Motorsport: Classic start to Le Mans marathon

One of the greatest spectacles of a Le Mans 24 Hour race will be resurrected this weekend at the 78th running of the iconic event.

Once again the cars will be lined up in a herringbone formation on one side of the track and the drivers on the other side.

Unlike between 1925 and 1969 when the race started with the drivers legging it across the circuit, leaping into the car, doing up rudimentary belts, firing up the engine and roaring away, this year is more about show rather than go.

Tomorrow, all 168 drivers will line up per crew opposite their car, which are in start order. The driver nominated for the first stint will be in full race attire with his two teammates in overalls next to him.

After the signal to start the drivers will cross the track, and with the help of the mechanics, will have seven minutes to get the driver racing-bolted into the car. The Clerk of the Course will wave away each successive car and when they're eventually all up and running and on the formation lap, the green flag will fall for a flying start.

"They get seven minutes - really," said a laughing Chris Amon who with Bruce McLaren are the only Kiwis to win a Le Mans 24 Hour. "I use to enjoy the running bit as I was pretty fast over 100m.

"In the early days there were no belts and then just a lap belt and finally shoulder belts as well but with no crotch straps. I remember one time leaping in the car, doing up the lap part and taking off down the track doing the shoulder belts up as I went along because the Mulsanse Straight is long you had a bit of time to put a few belts on."

Amon and McLaren won in a Ford GT40 in 1966 and the GT40 went on to win three races in a row before the factory withdrew from contesting the race. It's been a long time between drinks but a Ford GT is finally lining up at Le Mans again.

Swiss team Matech Competition and the Belgian outfit Marc VDS Racing will aim to recapture the glory years with their Ford GT cars.

Matech Competition has entered two cars in the GT1 category, while Marc VDS Racing will campaign a third car among the 56-strong entry. Although Ford hasn't officially entered the cars, they do have technical support from the manufacturer.

"I'm absolutely pleased to see Ford back at Le Mans," said Amon.

"Particularly that shape as it looks so good and when you're standing there looking at them they bring back a lot of memories. They're a little bit different inside from the original but as for the shape and the height they're much the same.

"Did you know that with the GT40, the 40 meant the height in inches and the new ones are identical in height to the originals."

The ex-Ferrari Formula One driver raced at Le Mans 11 times and can only remember finishing once - the year he won it and he has fond memories of the event.

"The 24 Hour was one of those races you never really looked forward to but once you got there the atmosphere was great. It has an aura all of its own," said Amon. "It's a marvellous event and after F1 it's my favourite sort of racing. But as an individual event Le Mans is right up there."

One of the Matech cars is a real first for the Le Mans 24 Hours race having an all-female Swiss line-up. Natacha Gachnang, who has recovered from a broken leg sustained in the opening GT1 championship round in Abu Dhabi, is the cousin of F1 driver Sebastien Buemi and raced in Formula 2 last season.

Rahel Frey and Cyndie Allemann have both raced in Formula 3.