Who’s pumped for the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans race? Well, us obviously, but in case you didn’t know, this year’s iconic race at Ciruit de la Sarthe has been generating even more excitement than usual. Perhaps the biggest reason for all the buzz surrounding this year’s race is the Ford GT’s highly anticipated return to Le Mans – exactly fifty years after the original GT40 swept the podium in spectacular upset fashion in 1966 to steal Ferrari’s crown. On top of that, the field has been expanded to a full 60 cars this year, among which Porsche will attempt to defend its title from rival Audi and secure a second consecutive win in the LMP1-class 919 Hybrid.

 

To assist in soaking up as much Le Mans excitement as possible, we’ve compiled all the critical information and helpful resources you might need including a handy spotter’s guide, TV listings, related links, and an excellent video about the back-story behind how the original Ford GT40 was as much an act of revenge as it was a race car – built solely to exercise Ford’s vendetta against then-dominant Ferrari.
 


You can find the 2016 Le Mans Spotter’s Guide pictured below, courtesy of SpotterGuides.com (credit: graphic design by Andy Blackmore Design).

 


(Click the images to open large version in a new tab)


For the full 24 hours worth of TV coverage by FOX Sports, click here for the TV listing schedule. The race will also be broadcast live in-full by numerous online streaming sources which you can find easily just by doing a quick Google search for “24 hours of le mans 2016 live stream.”

For race info, news, and more on this year’s 84th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, here’s a link to the official page on the FIA’s World Endurance Series Championship series website.

As previously mentioned, be sure to watch the excellent video at this link for more on the origin and lore behind the original Ford GT40. Even if you’ve heard the story before, it’s well worth a watch. Or six.

As for the new Ford GT Le Mans car, you can learn more about it, see specs, and check out additional pictures of the car here.

How do you think the new Ford GT LM GTE Pro car will do in the race? Will Porsche be able to repeat its performance from last year in the 919 Hybrid LMP1 cars? Don’t forget to post your predictions in the comments below. Enjoy the race!