The greatness of simple things makes people happy

This year’s weather conditions weren’t particularly good for the public, the cars, and the drivers. During the drivers’ parade, there was even a small shower, and the temperature was almost always below 20°C, even dropping to 11°C, with some wind and rain. In any case, that didn’t stop the party. Those who attended Le Mans this year once again had an unforgettable day.

The sun and the heat always make a big difference when it comes to filling terraces, inviting people to enjoy the green spaces around the circuit or its many activities. Despite this, the atmosphere, the friendliness, the politeness, the civility, the knowledge of how to welcome people from all over the world, has not changed one bit.

And I’m not just referring to the detached smile and the vehement, luminous gaze of a sometimes tender and affectionate good morning at the top of one’s lungs.

The drivers’ parade remains a highlight. Seeing the way the drivers interact with the public, under the complacent but never inattentive gaze of the public and private security men, is remarkable. Apart from the children, who are eager to collect all the gifts offered by the teams, from caps to t-shirts, fans, posters, and stickers, there is no pushing, confusion, or trampling. This also applies to public transport, whether it’s the light rail, which I use a lot these days, or cabs.

On the day I arrived, I had to take a cab to collect my accreditation. I apologized to the driver for the short journey, to which he smiled and said he would take me wherever I wanted to go, near or far. When I arrived at my destination, even though I was only carrying a small suitcase, he made a point of getting out of the car, handing me the suitcase, and saying goodbye. What a contrast to other places where taxi drivers remain seated and motionless, usually in a bad mood, ignoring whether the passenger has a lot or a little luggage, is old or young, a pregnant woman or a woman with her child.

Even in the direction of the crowds, there is good humor on faces and in words, and there are many police officers or private security guards with a sense of humor, who throw in a friendly tease before giving us the concise and precious information and wishing us “Bonne journée, Monsieur!”

I believe that the secret to the success of the 24 Hours of Le Mans lies precisely in the immaculate organization of the ACO, in this interaction with the city, its people, and with all those who come to it from other parts of the hexagon or from abroad.

And in two short, simple, meaningful, and ever-present words: freedom and responsibility.

This will always be the difference between the way of approaching all the problems inherent in an organization of this size, which brings 300,000 people to a racetrack, between free and tolerant systems that focus on the citizen and rely on them to consolidate and evolve, and autocratic systems that distrust everything and everyone, turning their citizens into small, suspicious, and intolerant people, who spend their days being watched and trampled underfoot for the tiniest benefits and privileged access to instances of power, available for anything that begins with subservience and pampering.

Any general entrance to the circuit allows free movement through all areas of the circuit, except the pits, paddock, and track. But even this is open to the public, and twice it has been open, allowing the public, as in Japan and elsewhere, to walk around the pit lane, take photographs, and chat with drivers and mechanics. On Friday, the track was open to the public from 3 pm to 8 pm. Anyone who wants to can walk, cycle, or skate around it.

The volunteers, from marshals to track stewards to young hosts, come from all over the world, from multiple countries. They speak all languages and support the drivers and teams from their countries. The organization reserves a special period before the track opens to the public so that the stewards who ensure the organization’s good performance can also socialize in a relaxed way, take photos in the pits, collect autographs from the drivers who show up, and receive small souvenirs.

The ease of access to the drivers, the teams, the organization, the schedules that are almost always met, whether for press conferences or other events. For some, like Valentino Rossi, an extra dose of patience is required, which doesn’t become the tireless way he responds to every request. The same applies to others, whether it’s the Iron Dames or the drivers from Team Jota, Alpine, United, Ford, or any other team.

This year I talked to Jenson Button, the former Formula 1 world champion, as well as Phil Hanson and the young star Oliver Rasmussen, who drive one of the Porsche Hypercars entrusted to Hertz Team Jota as if they were in a hotel or café. Good-humored, polite, patient, with no security guards around pushing me away from people.

I’d like to mention the “navettes gratuites” that connect various points on the circuit. I don’t know if it was because of the rain or something else, but they didn’t work as they have in previous years. Routes 4 and 5 between Arnage and Mulsanne and Mulsanne and the East Gate formed long queues. Nobody liked it, but everything went smoothly without any hassle, respecting the queues and the turn.

Apart from this, here, the public or the press are not semi-detainees who have to be kept away and under control and away from all the places of interest. You only have to look at the photos of the drivers’ parade, the tours of the pit lane and pits, and the paddock and surrounding areas to understand what I’m saying.

And if you add to all this the surprise of walking into a restaurant, a year on from the last time I was there, being recognized by the boss and the waitress who, when she takes my order, tells me that “you were here last year,” then there’s no shortage of reasons to do it again next year.

And in the years to come, as long as we’re healthy and those in charge of the ACO, the WEC, and the FIA, the people of Le Mans and the thousands of volunteers continue to give fans all over the world, children and adults alike, the right to simple things. Yes, because as the Iron Dames say, ever more aptly in a world that is sometimes violent and inhumane out there, “every dream matters.” Children’s dreams matter even more. And they are the ones who have the greatest right to the essence of simple things.

Sportingly, it was a success, another Ferrari win and double podium for Maranello house fans, despite the heavy rain and all the shenanigans throughout the 24 Hours. But we’ll talk about that another time. Sérgio de Almeida Correia, MDT, Le Mans