believe is going to be a bright new era for sportscar racing? Toyota's fourth victory in a row? A finish so close in LMP2 that it was almost beyond belief? The return of a crowd to the greatest motor race of them all? None of the above, actually.

What has stuck in my mind so far was the block of a single colour at the top of the timing screens at the finish. Each of the World Endurance Championship's four classes has its own signature colour that provides the backdrop to each race number on the car and up on the timing screen. Hypercar's colour is red. There were five cars in class and five blocks of red at the top of the order. That's memorable to my mind because it was so unexpected.

Share Or Save This Story

Author Gary Watkins

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.