Brad Pitt – Starter of the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours

The American actor is an enthusiast and an activist who loves motor sport and France. He will walk upon the track on which the most mythical endurance race in the world takes place and which also enjoys the greatest appeal in the United States. He follows in the footsteps of famous starters like Bill Ford, Fernando Alonso, Jean Todt and all the well-known figures who have relayed one another since 1949.

In 2016 the United States is being honoured at Le Mans with the return of Ford to the Sarthe, 50 years after its historic triple, through the theme of the new Americans at Le Mans Exhibition organised by the ACO Heritage service and the arrival of Pitt as starter of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest is delighted to welcome Pitt, an actor who fights for different causes, is socially aware and with whom the club shares numerous values. The presence of the American is in keeping with the international image of the Le Mans 24 Hours and Le Mans type endurance events held throughout the world, as well as the vision of the ACO which is resolutely turned to sustainable mobility, innovation and passion.

The ACO is also an important player in its ecosystems in economic, social and societal terms. And through the Club ACO, it is also a partner in major humanitarian causes like the Mécenat Chiruirgie Cardiaque, the Arc en Ciel and Tout le Monde Chante contre le Cancer, all of which are dear to the American actor’s heart.

Rendezvous at 15:00 on Saturday to see Brad wave the French flag to unleash the field of 60 cars entered for the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours.

The Le Mans 24 Hours and the cinema

Continue to give people dreams to dream!

Pitt’s arrival at the Le Mans 24 Hours confirms the ‘cine-genic’ character of the mythical circuit.

Steve McQueen, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Paul Newman, Patrick Dempsey, Claude Lelouche and Luc Besson as well as many other actors and people involved the cinema have all come to Le Mans to write a page in the history of the Sarthe classic.

When walking down the track Brad will fulfil the dreams of thousands of American fans of endurance racing and those of thousands of French spectators hoping to bump into the actor - that’s all part of the magic of Le Mans!

A.C.O.