The Rebirth of a Legend: The Return of the Mustang to Le Mans
The Rebirth of a Legend: The Return of the Mustang to Le Mans
A Journey Through Time and Passion
Thursday 06/13/2024
I’ve never been a fan of late departures. My friend Nicola, on the other hand, when it comes to arriving late, is a world champion.
The sun was rising as the deep roar of the V8 engine of my 2007 Ford Mustang Roush Stage 1 convertible echoed through the quiet neighborhood. It was the beginning of a journey I had dreamed of for a long time, one that would take me, along with my brotherly friend Nicola, to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
With the suitcases packed in the trunk and sunglasses on, we set off early to tackle the long road to Le Mans. Our Mustang, with its 4.6-liter engine, delivered a power that could be felt down to the bones. Every manual shift was a mechanical dance, an intimate dialogue between man and machine. The French highways seemed tailor-made to let that powerful V8 roar as we immersed ourselves in the breathtaking countryside scenery.
This year was special: the Ford Mustang was returning to the track after an absence of more than half a century. In 1967, Claude De Bois had tried to make history with a Shelby GT350, but fate had other plans. Now, the Proton team was ready to bring the legend back to the circuit with three teams, and we couldn’t miss this historic event.
On the Road with a Legend
Traveling with a 17-year-old 2007 Ford Mustang Roush Stage 1 Convertible is a special experience. The number of people who greet you with their headlights, turn signals, thumbs up, or hand waves is incredible. It shows how much this car is in the imagination and dreams of so many generations.
Nicola and I talked about everything: our past adventures, legendary races, and, of course, the Mustangs we would see in action. Every kilometer traveled was a step closer to what we knew would be an unforgettable experience.
From the first stops at service areas, the curiosity generated was enormous. The plan was clear: drive the first 10 hours straight to get as close to the racetrack as possible. On Friday, thanks to the help of the Mustang Club de France, we would enter the Ford Performance Hospitality to meet an old acquaintance: Aaron Shelby, and have a chat with him.
Upon arriving at the small town where the Bed and Breakfast was located, we were greeted with a wonderful surprise: we were the only guests and had a heated indoor pool at our disposal. Dining with a poolside delivery was a wonderful consequence.
Arrival in Le Mans
Friday 06/14/2024
We arrived under a cloudy sky in the town of Le Mans. The atmosphere was electric. The city was alive and breathing the race. The streets were decorated with flags, the restaurants were full of enthusiastic fans discussing animatedly, and the roar of engines was a constant soundtrack.
We parked our Mustang near the circuit, at the Airbnb we had booked (which turned out to be catastrophic in both general conditions and cleanliness) and headed towards the racetrack entrance on the electric scooter we had brought with us.
After the customary photo, we entered one of the temples of world motorsport. The excitement was palpable, but we had an appointment at the Ford Performance Hospitality. For the 60th anniversary, even the hospitality area was themed. The welcome from the Ford staff was fantastic. Seeing Aaron Shelby again always feels like meeting an old friend.
The next step was visiting the Ford stand in the Manufacturers Village. The guest of honor: the Ford Mustang GTD. An incredible vehicle, which looks even more spectacular in person. After some photos and videos, we headed inside the racetrack for a walk and a visit to the Pit Lane. The GT3 cars in person are monstrously beautiful.
The journey from the racetrack to the city center for the driver parade turned out to be more complicated than expected. The rain (which would accompany us for the following days), combined with the traffic and the crowd of people, made us arrive when the parade had already started.
After dinner, we returned to the terrible rented house, aware that the next day we would see, for the first time, the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans live.
The Mustang’s Return to the Track
Saturday 06/15/2024
330,000 people present, rain, cold wind, uncovered stands: the perfect recipe to test even the most resilient spirits.
The warm-up lap not only warmed up the cars but also our hearts. The spectacle of the start, with special forces descending from the helicopter with the flag, and the French aerial team drawing the colors of the French flag, was another significant emotional load.
When the long-awaited moment finally arrived, my heart was pounding. Seeing the Ford Mustangs of Team Proton racing on the track was a dream come true. The roar of the engines, the unmistakable profile of the cars, and the tension of the competition were a perfect mix of adrenaline and nostalgia.
After hours of relentless rain and wind, as night fell, Nicola and I decided we had had enough for Saturday. Exhausted, we headed back to the rented house. The cold, fatigue, and the kilometers walked inside the racetrack made us stay at home watching the race on TV for a few more hours before sleeping.
Unfortunately, we missed the fireworks and the concert, which started a few hours after we had fallen into the arms of Morpheus.
The Race and the Finale
Sunday 06/16/2024
The rain. During the night, it caused several incidents on the track, and a one-hour safety car (never seen in years of 24h of Le Mans) was a disturbing factor, off and on, for almost the whole day.
My hometown, Piacenza, in Emilia-Romagna, is famous only for some cured meats and for a very special team that races in various competitions: A.F. Corse. A.F. stands for Amato Ferrari, a Piacentino driver who raced for years in endurance races and, in 2002, founded the eponymous team. Already winner of the 24h of Le Mans in its centenary in 2023, this year they repeated, finishing first and third.
The Proton team had prepared some extraordinary Mustangs, and the debut was phenomenal. At the end of the race, the Mustangs, which placed third, fourth, and seventeenth, achieved an exceptional result for such a long-awaited return. The pride and passion in the air were tangible, and Nicola and I couldn’t stop talking about the exploits of our favorites.
We had won as Italians, and our Ford Mustang had given us an unexpected result. After watching the victory lap, the awards ceremony, and recovering the last gadgets and our luggage from the rented house, we immediately hit the road, heading back to Italy under increasingly heavy rain, of course.
A Return Full of Emotions
The return journey, under a torrential downpour, was a continuous review of the race’s highlights. Every acceleration of our Mustang seemed an echo of the competition we had just witnessed. We stopped at a small bistro along the way for a coffee, and as the sky began to clear, showing a pale sunset, we reflected on what we had just experienced.
Stopping to sleep exhausted near Lyon, we decided to cover the remaining kilometers the next day, all at once.
An Indissoluble Bond
The trip to Le Mans was not just a celebration of the Mustangs and their glorious history, but also a moment to strengthen the friendship with Nicola: work and personal commitments, children, and distance sometimes work against the time that can be dedicated to friends.
Every curve of the road and every roar of the engine reminded us why we loved those cars and that world so much. It was more than just a race; it was a testament to the bond between man and machine, a bond made of passion, dedication, and shared dreams.
With the wind in our hair and hearts full of emotions, we returned home knowing we had experienced something unique. The Mustang had made its triumphant return to Le Mans, and we were there to see it. And as I parked my Roush Stage 1 in the garage, dirty just like a car that had just finished the 24 hours, I knew that trip would remain etched in our hearts forever.
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