2013 24 Hours of Le Mans
June 23, 2013
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The 24 Hours of Le Mans is probably one of the most endurance automotive races in the world that tests automotive engineering in areas of agility,durability, and reliablity. It also tests automotive technicians (pitstop crew) efficency in diagnosing,performing regular maintenance, and repairing. Also note drivers alertness,endurance, and skills.
The 81st edition 24 Hours of Le Mans racing was held on June 22-23 of 2013.
Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans
Through out the history of 24 Hours of Le Mans racing the majority of first place finishers are European cars. It's fair to believe that American automotive manufacturers didn't participate earlier in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is because it's across the pond and European automotive manufacturers wasn't much of a economical competitive threat to the Americans. It's also fair to believe that the Japanese automotive manufacturers didn't participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is because the Japanese automotive industry wasn't fully developed until the 1980's.
The only American automotive manufaturer to win not once but four times in a row at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was the Ford Motor Company in 1966,1967,1968, and 1969. The only reason why Ford Motor Company entered into 24 Hours of Le Mans is because of Henry vs. Enzo. In the end I believe Enzo got the worst of it because the Ferrari Dynasty (9 wins) has ended and after 1969 Ferrari has not yet finished first again at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the end it cost Henry alot of family and investors money, also maybe valuable R&D employees and outside Ford Motor Company R&D help. At present the only American automotive manufacturer that participates in the 24 hours of Le Mans is General Motors Company. It's safe to believe that a Ford V8 can beat a Ferrari at a fraction of its cost while GM hasn't.
The only Japanese automotive manufacturer to win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the Mazda Motor Corporation with the rotary engine in 1991. I believe in Japan Inc. and I believe that Mazda Motor Corporation had a well developed system to create a Mazda Dynasty with consistant first place finish wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, sadly after Mazda took the title at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans all rotary engines are banned at 24 Hours of Le Mans. Maybe General Motors could have won some titles at the 24 Hours of Le Mans when they experimented with rotary engines in corvettes in the 1970's, the project was dropped because I believe it got too expensive. Also, at present the other Japanese automotive manufacturers that enter and participate at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is Honda, Nissan, and Toyota. As of present the Dynasty goes to Audi a division of Volkswagen and Toyota has the best chance to take down the Audi Dynasty (12 wins) and write a new Toyota Dynasty chapter at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the future.
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