Thread: Mike Hawthorn, D-Type Jaguar - Le Mans 1956

A short lap of the Le Mans circuit with Mike Hawthorn in a D-Type.

Note the cars and bicycles on the track going in the same direction and opposite direction. Especially the Renault 4CV in the middle of the road going in the other direction. (I owned a 4CV in the early Sixties. I was about 14yo at the time)

The traffic reminds me of Portugal, in 2000.
Helen and I were in our trusty TDI Renault, hire car. We were enjoying a leisurely, mountain drive between villages, when we were overtaken by a numbered and heavily stickered, Suby WRX. I judged their speed at in excess off 160 kph. This overtaking manoeuvre was on a narrow, single lane, windy mountain road. It gave me a bit of a jolt.

We'd just settled down, when in quick succession, two EVOs went screaming past us, sideways with their rear wheels on the shoulder and showering gravel over us.

After another WRX went by, I'd had enough! I said to Helen, 'Hang on'! Back to second and proceeded to try and catch the last Suby. (Helen not too impressed with this and uttered words to that effect)

I'd like to think that I did a stirling effort in the Renault, as we were not overtaken by another vehicle. On completing the mountain route, at the bottom of the last descent, there was a swag of Pantechs, car carriers and support vehicles. The road we had taken turned out to be a part of the course for the 2000 , Portugese WRC! No signs. No anything to warn innocent, Aussie tourists. Apparently it was known locallyabout the pre-race preparations and the locals avoided driving there. No one said anything nasty to us, when I enquired at the bottom.