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Top 10 photos of the week: Le Mans edition by Eric Gilbert

All Le Mans, all the time. This is our special La Sarthe edition of the Top 10 Photos feature. With photos by our very own Eric Gilbert.

Pitlane ambiance

Pitlane ambiance

Eric Gilbert

Welcome to this week's top 10 photos chosen by our own photo editors, and featuring the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did selecting those photos. And remember that you can write your own comments when you click on those photos and bring up the photo viewer page.

Express yourself and let us know what you think!


10. This year, perhaps by chance, we feature a lot of scene-setting wide shots. This is quite understandable actually since there is so much atmosphere at Le Mans. As you'll see below, it's all here: from the dramatic skies (rain or shine, it's always cool at LM), ferris wheel, Dunlop Bridge, start/finish straight, and that (once) ultra modern pitlane.

#38 Jota Sport Gibson 015S: Simon Dolan, Mitch Evans, Oliver Turvey and #2 Toyota Racing Toyota TS040 Hybrid: Alexander Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin, Mike Conway
#38 Jota Sport Gibson 015S: Simon Dolan, Mitch Evans, Oliver Turvey and #2 Toyota Racing Toyota TS040 Hybrid: Alexander Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin, Mike Conway

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

 


9. There is a photo technique we call compressing. It's where you use a long lens and physics to "compress" subject matter in a frame. Here, the difference between the head Rebellion R-One and the trailing ORECA 05 and Ferrari 458 is probably 50 meters, but the visual effect is quite effective. From the texture in the fencing to the signage and houses/hotel in the background, there no lack of interesting things to see on the Hunaudières.

#12 Rebellion Racing Rebellion R-One: Nicolas Prost, Nick Heidfeld, Mathias Beche
#12 Rebellion Racing Rebellion R-One: Nicolas Prost, Nick Heidfeld, Mathias Beche

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

 


8. Very few races in the world have this kind of atmosphere at the start. Magical doesn't even begin to describe it.

Starting grid ambiance
Starting grid ambiance

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

 


7. The star comes into his own as a driver at Le Mans. Well done to Dempsey, Long and Seefried on a well-deserved second place finish in class.

LMGT Am podium: champagne for Patrick Dempsey
LMGT Am podium: champagne for Patrick Dempsey

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

 


6. The Dunlop Bridge: an iconic part of the Le Mans circuit. It's forever part of the Sarthe landscape. Bonus points for the detail in those intense clouds.

#71 AF Corse Ferrari 458 GTE: Davide Rigon, James Calado, Olivier Beretta
#71 AF Corse Ferrari 458 GTE: Davide Rigon, James Calado, Olivier Beretta

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

 


5. Years ago, Le Mans post-race was a total mess. Chaos. Mayhem. It's still kind of like that, but in the end you get this celebration photo to end all celebration photos. So at least it's more worth the struggle as a photographer. Yet another moment at Le Mans we hope never changes.

Parc fermé: race winners #19 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Nico Hulkenberg, Nick Tandy, Earl Bamber celebrate
Parc fermé: race winners #19 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Nico Hulkenberg, Nick Tandy, Earl Bamber celebrate

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

 


4. Here is a photo of the Mulsanne Straight with cars on it. Done.

#42 Strakka Racing Strakka-Dome S103: Nick Leventis, Jonny Kane, Danny Watts
#42 Strakka Racing Strakka-Dome S103: Nick Leventis, Jonny Kane, Danny Watts

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

 


3. The ferris wheel, the trailing lights, the hospitality tents (Audi and Porsche on the left). The long night at Le Mans begins.

Night lights at Le Mans
Night lights at Le Mans

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

 


2. The pitlane at Le Mans is unique. It's also one of the busiest and most dangerous pitlanes in all of motorsport. But it's an honor to work in that sacred space.

Pitlane ambiance
Pitlane ambiance

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

 


1. The #19 Porsche 919 Hybrid on its way to victory, lifting the right front ever so slightly heading down from Dunlop Bridge to the Esses de la Forêt in the early morning light.

#19 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Nico Hulkenberg, Nick Tandy, Earl Bamber
#19 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Nico Hulkenberg, Nick Tandy, Earl Bamber

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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