Le Mans 24 hours – in pictures
Nico Hülkenberg became the first active F1 driver to win Le Mans for 24 years as he partnered England’s Nick Tandy to victory in a Porsche
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Drivers and cars line up in the traditional herrringbone formation before the start.
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Porsche dominated qualifying, locking out the front three places on the grid, here the No17 and No18 head the front row.
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And they’re off – the 55-car field streams into the first corner as the first lap and the first minute of the 24 Hours begins.
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Heading up the hill towards Dunlop, clear skies and sunshine accompanied some fierce racing in the opening six hours.
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Nissan brought a new front-engined, front-wheel drive to Le Mans and although they struggeld for pace the No22 car did make it to the chequered flag.
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The Nissan crew get to grips with a recalcitrant engine in a bid to make the finish.
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Bollards beware as the Extreme Speeds Motorsports car takes a spin at the first Mulsanne Chicane.
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Audi could not continue their extraordinary run of success at Le Mans, having won 13 times since 2000, but did see all three cars to the finish, including taking a podium, with third place.
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Pegasus racing show their continued support for Jules Bianchi, the driver who suffered a terrible accident at last year’s Japanese Grand Prix.
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But ultimately the race belonged to Porsche, with the No19 car running flawlessly and at real pace from third on the grid to take the victory after 24 hours.
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Dusk falls and the lap times go down as well as the air temperature drops, powering this Aston Martin into the night.
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Boasting a special Le Mans livery the Aston Martin ‘Art Car’ catches the eye of spectators.
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The Corvette No64 speeds into the daylight hours, the car would go on to win the class in GTE Pro.
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The Le Mans-winning No19 Porsche 919 Hybrid of Nick Tandy, Nico Hülkenberg and Earl Bamber.
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The winning drivers, (left to right) Nick Tandy, Earl Bamber and Nico Hülkenberg, take their trophies and the acclaim of the crowd on the podium after a hard-fought race.
