Le Mans - better than F1?

Le Mans is nearly upon us and 2009 is shaping up to be a potential classic with British fans in for a real treat.

Thousands of Brits cross the Channel into France every year for the classic 24 Hours race in the hope of celebrating home success on French soil. In 2008, they were doubly rewarded when Scot Allan McNish finally got a monkey off his back when he won for a second time, ending a 10-year wait since his maiden success. How a nation rejoiced!

At the same time, Aston Martin took the GT1 class honours for the second year in succession, taming their arch rivals from across the Pond, Corvette. The Americans are back for the final time in the class this year but they'll more than likely be looking at the back end of the two Astons as the Prodrive-run team have bigger fish to fry in the leading prototype class (LMP1) as they bid to win outright 50 years on from its one and only Le Mans victory. The team has already tasted success this year in the opening Le Mans Series race in Spain.