Hey folks, Harry here... Damn this letter got me excited about Besson's Michael Vaillant film. The comics are extremely popular in the racing world. The cars are hot as hell, and Besson is easily one of the best visceral experience driven filmmakers working today! Plus, just the excitement of actually really having the film shoot at real races, by really entering the cars.... THAT'S FUCKING ACES COOL MAN!!! Here ya go...
Hi Harry,
Like so many before me I'm a long time fan of the site, and this is my first contribution.
I've just spent the weekend in Le Mans (France), for possibly the most famous endurance car race the "24 Heures Du Mans". And to follow up on Moriaty's piece, Luc Besson was definitely filming his new movie based on the French race car character Michael Vaillant. Much of the filming appeared to take place from a helicopter following the track and overviewing the whole area (which is huge) from what I could see as a normal spectator in the grounds. We saw the Michael Vaillant car in the full thick of the action, this was no pussy stunt car, they were racing for real.
For those unfamiliar with the Le Mans 24 hour it is basically 3 races in one. Each race is a different class of car, each with different engine types and restrictions but all racing together over an 8 mile track from 3pm GMT saturday to 3pm GMT sunday. This means you get loads of overtaking and action between the different classes of cars. Have you ever seen a 190mph Porsche look stupidly slow? No? Then watch a Le Mans race as the top class Audi leaves it standing.
Pit stops, driver changes, night racing at 200mph - the whole thing is spectacular! Only about half the cars ever seem to finish.
The weekend is also a spectacular opportunity to over-indulge in food, drink and fast cars. Even off the track the roads are full to bursting with Ferrari's, Porsche's, Lamborghini's, TVR, Morgan's, Jaguar, Aston Martin and every other type of exotic car you can imagine. 300,000 car nuts crammed into one french town!
This could make a jaw dropping film, just to stand near the track and hear the incredible noise and see the speed. If you see a stupid tall englishman with a cheesy grin on his face in the crowds that's me!
Call me Ulterior Motive Man!
