Just to add to what SevernGuy say, which he is absolutely spot on with, endurance racing is exactly that. It's a test of endurance.
Back in the days of the film, these cars were brutally fast, but not for extended periods. They had to be nursed and cared for, only really giving it the berries when it was called for. This was part of the game then.
But they were also exhausting to drive. They had manual gear boxes, heavy duty clutches with the clutch pedal, no traction control, no ABS, no power steering, a scorching hot and deafeningly loud, very hot race engine sitting behind your left shoulder and no air conditioning, poor lights at night and very little in the way of downforce. To get the gear box and clutch (no 20 minute replacements back then) through the whole 24 hours, you'd spend a good portion of that double de-clutching (forget everything Fast and Furious told you...it's nonsense). You try doing that flat out just on the way to work in a modern car. It's knackering!!
To save the car and the driver, it was quite often a tactical race with the odd sprint mixed in during driver changes or servicing and a mad dash at the end.
However...
Can I make a suggestion to you? Watch this year's Le Mans. It's on 13th/14th June European times. For years Audi have absolutely dominated Le Mans with some of the most astonishing race cars you have ever seen and something like 14 wins out of the last 16 years. Last year though and with their all time record under threat from Audi...after something like 15 years away, Porsche came back. They used last year's endurance championship to pretty much race test the car, but this year they are going for just one thing. A win against Audi at Le Mans. It should be one of the best races in years!
They are the most technologically advanced race car on the planet these days and if you're a speed freak, then consider this. They will get around the La Sarthe circuit faster than a Formula 1 car. Toyota will be there too with their very, very quick 040 and Nissan are also bringing the most radically different race car of any kind of racing seen in decades...it's a front engined, front wheel driven red monster that spits fire from the bonnet/hood. Think I'm joking? Then watch this, my mate...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8Kzazvcc98
Oh, and these days they go flat out for 24 hours now too. The gently, gently tactics of yesteryear are long gone. Think of it as a 24 hour sprint race, with 3 other, slower category races all going on the same track...at the same time...
Trust me, you'll enjoy it.
SEX - Breakfast Of Champions!
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