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Great article. Thanks for posting. I rewatched "Le Mans" a couple years back and the lack of story and dialog was somewhat shocking. But the racing scenes were fantastic, especially when you consider the use of film cameras back then.

There are many real interesting tidbits in Steyn's article:

[Le Mans] begins with a cramped field; last year's race fielded 62 cars, the most ever entered, and this year's race is scheduled to begin with the same crowded track. The winning cars cover a phenomenal distance: the record was an Audi R15+ in 2010, completing 5410 km over 397 laps. A single day at Le Mans covers more distance than a whole year's worth of Formula One races.
...McQueen modified the Porsche 908/2 he had co-driven to a second-place finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring with millionaire gentleman driver Peter Revson (beaten by none other than Mario Andretti) and entered it in Le Mans as a camera car, where Porsche drivers Herbert Linge and Jonathan Williams raced it 282 laps to a 9th place finish, second in its class despite frequent stops to change film.

That is astonishing that their camera car came in second in class and ninth overall even with all the stops to change film!

I didn't realize the movie wrecked McQueen's marriage.

Re: McQueen co-driver Peter Revson at Sebring in 1970

Revson was the son and nephew of the two brothers who founded Revlon Cosmetics in 1932, just after the worst year of the Great Depression.

Revson was killed in 1974 taking practice laps before the South African Grand Prix. At the time, Revson was engaged to be married to a previous Miss World.