Gunning for glory at 24 Hours Le Mans

New York

THE 24 Hours of Le Mans started in 1923 in a tiny town in the French countryside 130 miles (209 km) from Paris. The storied endurance race pits some old European brands - Peugeot, Renault, and Matra, among others - against the likes of Audi and Porsche, in cars piloted by relatively unknown drivers. It lasts for more than 3,000 miles around a single track, and it doesn't draw celebrities like the more glamorous European Formula 1 races.

And yet, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the most prestigious, and most important, race of its kind.