On Saturday took the TGV from Paris to Le Mans and arrived at the track at about 11.30 am. The race started at 3.00 pm and I stayed at the track for the whole 24 hrs, with only about a half hour nap on Sunday morning. It was a marathon photography adventure with the rain, wind, night, crowds, fatigue, and little sleep to contend with. By the time I got back to Paris and into bed I had been up for about 40 hrs. But it was worth it, and what an experience to be with the estimated 245,000 spectators at the track, especially late at night and in the early morning hours at Tertre Rouge. Hope you like the photos.

The Audi R18 eTron Quattro Number 2 driven by Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish, and Loic Duval won the race. However, the race was marred with tragedy with the death of Danish driver Allan Simonsen in his Aston Martin early in the race. Motorsport racing is a dangerous sport.

Please find below some quick edits of the winning Audi eTron Quattro Number 2. More photos to come when I return from vacation, as well as postings on where I took the photos and lessons learnt.

The Esses early into the race on Saturday afternoon from a vantage point near the track marshalls concrete “bunker” overlooking outside of the track (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 250)

The “S” Ford Curves from viewing platform at Stand 23 on Saturday afternoon (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/10, 1/160, ISO 100)

The Porsche Curves spectator hill on outside of track Saturday evening (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/100, ISO 320)

Tertre Rouge (took a lot of attempts to get this photo early Sunday morning and to get the right lighting with the Audi being lit from behind by the trailing car) (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 3200)

The Esses early Sunday morning in the rain (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/800, ISO 3200)

The “S” Ford Curves shot through inside track fencing and cutout in outer track fencing on outside of track at Masion Blanche. The lens was right up against the track fencing (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/800, ISO 320)

The “S” Ford Curves shot through inside track fencing and cutout in outer track fencing on outside of track at Masion Blanche. The lens was right up against the track fencing (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4.5, 1/800, ISO 320)

Exit from the “S” Ford Curves shot from top of Stand 23 on Sunday morning (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/11, 1/125, ISO 100)

Audi wins and Toyota second. Start/Finish line on front straight shot from ACO Stand 18 near top of stand at furtherest position on right of stand at 3 pm Sunday afternoon (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 500)

Front straight shot from same location in ACO Stand 18 (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 640)

The Winners Podium shot from ACO Stand 18. Audi Number 2 first, Toyota Number 7 second, and Audi Number 3 third (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4.5, 1/1000, ISO 320)

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