The 2024 Le Mans 24 Hr Kart Race is one of the highlights of the year for my karting events, 40+ teams take part in the race which is a stones throw from the iconic Porsche Curves. One of our media locations is actually a media area for the main circuit!
This year a small team of us headed out on Wednesday night with me driving through the night to get to the circuit, a quick trip around the main circuit and the Le Mans Museum took up the morning before we headed to the kart circuit for the afternoon.
Friday was spent setting up the livestream for the event in between capturing the hectic hour or so when the teams are given their kart allocations. Saturday morning was an early start, a quick stop to grab some amazing breakfast and head to the circuit to test the livestream ahead of qualifying and the race start.
As it approached midday everyone assembled on the starting grid for a couple of quick team photos, this is the most hectic time for me as I tried to shoot all 40+ teams in the space of about 15 minutes before rushing down to the outside of the first corner for the start.
From this point on it was 24hrs of chasing the light around the circuit.
In-between all of the track action there is plenty to photograph in the pits as the teams all focus on the best strategies.
As the day turns to night it becomes a new challenge to capture everything again before the sun rises, all of the track shots, all of the pits shots! As long as I keep going I’m ok, if I stop I become tired very quickly so with that I keep working until I have everything I need.
Once all of the night photos had been completed I took a quick break before the light started to creep over the horizon at sunrise. This short time was spent going back to the hotel for a shower and a change of clothes so that I would feel fresh and ready for the remaining hours of the race. A short detour to McDonalds was needed too! Arriving back at the circuit with about an hour until sunrise gave me just enough time to capture some more of the pits while it was still dark.
In a race like this it feels like you gain energy as the sun rises, pushing you on to the end of the race.
Late morning is when I can finally take a break, all of the daylight photos are done, the night has passed and I have finished capturing the early morning light. With a few hours to kill its time for a well earned break, a not too glamorous corridor floor and a neck brace made for a somewhat comfortable bed for Lewis (@lewisthomasmedia).
Even the mechanics managed to get a break!
Its always a pleasure to capture 24hr races and the karting races are some of the best as you are out there working to capture the event but also with a great team of people than organise and run the whole thing. Im already looking forward to next year!
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