:15:01
shortly after
the first World War,
:15:02
shortly after
the first World War,
:15:04
the course was named after
the nearest town
:15:06
and the number of hours
that men and machines
:15:09
are put to the supreme test
of speed and stamina.
:15:13
The circuit is 13.469
kilometers, or 8.418 miles.
:15:20
Composed of country roads linked
with the main highway
:15:24
nearly all of it open to traffic
363 days a year.
:15:29
Along the 3.2-mile
Mulsanne straight
:15:32
the cars reach a maximum speed
in excess of 230 miles per hour.
:15:39
The first race was run in 1923.
:15:43
The lap record was nine minutes,
39 seconds.
:15:47
The average speed,
66.69 miles per hour.
:15:52
Last year, the lap record
was three minutes, 22 seconds.
:15:56
The average speed,
145.508 miles per hour.
:16:01
The race is open
to six classes of cars--
:16:04
from the smallest
production models
:16:08
to the largest sports
and turbo-type engines--
:16:11
all competing at the same time
on the same circuit.
:16:14
There are 55 cars
and 1 10 drivers
:16:20
representing countries
from all over the world.
:16:23
They will drive day and night,
through sun and rain.
:16:28
Beneath his racing suit,
:16:30
each driver must wear
fireproof underwear
:16:33
capable of withstanding
2,400 degrees Fahrenheit--
:16:38
the temperature of burning
gasoline-- for 15 seconds.
:16:42
His blood type must be indicated
:16:45
on either suit or crash helmet.
:16:48
Each car has two alternating
drivers.
:16:53
No driver may total more
than 14 out of the 24 hours.
:16:59
Each driver must have
at least one hour rest