However, many other 24 Hours actors come from the arts, music, film and elsewhere. The book pays homage to these characters who give a universal scope to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

LE GOTHA: To give the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, A.C.O. brought in personalities who play a direct or indirect role in the automotive industry. These famous and influential men gave a special luster to the event. The first chapter consists of about fifteen portraits of some of these personalities who confess their passion for motorsport.

 THE ENGINEERS: Since its inception, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been an irreplaceable field of experimentation for many new techniques. Behind each of the innovations are brilliant engineers. This chapter will show ten cars on which the most significant innovations were introduced; it will be illustrated with photos of racing cars, accompanied by portraits of engineers.

 THE GENTLEMEN DRIVERS: Alongside the best professional drivers, a swarm of gentlemen drivers, enlightened and talented amateurs, gave a singular panache to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

 THE ARTISTS: As the cars lost their national colors to put on advertising garb, the way was also cleared to give free rein to the imagination of plastic surgeons.

 THE STYLISTS: If performance and efficiency are the priority objectives for machines participating in the 24 Hours, an extraordinary aesthetic, made of pure beauty or violence, is often induced by this vocation.

 ANONYMOUS: Volunteers, piste marshals, doctors ...