Saturday, June 18, 2016

24 HEURES DU MANS | 11:58:00

Of course, with all of the shenanigans earlier, I haven't watched/listened to all of the first twelve hours of the 24 Hours of Le Mans; so, it's hard to believe there's less ahead than there is behind. (Only by two minutes, but still.) Nevertheless, we're now into the second round of this twice-around-the-clock classic. Tempus fugit!

In L.M.P.1, the № 6 Toyota TS050 continues to lead from the № 2 Porsche 919 & the № 5 Toyota TS050. The № 8 Audi R18 soldiers along, not quite back in it but certainly not yet out of it.

In G.T.E. Pro., the № 91 & № 92 Porsche 911s, the factory cars that race in the American I.M.S.A. series (as № 911 & № 912), have both retired. Serves them right for their bushwhacking of the race-leading Corvette at Long Beach! The № 71 A.F. Corse Ferrari (a quasi factory effort) have also retired.

This is when the time displacement starts to get weird. 'Tis the wee small hours of the morning in Le Mans, while 'tis only dusk here. The sun will come up in France—the taunting, euphoric "happy hour"—in the dead of night in Michigan. The race will end in the middle of the afternoon at the Circuit de la Sarthe, while I'm facing a bright new morning without having been to bed since the previous bright new morning. 'Tis the middle of the night at Le Mans, when the drivers, the pit crews, the announcers, the pit reporters, & the fans all start to get a little punchy. Wheeeee!

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