(Paris) Zinédine Zidane will start the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 15 at 4 p.m., the organizers of the legendary car race announced on Tuesday.
“Considered as one of the greatest French athletes and one of the best players in the history of football, Zinédine Zidane will be the official Starter of the 92e edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” wrote the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) in a press release.
The ACO recalls that before “Zizou”, the endurance event saw many personalities lower the tricolor flag as a featured guest, citing Brad Pitt (2016), Rafael Nadal (2018), Alain Delon (1996), Georges Pompidou (1972), Steve McQueen (1971) or last year LeBron James for the centenary.
“The 24 Hours of Le Mans is unique. For all those who love motorsport, for the whole world, it is a legendary race. It’s French pride,” Zidane said, quoted in the press release.
It will be a “great first time to be there” for the 98 world champion, who says he has “a lot of images in his head, of the race, legendary drivers, incredible stories, but in front of (his) TV or through cinema.
“We could not dream of a greater Starter” to launch these “24 Hours of Le Mans with an exceptional sporting field”, greeted Pierre Fillon, president of the ACO.
This is not the former footballer’s first foray into motorsport: since February 2023, he has been an “ambassador” for Alpine, a French team present in F1 and endurance.
Before his eyes, 62 cars will start, including 23 from the premier Hypercars category, from nine different brands: Ferrari, Toyota, Cadillac, Peugeot, Porsche, Alpine, Lamborghini, BMW and Isotta Fraschini.