The 24 Hours of Le Mans celebrates its centenary this year. The personality chosen to start the race this Saturday is NBA basketball player LeBron James.
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NBA basketball player LeBron James will start the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Saturday June 10 at 4 p.m., franceinfo learned Monday June 5 from the organizers. LeBron James will be the official Centennial “Starter” of the race.
>> Sports: the 24 Hours of Le Mans celebrates its centenary
Since 1949, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), organizer of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is the fourth round of the World Endurance Championship (WCE), entrusts each year to a personality the task of lowering the tricolor flag to kick off the race. Among the big names in sport, culture or politics, we can mention Steve McQueen in 1971, Georges Pompidou in 1972, Alain Delon in 1996, Rafael Nadal in 2018 or Brad Pitt in 2016. This year, it is therefore LeBron James, double Olympic champion, leading scorer in NBA history and four-time NBA champion, who will start the 62 competitors lined up on Saturday June 10.
“Historical Moment”
Pierre Fillon, the president of the ACO, says to himself “delighted to welcome” Los Angeles Lakers star. “LeBron James is a true sporting legend and has a track record and a list of records that command admiration. We can’t wait to introduce him to the unique atmosphere that reigns on the circuit and the enthusiasm aroused by the Centenary of the most greatest endurance race in the world”.
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LeBron James confides his “honor” to participate “at this historic moment in motorsport and to contribute to the celebration of the centenary of one of the greatest sporting events in the world”. “I can’t wait to get this iconic race started and see the world-class drivers compete on the iconic Le Mans circuit.”adds the “Starter 2023”.