ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend

At last!... Something interesting on ONE HD. The biggest race of the year gets coverage on free to air TV in Australia. Hooray!

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with Netball or NASCAR, but somehow, it does not give me the thrills of Formula 1 or the Le Mans cars.

So, ONE HD are finally getting their stuff together to offer something on par with F1. After all, it has:

  • a grid with 50-odd cars, four different categories (Prototype 1 aka P1, P2, GT1 and GT2);
  • prototypes from Audi, Peugeot and Aston Martin amonsgt others faster than F1 cars;
  • world class drivers (Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish, Alex Wurz, Sebastien Bourdais, Christian Klein, David Brabham, Anthony Davidson, etc)
  • the equivqlent of a whole F1 season in a single race;
  • a fantastic track;
  • night racing; and
  • a lot of excitment.

drdamien was there in both 2004 and 2005. The atmoshere is brilliant with lots of different nations making the trip to the French countryside. Lots of Danes, Brits and German mixing up with the French. Always the odd Aussie and Kiwi guys to sing respective national anthems. I don't think anything rivals with the grunt of all 40+ V8, V10 and V12 engines screaming past in the pit straight at the start of the race - it was just magic.

It all starts on Saturday morning with a 1 hour recap of the 2008 race (one of the closest I can recall) at 08.00 am. Then, the 2009 race start from 10.30pm. Check the Ten/One HD TV guide here for schedules in your state.

In Sydney, the coverage will be as follows:

  • Sat 10.30pm - Sun 03.00am: race start
  • 03.30am - 04.30am
  • 06.30am - 07.30am
  • 06.55pm - 08.55pm
  • 09.00pm - 11.10pm: race finish (and podiums hopefully)

If you can't get enough, there is Radio Le Mans broadcasting live qualifying sessions tonight with news round the clock.

I believe this year will belong to Audi once again. Their diesel car looks mighty quick. Our very own David Brabham will be driving the Peugeot #9. he has been doing well in the US for Acura and would hope he can take the challenge to the Audis. For more info and driver line ups and the event overall, check out the lemans.org website.

Let me know your thoughts on the event or broadcast. I think we're in for a treat this year.

Enjoy the race!

Posted Jun 12 2009, 01:10 AM by drdamien
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Comments

drdamien wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Fri, Jun 12 2009 10:43 AM
Peugeot's on pole with F1 (and local) driver Sebastien Bourdais, former F1 driver Franck Montagny and pole setter Sarrazin at the wheel. More info and full grid on the Autosport website: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76033
reece.barter wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Fri, Jun 12 2009 11:57 AM
Formula One is THE best, most thrilling and viewable form of motor racing. My Dad and I make sure all our chores are done early. Then we are glued to the TV for the rest of the day/days,watching, repeating and re-living every lap, incident and overtake.
barriec wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Fri, Jun 12 2009 12:39 PM
An absolute Coup for Australian television although I do hope there is at least some scores from other sports. Please remember you are advertising yourself as a 24 hour sports chanel and that should include all sports. It should be said I am a racing car freak
lynne.0 wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Fri, Jun 12 2009 1:49 PM
And about time, we motor racing fans, that tolerate netball, cricket and AFL, finally have something to crow about. Having been introduced to motor racing Formula 1 by my ex husband way back in the days of Bruce Mclaren and Chris Amon and going to Levin NZ to see them race, I remember blistered legs from too much sun, the awesome smell of burning rubber and fuel and that never again experience, that has left me panting for more. Occasionally more often than not work gets in the way of the race but I can relive the highlights later or feign an illness, that one usually reserves for mondayitis.
cpt wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Fri, Jun 12 2009 10:24 PM
I can't wait for those funny looking fast car be on the track and burn those tire!! But sad thing is I would prefer to be there and feel the speed !!!!
drdamien wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sat, Jun 13 2009 8:11 PM
Just under two and half hours before I start getting glued to my TV set. This is getting very exciting - reminds me of the very early hours of Xmas day as a kid! :-) I am also lucky that my partner loves this cars too. She came to the race in '05 and got hooked. I have recorded the 2008 summary this morning which I am hoping to be watching before 9.30. The HDD recorder I bought to replace my VCR works a treat. It can record up to 134 hours of digital TV. Let's see if we can organise copies of the race on DVD to those that request it. On a separate note, Peugeot seems to have the edge speedwise. Let's hope they are reliable enough this year. Here's the Autosport article about it: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76105
petfit wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sat, Jun 13 2009 9:38 PM
what a waste of free sport on tv !! wheres the world 20 20 of ashes lead in games or sat arvo horse racing ?
cyberpunky wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sat, Jun 13 2009 9:47 PM
Awesome news. I love F1 but am so over V8 supercars. I have wanted to see more than a 1 minute highlight on sports tonight for many years. This race is a classic and the cars are simply mind blowing. Finally some great content for One HD. I hope they keep this up as was a bit worried when I saw paintball on it. That's just not a sport :)
drdamien wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sat, Jun 13 2009 10:29 PM
I just finished listening to the Radio Le Mans podcast interview of Audi driver and last year's winner Allan McNish. He is worried of Peugeot's consistency. They are running a car which essentially is the same as the last two years. Audi arrive here with the new R15. This year, there has been vitually no testing (credit crunch effects) and the new car is a bit of an unknown quantity. However, R15 has a V10 engine which is smaller and weighs less than last year's V12. This is a significant advantage as it allows for better weight distribution, mechanical grip thanks to more space being available for suspensions and aerodynamics). Let's not forget it also won the Petit Le Mans at Sebring earlier on this year. Aston Martin also has an interesting challenge ahead of them as they won't be impeded by the 30kg penalty the Audis and Peugeots will be carrying. This will give the Astons some edge in tyre conservation.
pazz36 wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sat, Jun 13 2009 10:30 PM
This is one of the best news in sports that finally Australia will give full telecast of the 24Hour Le mans race for this weekend , but the only real issue is all of Australia does not receive ONE HD as at the present, that channel is only for the major cities and rural cities and towns do not have that option at this present time yet. I am one of the biggest fans of Le Mans, F1, Bathurst, and Supercars races and being in far Nth Qld, i wont be able to watch this supreme race till ONE HD is made Australia wide. But i wont get too upset as it is still a huge win for all supporters. There are so many great sports that even Foxtell/Austar/Optus channels do still not show so this is a great option for ONE HD can fully jump onboard and show these sporting greats on a daily basis. "GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES "
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drdamien wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sat, Jun 13 2009 10:31 PM
To petfit: isn't the Twenty20 shown on Channel 9?
drdamien wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sat, Jun 13 2009 10:37 PM
To pazz36: I empathise with you. Nevertheless, you can go to www.radiolemans.com for live commentary of the race.
pazz36 wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sat, Jun 13 2009 10:54 PM
I thank you drdamien for letting us know about radiolemans.com but it isnt as good as live tv veiwing compared to veiwing it on a smaller screen plus after also going to 2 of these races live personally, it is not the same in my veiw. I am still very happy as stated in my last blog that ONE HD has finally taken up showing it and i know in future years i will get to see it with the rest of Australia plus all the other great motor sports that can be veiwed if they take it up like the european championships at Silverstone and Brands Hatch plus the Neuoburg races. We do have a lot to look forward too in the future of Aussie veiwing.
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drdamien wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sat, Jun 13 2009 11:16 PM
First interesting couple of laps. The Peugeots are indeed very quick with 4 cars (3 factory run and 1 privately entered by Pescarolo) in the top 5. Alexandre Premat has already crashed and the car is being repaired in the pits.
blaircam wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sat, Jun 13 2009 11:44 PM
What the hell are you talking about?!? Watching cars go round and round... what the hell type of sport is that...? Have you ever watched Slamball? One HD rocks! Now give me guys body-checking each other, flying through the air and performing huge dunks - now that's a sport I can watch!
ann_bindy wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sat, Jun 13 2009 11:46 PM
Is webber in it
drdamien wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sat, Jun 13 2009 11:48 PM
Wow!... I can barely believe this. The privately run Pescarolo Peugeot running into one of the factory run one (#7) exits its pit box. Safety cars deployed (two of them as the circuit de la Sarthe is 13km long) as #7 's tyre has shreaded its bodywork to pieces along the Mulsanne's straight. Both cars being fixed in the pits now.
drdamien wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sat, Jun 13 2009 11:51 PM
Hi ann_bindy, Webber is not in it but fellow Aussie David Brabham is in Peugeot #9. He is sharing the drive with former F1 drivers Alex Wurz (currently at the wheel) and Marc Gene.
drdamien wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sun, Jun 14 2009 1:02 AM
We have a FEMALE DRIVER in the field - VANINA ICKX - the daughter of six time Le Mans winner and former F1 winner Jacky Ickx.
alexander.dutmer1 wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sun, Jun 14 2009 8:53 AM
It's like watching Cricket - Ho Hum - (did he just hit a 4?) - must say there are a lot of Rev Heads watching these cars go round and round, and round again!!!!!!! What a waste of expensive GASOLINE, and to add to the cost, all the Rev Heads travelling miles and using up their Tank Capacities to watch the "Professionals?" on the Merry-Go-Round.
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ausmike wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sun, Jun 14 2009 11:18 AM
What, no Nascar, Baseball or Slamball? BORING! Channel 1 must add a rating for the so called 24/7 Sports Channel - "1 HD-PV" (1 High Def. Poor Viewing). Les Mans Race exempt! My Cat shall wait for the Slamball LOL
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drdamien wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sun, Jun 14 2009 2:35 PM
Other interesting fact: the field comprises of 22 former F1 drivers and 1 current (Bourdais). I can't recall having so many Grand Prix drivers invoved in a single race.
drdamien wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sun, Jun 14 2009 2:40 PM
KUDOS TO ONE HD for their coverage so far. Very little advertising went into the middle of the race. It seems they got it all out before the race started and one at 7am. All other advertising has been at the beginning or end of the episodes. I don't also know if they had any choice in choosing the commentators (from England maybe?) but they seem very knowledgeable and I would rate them better than BBC's Jonathan Legard who sits next to Marting Brundle in the F1 commentary box.
PucekFrankie wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sun, Jun 14 2009 2:55 PM
Great Stuff one HD!!!! Its about time us guys got the chance to watch some quality television.
aussietaff wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sun, Jun 14 2009 7:01 PM
I would love to see the Le Mans race on One HD, unfortunately this TV channel is only available in Capital Cities, so we, living in regional areas only get the test picture, this states that One HD will be available in the coming months
drdamien wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sun, Jun 14 2009 11:53 PM
Great race with David Brabham, Alex Wiurz and Marc Gene taking the win. Good to see the Aussie take his first outright victory (although he won his class last year - the LM GT1) at his 16th attempt.
drdamien wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Sun, Jun 14 2009 11:53 PM
I hope One HD keeps Le Mans on board for next year so that tose who missed out can experience what is considered the greatest race on the calendar.
Jass1967 wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Wed, Jun 17 2009 4:32 PM
I can almost (but not quite) smell the exhilarating aroma of burning rubber as I relive the thrilling events of the weekend, and await the next occasion with anticipation.
blueace388 wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Wed, Jun 17 2009 8:43 PM
I really don't know if you can fully appreciate what an occasion this is alexander.dutmer1 .I Also don't understand how the hell you could bag out Cricket, a sport us Aussies are very very proud of and also happen to be pretty good at. As far as one HD broadcasting this exhilarating event I cannot wait, I have just installed a massive 127cm LCD television in the TV room. I will be stocking up with the appropriate drinks, filling my bowl with some chips and nailing the door closed. GO PEUGEOT Sport, drivers are: David BRABHAM, Mark GENE and Alexander WURZ.
blueace388 wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Wed, Jun 17 2009 8:54 PM
This post was to be put up on the 13th June 2009. I really did go for BRABHAM, GENE and WURZ believe it or not.
drdamien wrote re: ONE HD to broadcast the 24 hour Le Mans race this weekend
on Thu, Jun 18 2009 6:02 PM
To blueace388: I was going for any of the factory Peugeots as this means they will most likely come back next year. The guys at formula1blog.com had an interview with an Audi insider on their podcast and was confirmed by Peugeot since then.
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