0:00:02 > 0:00:05This programme contains strong language
0:00:05 > 0:00:06Sir Chris Hoy has already ignited the burners.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10Who's going to get it? Chris Hoy! That's his sixth gold medal.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13He becomes the greatest British Olympian.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19Mesdames et messieurs, ladies and gentlemen,
0:00:19 > 0:00:24welcome to the 84th running of the greatest race in motor sport -
0:00:24 > 0:00:26the 24 hours at Le Mans.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29- HOY:- When I finished competitive cycling,
0:00:29 > 0:00:32in the way that many sports men and women struggle
0:00:32 > 0:00:34when they retire from something that has consumed them,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37every decision that you make is about performance,
0:00:37 > 0:00:39and then all of a sudden, overnight, it stops.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41So you have to find something to replace that,
0:00:41 > 0:00:44you have to have something that you are passionate about.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46So, motor sport was just the perfect fit.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52It is mad, though, isn't it? Just how many people are down here.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00The very first time I became aware of Le Mans,
0:01:00 > 0:01:04I had a Scalextric track when I was a wee boy.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07I remember asking my dad, "Why does this car have lights on it?"
0:01:07 > 0:01:09He said, "Well, that's a Le Mans car," he said.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12"They race all day and then all night for 24 hours."
0:01:12 > 0:01:16And I just remember thinking, "That sounds amazing."
0:01:16 > 0:01:18I'm very excited, a little bit nervous,
0:01:18 > 0:01:20just an amazing experience to be here.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23And I can't wait to get on the track and start racing.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Sir Chris Hoy, thank you.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Being the biggest race in the world,
0:01:34 > 0:01:36people have come from far and wide -
0:01:36 > 0:01:38from the worlds of Formula One, IndyCar,
0:01:38 > 0:01:41the biggest names, the biggest teams,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45this is the one that everybody who is anybody wants to win.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48This is some of the best drivers in the world,
0:01:48 > 0:01:49and my name is in there.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53Four years of my life has been working towards this one race.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56This is a massive challenge. And it's not been easy.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00To be a Le Mans winner, it's like being an Olympic gold medallist.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02That is with you for the rest of your life.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Three, two, one...
0:02:18 > 0:02:21- Have you just woken up? - Are you sleepy?
0:02:21 > 0:02:22- Hello.- Where is Dada?
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Do you want a wee cuddle?
0:02:24 > 0:02:28In 2012, track cyclist Sir Chris Hoy
0:02:28 > 0:02:31became the first British Olympian to win six gold medals
0:02:31 > 0:02:33competing in four games,
0:02:33 > 0:02:35but this is the first Olympic year since 2000
0:02:35 > 0:02:37that he's not in training.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Olympic year is definitely different
0:02:39 > 0:02:41because you immediately start thinking back
0:02:41 > 0:02:43to where you were four years ago, eight years ago,
0:02:43 > 0:02:4612 years ago, 16 years ago, what you were going through.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49What's that down there? Is that the Christmas tree?
0:02:49 > 0:02:50'This time four years ago,'
0:02:50 > 0:02:52I wouldn't be standing wasting energy in my legs.
0:02:52 > 0:02:53'I would be sitting down.'
0:02:53 > 0:02:54I hate to break the news to you, son,
0:02:54 > 0:02:56but we are taking the Christmas tree down.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Don't stand when you can sit, don't sit when you can lie down.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01Rest your legs, recover. That was our mantra,
0:03:01 > 0:03:02that was what we did as cyclists.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05And it was relentless. It was an obsession.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08I feel freed from that pressure,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12but in equal measure, I miss being part of something that means so much
0:03:12 > 0:03:16and that you're on this journey towards this end goal.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21This is a man who thrives on being able to have a project
0:03:21 > 0:03:25that he can strip down, learn every single detail of,
0:03:25 > 0:03:28become good at it, build it all back up together
0:03:28 > 0:03:29and try and do it.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31How did you get that there?
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Oh, dear.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36I dreamt of Le Mans, but never thought it would be possible.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38So far, nothing has been confirmed,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40but if I get to race at Le Mans, it doesn't matter who you are,
0:03:40 > 0:03:43to measure yourself against the best in the world, it's exciting.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46It's fast, it's dangerous, it's the real thing.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Right, thank you. Round of applause for Daddy.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Chris's journey to Le Mans
0:03:53 > 0:03:56started two months after retiring from competitive cycling
0:03:56 > 0:03:59when he signed up to an amateur race series.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01To actually get on the track yourself
0:04:01 > 0:04:04and experience it first hand, it's amazing and a real privilege.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07I just want to try and bring the car back in one piece each time.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09In just his second race,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12Chris got a real taste of what motor sport can offer.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Pretty hairy at moments, but, yeah, pretty fun.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28Over the past three years, Chris has been fast tracked
0:04:28 > 0:04:32through the motor sport world by his sponsors.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36He has gone through an intensive training programme
0:04:36 > 0:04:38and competed with a host of pro drivers and teams
0:04:38 > 0:04:40in races across Europe.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46Last year, he won one of the top endurance race series.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Amazing. I never thought I would be on the podium
0:04:48 > 0:04:51hearing the national anthem again. I thought those days were over.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54I have the same passion, the same competitive spirit.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57I'm not doing it just for the sake of it.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59The reason I'm doing it is because I love it.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14Chris has a chance to join one of the top teams
0:05:14 > 0:05:16at Le Mans for this year's race.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Morning. How you doing?
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Today he has come to show them he can handle their car.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26With a top speed close to 200mph,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29it's faster than anything Chris has ever driven.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Getting the nerves again.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Right before you get in it, you're thinking,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39"Oh, God, this is... This is bloody terrifying."
0:05:41 > 0:05:45It's a new season, it's a completely different set-up this year.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47It's with Greaves Motor Sport,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49who've won in Le Mans this car before.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52You know, it is nice to drive in the dry, but you want to get used to wet
0:05:52 > 0:05:54because you're not going to get a dry 24 hours, are you?
0:05:54 > 0:05:56It's going to rain at some point.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Greaves Motor Sport have raced at Le Mans
0:05:59 > 0:06:01every year for the past decade,
0:06:01 > 0:06:06finishing on the podium twice and winning their class in 2011.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08We've got the pro-am situation here.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11Each team has to have an amateur driver.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15The difference between winning and losing can be the quality,
0:06:15 > 0:06:18the performance of the amateur driver.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Chris, in this case, yeah.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24At Le Mans, three different categories of car
0:06:24 > 0:06:27race together on the same track.
0:06:27 > 0:06:32Chris wants to compete in the LMP2, or Le Mans Prototype 2 class,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34the highest level an amateur can race.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38The professional drivers are continually helping
0:06:38 > 0:06:39the amateur drivers.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41Remember, most of these professional drivers
0:06:41 > 0:06:44have been doing this since they were eight years old.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Chris jumps in, what is it now, three years?
0:06:46 > 0:06:49Any observations?
0:06:49 > 0:06:52No. The car is really, really easy to drive.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Each team needs three drivers to share the car
0:06:56 > 0:06:58through the 24-hour race.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01We still haven't even finalised the team for this year.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04At the moment, it is looking likely it will be myself
0:07:04 > 0:07:07and Alex Brundle - Martin Brundle's son -
0:07:07 > 0:07:09a very experienced prototype racer,
0:07:09 > 0:07:11he's raced at Le Mans many times before.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14- I tried second, it's not better. - Yep.- It is easy to run wide.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17If we can get him quick, on professional driver pace,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20it's a huge asset to the team.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22It's the same with any team doing anything -
0:07:22 > 0:07:25you're only as strong as the weakest link.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28I know I'm the weak link, so that's OK.
0:07:28 > 0:07:29It's not like I'm going,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32"Shit, they said that? I didn't know that.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34"I thought I was the best out there", you know?
0:07:35 > 0:07:37But I enjoy a challenge.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40I miss that moment of, "Shit, we are in this now.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43"We are in the battle and this is what we have trained for
0:07:43 > 0:07:45"for the last however many months or years."
0:07:51 > 0:07:53He's doing exactly what we want him to do.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Currently the pace is about a 1 minute 48 for the top drivers.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59I think he will go under 50.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02If he gets under 50, he has done a brilliant job.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11Yep.
0:08:14 > 0:08:15It's not a million miles away then.
0:08:15 > 0:08:16It's not miles away.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22An hour later, Chris gets a chance to improve on his time.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31He's done a 49.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34We're sort of where we should be with Chris today.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Such a mega car, that.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42It encourages you to push, to go faster and faster.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46It's just amazing. That's what it's all about. Just awesome.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50Chris's performance today has cemented his place in the team.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52The test has been a massive success.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56It's been really encouraging for me personally.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58The team that has won at Le Mans before,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01so you start and put two and two together and you start to think,
0:09:01 > 0:09:03"What would it be like to get on the podium at Le Mans?"
0:09:03 > 0:09:06What a fairy-tale ending - wouldn't it be amazing?
0:09:18 > 0:09:21So anybody watching for the first time, it's an 8.5 mile lap
0:09:21 > 0:09:26as many times as you possibly can over the space of 24 hours.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29No other form of motoring event
0:09:29 > 0:09:31eclipses the world of man and machine
0:09:31 > 0:09:34in a more incredible environment.
0:09:36 > 0:09:37I've been here a million times before
0:09:37 > 0:09:40but not in motor sport, the pre-race feeling.
0:09:40 > 0:09:41You recognise it as a good sign -
0:09:41 > 0:09:43you need to have adrenaline,
0:09:43 > 0:09:46you need to have that raised level of alertness.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48THUNDER RUMBLES
0:09:48 > 0:09:52The umbrellas are up and our race director has declared this
0:09:52 > 0:09:56a wet race, so that is the first bit of drama
0:09:56 > 0:09:59before we've even got underway.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01I mean, the conditions - it couldn't be worse
0:10:01 > 0:10:04to make a debut in the Le Mans 24-hour.
0:10:07 > 0:10:08This is where you're glad...?
0:10:08 > 0:10:10- You're not starting.- Yeah, exactly.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12It's the toughest race in the world.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14What we are going to see is 60 cars driving around
0:10:14 > 0:10:17and a hell of a race throughout the classes.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20Pilotes, demarrez vos moteurs!
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Ten, nine, eight...
0:10:22 > 0:10:26The race I am most intrigued by is the LMP2 race.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30It's the most competitive field in an awfully long time.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Five, four, three, two, one...
0:10:33 > 0:10:34BEEPING
0:10:34 > 0:10:37The race will start now behind the safety car.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44It is very, very wet indeed.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48Well, you know, in weather like this with the cars that close together,
0:10:48 > 0:10:50an incident is almost inevitable.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52On the back of every ticket, it says motor racing is dangerous.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55It is not that long ago that very tragically
0:10:55 > 0:10:58Allan Simonsen lost his life at this track.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Danger is still there.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18For the past three weeks,
0:11:18 > 0:11:19Chris has been preparing to race
0:11:19 > 0:11:22with the highly successful Greaves Motor Sport.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27But yesterday, he was told that engine supply problems
0:11:27 > 0:11:30have forced them to withdraw his car from Le Mans.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33- Mamma.- Mamma.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37At the last minute, Chris's sponsor Nissan have stepped in
0:11:37 > 0:11:39and found him a new team.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42I've been very frustrated for the fact that, you know,
0:11:42 > 0:11:44he's given up so much time...
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Obviously it's all that he wants to do,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48but he has given up so much time.
0:11:48 > 0:11:49I mean, ten days after he was born
0:11:49 > 0:11:52and he was in intensive care in an incubator,
0:11:52 > 0:11:56Chris was in Barcelona, through our mutual choice of both of us
0:11:56 > 0:12:00for saying we've got to go and get all your race training in,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03you've got to be as good as you can if you're going to Le Mans.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Then for you to give all that time in what was
0:12:05 > 0:12:09a really upsetting and stressful year for both of us,
0:12:09 > 0:12:12but particularly for me and not to have Chris around for a lot of it,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15for it then that not to happen and him not to get to Le Mans,
0:12:15 > 0:12:19that was... I would have had absolute words with Nissan.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21Yeah, little smiley boy.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26Chris now has to take a leap of faith and join an unknown team
0:12:26 > 0:12:28with a different car who will be racing at Le Mans
0:12:28 > 0:12:30for the first time.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32I was stressed, but the guys at Nissan said
0:12:32 > 0:12:35last minute we have a guaranteed seat in a different team.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38People I've never met before, never been to the factory,
0:12:38 > 0:12:41never met them, never been in the car.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43- MAN OFF SCREEN:- And you're going to be racing Le Mans?
0:12:43 > 0:12:44- I'll be racing Le Mans...- In a couple of months?
0:12:44 > 0:12:46- ..in a couple of months' time... - In this car,
0:12:46 > 0:12:49- and this team you have never met. - I've never met them before.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04The problem is now the tyres are shit, aren't they?
0:13:07 > 0:13:11Today, Chris is meeting his new team - Algarve Pro Racing.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15They are run by Stewart, an ex-Formula One mechanic,
0:13:15 > 0:13:17with his wife Sam.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20- Is it Stewart?- Hi, Chris. Stewart. - Hi.
0:13:20 > 0:13:21To get you some running, for we will do,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24we'll just see what happens now. It's going to happen very shortly.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Yeah.
0:13:26 > 0:13:27We are very lucky.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29People have heard of Chris Hoy because he is,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31in some people's eyes, famous for being
0:13:31 > 0:13:35one of the greatest Olympians ever, so it's big kudos for our team.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38He's met the Queen, been knighted. Fantastic. Good luck to the guy.
0:13:38 > 0:13:39You know, he worked hard for it.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43Michael is the team's only permanent driver.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48He is an ex-Wall Street trader who got back into racing
0:13:48 > 0:13:52in his 40s and, like Chris, is ranked as an amateur.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Today he is helping to get the car set up
0:13:55 > 0:13:58and install software for the new season.
0:13:58 > 0:13:59Are you good at bleeps,
0:13:59 > 0:14:02because there is going to be loads of bleeps coming out of there.
0:14:02 > 0:14:03HE CHUCKLES
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Michael has raced Le Mans once before
0:14:17 > 0:14:20but with a different team.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22I had a bit of a rough introduction to Le Mans two years ago.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26I crashed badly in practice and somebody spun in front of me
0:14:26 > 0:14:28in the race, so I went airborne over him.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32We only finished about three hours before we destroyed the car.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36You slow down the car, you rotate, and exit, it is better.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38- You can see where the rubber is. - Yes.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Andrea has just joined the team.
0:14:40 > 0:14:45He is an up-and-coming pro driver, but he has never raced Le Mans.
0:14:45 > 0:14:50I didn't expect to do Le Mans soon like that. I'm really happy.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54I think all the racing drivers dream about that. Yeah, it is amazing.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56He's actually getting ready now.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59He's going to be probably a minute and a half. So 90 seconds.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Chris has less than three months to fit in with the team
0:15:02 > 0:15:04and get to grips with a new car.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09The first time I have ever driven this car. It is brand-new to me.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13It is an LMP2, so the same category as the Greaves car that I tested,
0:15:13 > 0:15:14but it is a closed cockpit.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16It's totally different to anything I have driven before,
0:15:16 > 0:15:18so it does feel a bit alien.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25All LMP2 cars have similar performance,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28going from 0-60 in under three seconds,
0:15:28 > 0:15:32but with every team customising their vehicle set-up,
0:15:32 > 0:15:34each one is different to drive.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43- What's happened? - The exhaust pipe's blown up.
0:15:43 > 0:15:49These prototype cars are hand-built and cost £0.5 million each,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52but this one has some teething problems.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Did you find it really bumping along the end of the straight?
0:15:55 > 0:15:57- Unbelievable.- Yeah, it was a bit scary, that.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59- No, it's the worst it's ever been. - Right.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01Just before you are turning in, you're thinking,
0:16:01 > 0:16:03- "Shit, this is going to lift off." - Exactly.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06At high speed, the front is lifting off the ground...
0:16:06 > 0:16:08See, it's bouncing already.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10..which risks flipping the car over.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14Watch the cable on the left. Getting really bumpy now.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18This is our first Le Mans as a team,
0:16:18 > 0:16:20so we have got a lot to do and a lot to learn.
0:16:28 > 0:16:29Top 10?
0:16:30 > 0:16:34The thing is, at Le Mans, there are so many stories of teams
0:16:34 > 0:16:37which had, on paper, no chance, so you do the best you can.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Hand on heart, you'd say that was it,
0:16:39 > 0:16:42but if you've done the best, you've done the best.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45- It sounds like loser speak to me. - No, I don't think it is.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48It's not, it's not, is it? It's like...
0:16:48 > 0:16:50Yeah, we all go there to win.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53I shouldn't do this, but looking back at the car
0:16:53 > 0:16:55I drove two weeks ago, which was so easy to drive
0:16:55 > 0:16:57and confidence-inspiring,
0:16:57 > 0:17:00in comparison, this is a much trickier proposition.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05I'm not going to start nit-picking about things.
0:17:05 > 0:17:06This is the team, this is the car,
0:17:06 > 0:17:08this is what we are going to be racing with.
0:17:10 > 0:17:11It's hanging off.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14You know, to have the team manager saying we're not aiming for a win
0:17:14 > 0:17:15because it's unrealistic,
0:17:15 > 0:17:17we're aiming for top 10 which would be a good finish.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20- MAN OFF SCREEN:- Did your heart sink a bit?- A little bit. Yeah.
0:17:20 > 0:17:21Yeah, it did.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Do we not have any solid packers?
0:17:24 > 0:17:28Stewart knows even making top ten will be difficult.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Less than half of all rookie teams complete Le Mans.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35At the end of the day, if these guys get in the car and we finish,
0:17:35 > 0:17:37as a team, we have done a great job.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39It could go horribly wrong really quickly.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41There's 24 hours of overtaking,
0:17:41 > 0:17:43there are so many things that can happen.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59- ON RADIO:- Well done, mate. Really proud of you.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Well, now for one lap of the Le Mans 24-hours,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09we can say that an LMP2 car is the fastest of the race.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13That is the one, number 25, Andrea Pizzitola at the wheel.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15That is the car that Sir Chris Hoy is a part of,
0:18:15 > 0:18:17the Algarve Racing machine.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23- ON RADIO:- He is absolutely on fire at the moment.
0:18:29 > 0:18:30Say again, Andre.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37Nothing on our data, not yet.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41OK, Andre, we have no alarms here on our telemetry,
0:18:41 > 0:18:42your fuel level is fine.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46Let's be realistic, this could be my only time at Le Mans.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49The car could go off in the first hour, it might break,
0:18:49 > 0:18:51I might not get a drive.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53The lift pumps are all off.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55What did you say, Stew?
0:18:55 > 0:18:57The lift pumps are all off.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Mate, there's no fuel pressure.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03If there is a problem with the lift pumps, we are so low on fuel,
0:19:03 > 0:19:04it'll just stop.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14I need to talk to the driver and I need to do something quite drastic.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18There is a live feed on French TV. They would like to interview.
0:19:18 > 0:19:19I don't know if maybe it is the wrong time...
0:19:19 > 0:19:21- Maybe not just now, because... - This is really...
0:19:21 > 0:19:23This is crucial, this bit.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27Andre, listen very carefully.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30I know this is going to sound mad, but I need you to press the
0:19:30 > 0:19:35red button and turn the car off and back on again and fire the car up.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38I need you to power cycle the car.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Are you listening to what's going on?
0:19:54 > 0:19:57Basically they need to switch the engine off and on again.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59It's probably something quite trivial, I mean...
0:19:59 > 0:20:02But if the car conked out on the track, of course it would be awful.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04At the same... I don't know, it just seems like...
0:20:04 > 0:20:06I'm sure they will figure it out, Chris. Don't stress.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09- No, no. Absolutely, yes.- Stewart is very good at what he does.
0:20:09 > 0:20:10Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14It's some silly little thing, never had it before, it will go away.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17He's good at what he does.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Stewart, I think we should do the power cycle.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22Yeah, it is looking all right.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24It may be the water ingress or something silly.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35When I first tested with Algarve, it did feel different to all the
0:20:35 > 0:20:39cycling teams and motor sport teams I have been a part of.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41It was a problem with the car that they thought it could
0:20:41 > 0:20:44potentially could mean it would conk out on the track.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47It would all be over. But I think they fixed it.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51They haven't done Le Mans before, so it is a lot to expect for
0:20:51 > 0:20:54a very inexperienced team to perform at the very highest level.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59The lift pump has just stopped working.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02- You don't need that shit, though. - No, you fucking don't.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08It's not always about winning here, Graham, is it?
0:21:08 > 0:21:10It's not even about getting on the podium.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13For some people, just to compete at Le Mans is enough
0:21:13 > 0:21:15and getting to the finish is actually a bonus.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Get it home, that's the point.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41Silverstone host the first race of the year.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45Chris has arrived ahead of time to have a seat fitting for his new car.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50- See what you think. - I'll go in the other side.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53During a race, drivers are subjected to G-forces
0:21:53 > 0:21:56equal to three times their body weight...
0:21:56 > 0:21:57There we go.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59..so they need to have custom seats made
0:21:59 > 0:22:01to hold them in their driving position.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07- What do you need?- What I need is a little bit of lumbar support.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09This seat in particular, when I drove this last time,
0:22:09 > 0:22:12I got a pain in my hip by the end of a stint.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14One of the key things is that the leg is in a straight line
0:22:14 > 0:22:15to the throttle pedal.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18If it's not, if it turns your knee inwards...
0:22:18 > 0:22:23Exactly as you describe, it causes this pain right in your glute,
0:22:23 > 0:22:25which is kind of top of your hip in there.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28The consequence of doing this well versus not doing it at all
0:22:28 > 0:22:31or doing it incorrectly can make the difference
0:22:31 > 0:22:35between a car that is almost undrivable and one that is bang-on.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41The morning before the race is a free test session for the teams,
0:22:41 > 0:22:43but first Stewart wants to practise
0:22:43 > 0:22:46their driver change drill for Le Mans.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51Everyone ready? Chris in position? OK, car is in the pit lane.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Out!
0:22:54 > 0:22:57Every second spent in the pits for a changeover
0:22:57 > 0:22:59will push the team down the field.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04The race begins for you with a properly stressful,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07"Get in the car. Quick, get the seat belts on.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09"Oh, God, the time is slipping away," you know.
0:23:09 > 0:23:10Out.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16Even the steering wheel, you've got to squeeze the little back,
0:23:16 > 0:23:18sort of, part of it and line it and put it on.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20If it's even slightly off dead centre, it won't go on.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23You've got to get it absolutely right.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26When you're desperately trying to get it on, if you rush it,
0:23:26 > 0:23:29"more haste, less speed," kind of thing.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33On the whole, the team are...
0:23:33 > 0:23:37The more you do it, the better you get. But it's getting there.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Today will allow Chris to see how his new car performs
0:23:43 > 0:23:47under race conditions for the first time.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49Ten seconds, OK?
0:23:49 > 0:23:52There's times where I've been getting strapped into the car
0:23:52 > 0:23:54in the pit lane thinking, "What the hell am I doing this for?
0:23:54 > 0:23:56"Why am I here? This is crazy?"
0:23:56 > 0:23:59I've only recently got over that terrifying feeling,
0:23:59 > 0:24:01you know, "I could die out here."
0:24:01 > 0:24:04I know it could happen. It could happen any time.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10At Le Mans, Chris will have to drive for
0:24:10 > 0:24:12a minimum of six hours throughout the race.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Each driving session, or stint, lasts for a tank of fuel,
0:24:15 > 0:24:17which is about 40 minutes.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20Drivers usually do two or three stints in a row.
0:24:21 > 0:24:22He's got a car behind him.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26Sir Chris Hoy running in 10th position.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28In car 28...
0:24:28 > 0:24:31- Oh!- Car number 25, Sir Chris Hoy, off and beached in the gravel.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35He's come backwards, that's how he's got to that angle.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38You can see the spin marks on the circuit.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41Poor Chris Hoy, from 10th place, is in the gravel.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Chris, don't panic. There you go. Nice one.
0:24:49 > 0:24:50Flash and kill.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Chris manages to complete his stint,
0:24:53 > 0:24:56but the spin is the least of his worries.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58That seat's killing me. I can barely...
0:24:59 > 0:25:03His new seat has made the car too painful to drive.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05I've got to sit down. This is killing my leg.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11This is really bad. Really bad.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13There's no position I can get into where it's not causing me...
0:25:13 > 0:25:14Was it cramping?
0:25:14 > 0:25:17No, no, it's like a sciatic pain going down my leg from my hip.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19The seat's not right...and it...
0:25:19 > 0:25:20Fucking hell.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Do you want to go and see the medic?
0:25:25 > 0:25:29No, he'll not be any use. It's just... I need a physio.
0:25:34 > 0:25:35Jeez...
0:25:47 > 0:25:50OK, Andre, you can make it for the next five laps.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52OK.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59- SARRA:- In the last 24 hours being here,
0:25:59 > 0:26:03it's reminded me of what it was like watching him race bikes when
0:26:03 > 0:26:05kind of in the run-up to it,
0:26:05 > 0:26:07he would recede more and more into himself.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11- STEWART:- Jon, how long before we need to have Chris on his toes?
0:26:12 > 0:26:14- JONATHAN:- Basically four laps.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19He will just be really focusing and taking on all pieces of
0:26:19 > 0:26:21information about the weather,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24about the track and just beginning to kind of feed that into what
0:26:24 > 0:26:27he knows to say, "OK, how is this going to affect my drive?
0:26:27 > 0:26:28"What do I need to think?"
0:26:30 > 0:26:31Chris is ready.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36Or he could be completely shitting it.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Athletes can be some of the most insecure people in the world,
0:26:42 > 0:26:46trust me, I know that. In sport, you're laying it on the line.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49You're literally saying, "This is what I've got."
0:26:49 > 0:26:52OK, guys, driver change, fuel and tyres.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Run the check, Chris.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16Help him with the steering wheel, help him with the steering wheel!
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Fucking thing is stuck.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28Ignore it, Chris, ignore it.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36I've never seen someone try to put a wheel on so many times in my life.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43Chris, straight into your rhythm as quick as possible, OK?
0:27:56 > 0:27:59- SARRA:- You don't know what's going to happen, anything could happen,
0:27:59 > 0:28:02and then you start wondering about the worst.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20- JONATHAN:- OK, so you need to keep your pace up.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23If the vibration is too much then we'll bring you in.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31- STEWART:- Jonathan, if he locks the tyre and goes through,
0:28:31 > 0:28:33we'll have a puncture and we're fucked.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08Chris, you have to wait, I'm afraid you've buggered the tyres.
0:29:08 > 0:29:09I cannot just fix it like that.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12You have to continue driving until I've got to
0:29:12 > 0:29:15a point where I can stop you to fix the problem.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17Why, mate? We need hot soft.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23Jonathan, there's no soft tyres at all.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29You'll just have to go with one tyre.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31He's flat-spotted both fronts.
0:29:31 > 0:29:32Just do the whole set.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38I'm going to have to come in. This is getting fucking dangerous now.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40OK, got to take the chance. Box now.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49Oh, fuck me.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52Using cold tyres can be like driving on ice.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03What's done is done, we can't change it. Concentrate and we'll go again.
0:30:17 > 0:30:22OK, Chris, nice and easy. The tyres are cold, so just be careful with them.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25Chris, really careful. The first two laps, extreme care.
0:30:35 > 0:30:36I know what's happened.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38Because Jonathan's worried about heat cycles,
0:30:38 > 0:30:41you were waiting to put the next set of mediums in.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44But what happens is, if you wait, you get fucked.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46Fuck him. I know what I'm talking about.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48Always have a set of hot tyres in.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54OK, Chris, how are you feeling? Everything OK?
0:31:09 > 0:31:13Chris has come to see one of his cycling mentors,
0:31:13 > 0:31:16the man who helped him develop the mental skills
0:31:16 > 0:31:17to win gold after gold.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23- Hey, Steve, how you doing? - Psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27It's weird, because he was such a central part of my life
0:31:27 > 0:31:29during that part of my career.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32I'd be seeing him probably once a week at least.
0:31:32 > 0:31:33Yeah, I was going to be... I thought,
0:31:33 > 0:31:36I'll be cheeky and when he opens the door, say, "how are you?"
0:31:36 > 0:31:38- "What are you doing here?" - "Haven't seen you for a long time."
0:31:38 > 0:31:41So, what's the purpose of this?
0:31:41 > 0:31:43Why did you think, "I'll go and see Steve"?
0:31:43 > 0:31:46It's about trying to tick all the boxes, making sure I'm as
0:31:46 > 0:31:48well prepared as I can be when I get to Le Mans.
0:31:48 > 0:31:49During a race, things happen out the blue.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51You could have a moment where you make a mistake,
0:31:51 > 0:31:56you could lock up on the braking zone or you could overshoot a corner, or you could have a spin.
0:31:56 > 0:32:01and often you're kicking yourself and you're just angry that you've done something stupid.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03So, we go back to you and say, right,
0:32:03 > 0:32:07- as a physical machine there are two aspects, your physical body...- Yeah.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10..and then there's the mental apparatus, which is a machine,
0:32:10 > 0:32:12which will run crazy if you let it.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14But if you actually say, "can I start managing it?"
0:32:14 > 0:32:17then you've got to learn how it's structured, get an understanding,
0:32:17 > 0:32:20then when you've got it, you can say, I can switch mode now.
0:32:20 > 0:32:25- Yeah.- I'm beginning to get this and understand what each part of my brain is trying to do.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27So you have to practise in practical things off the track.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29- Yeah.- Do you remember?
0:32:29 > 0:32:32Yeah, yeah. People pissing you off when you're driving on the road.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35- Yes.- Phone calls when you're held in the queue,
0:32:35 > 0:32:38just things that were getting you frustrated or angry. Yeah.
0:32:38 > 0:32:43Obviously if people get frustrated they are in the wrong mode approaching something.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45Cos frustration is when you've got this high expectation of
0:32:45 > 0:32:48something that should happen, and it doesn't, you know?
0:32:48 > 0:32:51Whereas actually, in the battle mode you went into before,
0:32:51 > 0:32:53in cycling, that's not an element.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56When you think of racing, there isn't frustration,
0:32:56 > 0:32:59- just dealing with reality, just get on with it.- Yeah.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01So, it's getting back to that.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04I'm good at dealing with pressure and focusing, but it doesn't
0:33:04 > 0:33:08mean to say that I have this supreme confidence all the time.
0:33:08 > 0:33:10I have to work really hard to perform as well as I can.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32The team are in Italy for the last race before Le Mans.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36Stewart's first priority is to fix Chris's seating position.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41I can't drive with my foot like that pushing the whole time against that.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44It'll... I won't be able to do more than two stints.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47It'll be undrivable after that.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50Most racing drivers, including Chris's team-mates,
0:33:50 > 0:33:52brake with their left foot,
0:33:52 > 0:33:55opposite to normal road car driving.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59- Silly question, can you move the footrest further away?- Which one?
0:33:59 > 0:34:02Chris still brakes with his right foot,
0:34:02 > 0:34:05so his natural racing position doesn't suit this car.
0:34:06 > 0:34:10Chris is comfortable in the car. We know he can right foot brake.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15- Why not try left?- Why don't we just try left...?
0:34:15 > 0:34:18I think, let's go for it, and if it's horrendous,
0:34:18 > 0:34:22then we've still got time to try and find another solution.
0:34:23 > 0:34:25It is quite a big thing to change.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28I have left-foot braked once before on a track,
0:34:28 > 0:34:31and I do left-foot braking in the simulator.
0:34:31 > 0:34:32I'm optimistic.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40The danger of changing to left-foot braking is that most people
0:34:40 > 0:34:42don't have the same control with their clutch foot,
0:34:42 > 0:34:46and at high speed, precision braking is critical.
0:34:49 > 0:34:50It's not a natural thing to do.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53Like trying, if you are right-handed, to write with your left hand.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00Over five laps, Chris records some of his fastest times in the car.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11The braking made a massive difference.
0:35:11 > 0:35:12Straight away it just felt natural.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15It didn't feel I was having to think about what I was doing.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18It's something I wouldn't have done unless I was forced into doing it,
0:35:18 > 0:35:19because you get set in your ways,
0:35:19 > 0:35:22you get comfortable driving a certain way.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26With Chris now able to drive pain-free...
0:35:26 > 0:35:28So, into the pit lane. Stop.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32..Stewart's next job is to speed up the driver change drill for Le Mans.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50OK, we need some more practice at that.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54It's like, basically, the Oreca is 19 seconds.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56That just took a minute and ten.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05So basically, we might as well pack the fucking car up and go home.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08Stewart decides to show the team how it should be done.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10Go!
0:36:16 > 0:36:18You do your belt up. You do your belt up.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24That's my first time in about a year...
0:36:27 > 0:36:29I don't give a fuck. They do that.
0:36:29 > 0:36:33- They can't.- They have to. Cos that's what all the pros do.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36So don't argue, just do as you're told, and you'll learn.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40- If you shout at people...- Yeah. - They're going to get stressed.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42I don't want to hear excuses, I want to see them push.
0:36:42 > 0:36:43It's easy to go, "I can't do it."
0:36:43 > 0:36:48My dad's idea - if you can't do it, son, I'll just hit you harder until you do it, and it worked.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52Stewart cares so much about it. That's why he gets frustrated.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56Right, for me, that bottom strap is actually quite tight.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59He's not just angry for the sake of it. He's a lovely bloke.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02But the frustration brings out the anger in him.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09Chris's own race preparations have always been meticulous.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12His ability to find what's called marginal gains
0:37:12 > 0:37:15was key to his sporting success.
0:37:16 > 0:37:21And this attention to detail spills over into every part of his life.
0:37:23 > 0:37:28Over-extracted. I'm going to start again, actually.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31You wouldn't want to drink it if it wasn't right.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33The whole point is, it's got to be right.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35Well, I initially got into my coffee because, as a cyclist,
0:37:35 > 0:37:39training full-time, you didn't go to the pub, you didn't drink alcohol.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42So you start drinking coffee, and then you start to take an interest in it,
0:37:42 > 0:37:45and then do the barista course, do another barista course.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48If I get into something, I tend to really get into it,
0:37:48 > 0:37:51sort of do it 100%. And coffee's another example of that, I suppose.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58When you grind the beans, if you don't grind them enough,
0:37:58 > 0:38:00the water passes through too quickly and you miss
0:38:00 > 0:38:03a lot of the flavour and the oils that didn't come out of the coffee.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05You don't have to be absolutely bang on,
0:38:05 > 0:38:09but you want to be roughly 28 seconds to do a 60ml pour.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12Roughly. I'm not going to measure it.
0:38:13 > 0:38:15Oh, no, no...
0:38:15 > 0:38:17This is really embarrassing.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20I'm sorry. Going to get so much stick for this.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22There we go. What is that?
0:38:22 > 0:38:25I guess I can deal with the pressure of racing at the Olympic Games,
0:38:25 > 0:38:28but doing some latte art in front of a film crew...
0:38:28 > 0:38:30that's a step too far.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32HE SCOFFS
0:38:40 > 0:38:43- RADIO:- OK, Chris, about two laps to go before I box you.- Copy.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52Bring it in, bring it in. On the lollipop. On the lollipop.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54Come to me, come to me. Stop!
0:38:55 > 0:38:59- COMMENTATOR:- Chris Hoy did, I think a double stint at least there, Paul.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02- Well, he did a triple stint, in fact.- Triple stint! Well done.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05Comfortably on the pace of other LMP2 drivers.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08He certainly has kept himself very clean and tidy.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12His dad's texting to say he's very proud of him.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16Just the worst start.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20Just too tight to settle in. Black spotted twice.
0:39:20 > 0:39:22When you came in, the tyre was down to the canvas.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26- Everything all right? - Yeah, yeah, good.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28Once you get in the rhythm, you start...
0:39:28 > 0:39:31You know where you can overtake, you know where you can't overtake,
0:39:31 > 0:39:34you can conserve energy when you don't... There's nothing to do.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36What it's done now is it's given you an insight into
0:39:36 > 0:39:39- what you have to do, management wise, on this track.- Yeah.
0:39:39 > 0:39:43- Just take it easy, cos you're going to do the nightmare shift. - Yeah. OK.- All right?
0:39:43 > 0:39:45Yeah. Triple stint at night, is it?
0:39:45 > 0:39:48- Oh, yeah, and if I can push you one more, I will do.- OK.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52CHEERING
0:39:56 > 0:39:59The race feels different to anything else I've done. The ferocity of it all.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02You can just sense it means more to all the teams,
0:40:02 > 0:40:04and the way the drivers drive, they're just ruthless.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06Every corner, every lap, flat-out.
0:40:06 > 0:40:10It's an endurance race, but it's a sprint the whole way.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35I think this is the right one.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Is this a practical joke?
0:40:40 > 0:40:41In the build-up to Le Mans,
0:40:41 > 0:40:46Chris is juggling work and family life with a full-time race schedule.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48I thought it was the wrong car!
0:40:48 > 0:40:51Just shows how alert I am, switched on.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55Was up at four. Had a three-hour flight.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59Got in, had about an hour's sleep,
0:40:59 > 0:41:01and then I'm going to go and jump on the track.
0:41:04 > 0:41:08I'll put it in gear, shall I? I'll put the handbrake on.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10I'm completely awake(!)
0:41:13 > 0:41:16Stewart has organised a private practice session for the team.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19It's the last time they'll be together before Le Mans.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22- I feel I'm ready for Le Mans now. - You looking forward to it now?
0:41:22 > 0:41:26Yeah. I'll be honest, I'm preparing myself, cos I don't want to...
0:41:26 > 0:41:28I hate being disappointed. You know, the deflation of...
0:41:28 > 0:41:31So I'm going in there saying that anything can happen at any time.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34- Hopefully we're going to see the chequered flag.- And you never know. - Exactly.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37You looking forward to it? Yeah?
0:41:37 > 0:41:41- It's going to be amazing. - HE LAUGHS
0:41:41 > 0:41:44This isn't going to be your last Le Mans. Don't ever look at that.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47You just have to drive. This has to get to the end.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49Cos it doesn't matter where you finish,
0:41:49 > 0:41:51because you're never going to win.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57We're not a team that are going to be pushing for the win.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59We are pushing to try and go as fast as we can, but if you're being
0:41:59 > 0:42:02realistic, you know, we are the plucky underdogs, we are the
0:42:02 > 0:42:05non-league side up against the big boys in the Premier League.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08That's the situation we're in. But miracles happen.
0:42:19 > 0:42:24I'm genuinely positive about my own development, my own progression.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26I'm much more confident in my own ability.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28And I feel like a racing driver.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30Hopefully I can pass myself off as one.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40Stewart has spent over 12,000 euros to hire the track and give his
0:42:40 > 0:42:44drivers the experience of something unique to 24-hour racing -
0:42:44 > 0:42:45night driving.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49This is the last part of the jigsaw.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52Everything else I've had a fair bit of experience and practice with,
0:42:52 > 0:42:56but the night driving is the one thing I haven't done much of.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59With Le Mans only three weeks away, it's essential that
0:42:59 > 0:43:03Chris is confident and competent to race at night.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08The whole 24-hour racing thing, the Le Mans thing, it becomes...
0:43:08 > 0:43:11The emotion of it and the romance of it starts when the sun sets.
0:43:20 > 0:43:24If you've made it into the night, then that is a big step.
0:43:24 > 0:43:27And even more so, to make it to the morning when the sun comes up,
0:43:27 > 0:43:29you know, you've done really well.
0:43:31 > 0:43:32Then when you get to that point,
0:43:32 > 0:43:36it's all about just trying to get the car to the finishing line.
0:43:40 > 0:43:43I didn't really dwell on the fact it was in the dark.
0:43:43 > 0:43:46Once you've got the reference points, it's just the same as the daytime,
0:43:46 > 0:43:48- they just look a bit different. - Yeah.
0:43:48 > 0:43:51The last couple of laps there, I got this moment of thinking,
0:43:51 > 0:43:53yeah, I'm ready now. I'm ready. Here we go.
0:43:56 > 0:43:59There's one last hurdle for the team to complete.
0:43:59 > 0:44:02Cars always crash at Le Mans.
0:44:02 > 0:44:06So, for safety, each driver now has to prove they can exit
0:44:06 > 0:44:09through their passenger door in under nine seconds.
0:44:09 > 0:44:12I was actually really nervous about it. I was like...
0:44:12 > 0:44:14I just thought, I'm not going to get out of here.
0:44:14 > 0:44:17Chris and Andrea took the test at Imola,
0:44:17 > 0:44:20but they both took several attempts to pass.
0:44:20 > 0:44:23- You pushed up or grab and pull? - I sort of did both.
0:44:23 > 0:44:27I grabbed the frame and tried to kick my legs out.
0:44:27 > 0:44:28And then just launch yourself.
0:44:29 > 0:44:32If I do it the first time, I do one full lap naked.
0:44:32 > 0:44:34You hear that?
0:44:34 > 0:44:38Andrea said if he does it first time, he's going to do one full lap naked.
0:44:38 > 0:44:43Five, four, three, two, one. Go!
0:44:47 > 0:44:48Oh, my God!
0:44:53 > 0:44:54Argh!
0:44:54 > 0:44:588.82. You are running naked, mate!
0:44:58 > 0:45:00- LAUGHTER - Get your kit off.
0:45:03 > 0:45:05Just seeing the way the team is starting to respond,
0:45:05 > 0:45:09and everybody is getting fired up for it, everyone is excited. It's their first Le Mans, too.
0:45:09 > 0:45:11Everyone is experiencing it the same way.
0:45:11 > 0:45:13So, in many ways, maybe this is the best way to do it.
0:45:15 > 0:45:16LAUGHTER
0:45:25 > 0:45:28- RADIO:- 'OK, Andrea, you're doing a great job.'- Copy, copy.
0:45:31 > 0:45:34- COMMENTATOR:- With four minutes till one o'clock in the morning, now...
0:45:34 > 0:45:37Yeah, so another hour done, and that means there are 14 hours of
0:45:37 > 0:45:41the 84th running of the 24 hours of Le Mans still to go.
0:45:45 > 0:45:49That's an engine failure. That's game over, it looks like.
0:45:49 > 0:45:52We've got oil down, I'm afraid it's not in a very nice place, either.
0:45:52 > 0:45:54Zone 30-32, Paul, is...
0:45:54 > 0:45:57Coming through the beginning of the Porsche curve.
0:45:57 > 0:46:01It's a safety car. Safety car has been scrambled, and it will be for the clear-up for that,
0:46:01 > 0:46:04because that is in a very nasty place indeed, in darkness.
0:46:10 > 0:46:12TYRES SCREECH
0:46:12 > 0:46:14RATTLING
0:46:20 > 0:46:22Ah, fucking hell!
0:46:28 > 0:46:30- OVER RADIO:- 'OK, you OK?- I'm OK.
0:46:30 > 0:46:33'OK, mate, just bring the car home.
0:46:33 > 0:46:35'If you can bring the car home, please do.'
0:46:39 > 0:46:41BUZZING
0:46:41 > 0:46:43ENGINE STARTS
0:46:58 > 0:47:00- STEWART:- Ask him if it's steering straight.
0:47:01 > 0:47:03Is your steering straight, Andrea?
0:47:12 > 0:47:15It looked like a Porsche blew up right in front of him.
0:47:15 > 0:47:19- The Porsche was in the curve, he was coming the first one in.- Ah...
0:47:29 > 0:47:31'Don't worry about it, it's not your fault,
0:47:31 > 0:47:34'we'll just get it repaired. We'll do a driver change as well.'
0:47:37 > 0:47:40'OK, we'll keep you in the car then, we'll keep you in the car.'
0:47:54 > 0:47:57- COMMENTATOR:- Andrea Pizzitola has made it back to the pits.
0:47:57 > 0:48:01A run into the tyre wall, there, after a very gravelly moment.
0:48:01 > 0:48:05- STEWART:- Come on. Let's just have her off. Let's have a look at the rear rockers.
0:48:13 > 0:48:16Good to go, good to go on the rear. Put that back on.
0:48:20 > 0:48:21You probably know more than I do.
0:48:21 > 0:48:23I just got woken up about ten minutes ago.
0:48:23 > 0:48:27We were just in the motorhome, and Chris was having a sleep.
0:48:27 > 0:48:30My dad texted me, he called up and said, the car just went into barrier.
0:48:30 > 0:48:34I felt my heart go, even though I knew it's definitely not Chris,
0:48:34 > 0:48:36so he's safe, but you just don't want it to be anybody.
0:48:36 > 0:48:39It's what an endurance race is all about.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52'OK, now it's time to get Chris Hoy in.
0:48:52 > 0:48:54'We'll change driver and tyres at this stop.'
0:48:56 > 0:49:00I feel I'm waking up, I feel really woozy and jet-lagged.
0:49:00 > 0:49:03They say don't drive tired on public roads,
0:49:03 > 0:49:06and then you're jumping in a car to race at 200mph, and you're knackered.
0:49:31 > 0:49:35The sleep deprivation just begins to hit.
0:49:35 > 0:49:37It's just another part of the challenge.
0:49:37 > 0:49:41It's the endurance aspect. It's so much more than driving the car.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43That's what I'm beginning to see now.
0:50:05 > 0:50:08'Driver change.'
0:50:12 > 0:50:14- COMMENTATOR:- Well, here we are, then.
0:50:14 > 0:50:174:04 in the morning, Central European Time.
0:50:17 > 0:50:22I mean, just getting yourself motivated to get back into that car.
0:50:22 > 0:50:24Where do they get that from? That's remarkable to me.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27- Caffeine. - LAUGHTER
0:50:27 > 0:50:29Lots of it.
0:50:33 > 0:50:37Latest, I should be up at 7:45,
0:50:37 > 0:50:41- so I'm going to set my alarm for 7:45.- OK.
0:50:41 > 0:50:43- Great.- All right.- Sleep well.
0:50:59 > 0:51:00Copy.
0:51:03 > 0:51:05- COMMENTATOR:- It's six o'clock in the morning.
0:51:05 > 0:51:11More than the first little shards of sunshine coming through,
0:51:11 > 0:51:14the sky lightening over to the eastern side of the circuit,
0:51:14 > 0:51:19so we are heading into the last nine hours of this race.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28- Morning. How you doing? - Did you get some sleep?
0:51:28 > 0:51:30Yeah, just over an hour, but I feel worse for it, to be honest,
0:51:30 > 0:51:32but I'll be all right once I get in the car.
0:51:32 > 0:51:34But, yeah, still a bit groggy.
0:51:36 > 0:51:39- The man who's been up all night. - You're an asshole. - LAUGHTER
0:51:39 > 0:51:41Keeping me up for all this time.
0:51:41 > 0:51:43- How you feeling? - Yeah, yeah, it was good, actually.
0:51:43 > 0:51:47We're here, it's the morning, it's lovely, it's sunny, and we're on our way.
0:51:54 > 0:51:57- 'OK, Andrea, fuel, tyres and driver change.- Copy.'
0:51:59 > 0:52:00Two.
0:52:00 > 0:52:02But be ready in one.
0:52:04 > 0:52:05Oh, no!
0:52:06 > 0:52:10- COMMENTATOR:- That's the Thiriet By TDS. That's the second placed car in LMP2.
0:52:10 > 0:52:13- Knows he's missing.- That's gone in hard. Is that at Mulsanne?
0:52:13 > 0:52:15Yeah, it is.
0:52:15 > 0:52:19Oh! Fire! Get out, get out, get out, your car's on fire.
0:52:19 > 0:52:20Get the extinguishers, quick.
0:52:22 > 0:52:25The attrition rate is really starting to kick in, now, at Le Mans, isn't it?
0:52:25 > 0:52:27They've survived the night,
0:52:27 > 0:52:30but we are starting to see cars at the scenery dropping like flies,
0:52:30 > 0:52:33and that's quite commonplace at this stage in the race.
0:52:39 > 0:52:43- 'OK, Chris, straight down to a 3:50 as soon as you can.- Copy.'
0:52:56 > 0:53:00- COMMENTATOR:- Chris Hoy is back in the car.- Paul did the sums.
0:53:00 > 0:53:04And Sir Chris's times have been mighty.
0:53:04 > 0:53:08He has impressed all of us cynical old hacks who have watched this.
0:53:10 > 0:53:14'Very good, Chris, keep this up, please, this is fantastic.'
0:53:19 > 0:53:21Oh, shit!
0:53:21 > 0:53:23GRAVEL CRUNCHES
0:53:25 > 0:53:27'Chris, are you OK?'
0:53:34 > 0:53:38- 'OK, good, good, you're fine. Carry on.- Copy.'
0:53:44 > 0:53:49- COMMENTATOR:- It's the last 120 minutes of the Le Mans 24 hours
0:53:49 > 0:53:54for 2016, for the run to the chequered flag.
0:53:56 > 0:54:00'OK, Chris, come in, come in, come in. Come in, Chris! Come in!
0:54:00 > 0:54:02That's it.'
0:54:03 > 0:54:05'Well done, buddy, well done.'
0:54:05 > 0:54:08- COMMENTATOR:- There has to be one pit stop for virtually everybody left.
0:54:10 > 0:54:14Now we are looking for the guys to make it to the flag
0:54:14 > 0:54:16as efficiently as possible.
0:54:18 > 0:54:21- How was it?- It was good, but I was kind of on the edge of couple of times.
0:54:21 > 0:54:23- I went off on the gravel. - I saw that, yeah.
0:54:23 > 0:54:27I just thought, Jesus, just in the blink of an eye it can be all over.
0:54:28 > 0:54:30'OK, matey, you got an hour and a half.
0:54:30 > 0:54:33'Keep it out of the wall, bring it home, and race hard.
0:54:33 > 0:54:34'Copy, copy.'
0:54:35 > 0:54:37- SAMANTHA:- I feel a bit emotional.
0:54:44 > 0:54:46- What position are we in?- 19.
0:54:46 > 0:54:48You are shitting me?!
0:54:48 > 0:54:50Ha ha ha!
0:54:50 > 0:54:51Ho ho ho ho ho!
0:54:56 > 0:54:59'OK, mate, nice and concentrated, head down, OK?
0:54:59 > 0:55:02- 'Hit your marks, be smooth. - Copy, copy.'
0:55:21 > 0:55:23Ooh! One of the Toyotas gone off!
0:55:23 > 0:55:25Everybody's going out at the minute.
0:55:31 > 0:55:35'You've seven minutes remaining. We have kept on track position.
0:55:35 > 0:55:37- 'Bring her home.- Copy, copy.'
0:55:40 > 0:55:42- SAMANTHA:- I'm nervous!
0:55:42 > 0:55:44- Nervous now.- I am nervous now.
0:55:44 > 0:55:48- STEWART:- Let's just all keep calm and wait a bit. We ain't finished yet.
0:55:58 > 0:56:00Oh, my God!
0:56:00 > 0:56:02Oh! No!
0:56:05 > 0:56:08No! No!
0:56:09 > 0:56:13- COMMENTATOR:- 3 minutes 21 seconds to go, and there is a new leader.
0:56:13 > 0:56:15The 5 car has stopped.
0:56:15 > 0:56:17ALL GROAN
0:56:17 > 0:56:20- Stewart:- The leading car's stopped on the last lap.
0:56:20 > 0:56:23- COMMENTATOR:- He's getting out here. - Think sometimes how brutal this race can be,
0:56:23 > 0:56:27and that's just shown it again. Heart-breaking for these guys.
0:56:32 > 0:56:34'OK, Andrea, this has all been coming up to your last lap.
0:56:34 > 0:56:38'When you pass the post this time, one more lap to go.
0:56:38 > 0:56:40'Copy, copy.
0:56:40 > 0:56:42'Bring her home, mate.'
0:56:46 > 0:56:48It's not over till he crosses the line.
0:56:50 > 0:56:53To have been a fan for so many years and looked from the outside and wondered,
0:56:53 > 0:56:56what is it like to be one of these guys inside these cars, going round the circuit?
0:56:56 > 0:56:59And what are they thinking? What are they feeling?
0:56:59 > 0:57:00I've done it.
0:57:03 > 0:57:06'Woo hoo! Here we go, guys!'
0:57:10 > 0:57:13'Woo! Well done, guys, well done.
0:57:14 > 0:57:18'Andrea, you've been a superstar. Thank you very much, buddy.'
0:57:18 > 0:57:21Well done, mate. Awesome. Well done. What an achievement.
0:57:21 > 0:57:25- Well done to you, mate! Well done to you!- What an achievement. Amazing, amazing.
0:57:25 > 0:57:26Amazing!
0:57:26 > 0:57:30I finished at Le Mans. I really didn't think it was going to happen.
0:57:32 > 0:57:35That team were amazing. I mean, everybody there was a rookie.
0:57:35 > 0:57:39Nobody had done that before. And everyone pulled together.
0:57:39 > 0:57:41You know... So, it's...
0:57:49 > 0:57:50So happy for you!
0:57:58 > 0:57:59You have to care about things.
0:57:59 > 0:58:03You've got to invest in it emotionally.
0:58:03 > 0:58:07If it came easy, you'd just be like, "That was fun, that was great. What will we do next week?"
0:58:07 > 0:58:10It's cos it's hard, it's cos it's a challenge.
0:58:10 > 0:58:12- Right, let's get pissed! - LAUGHTER
0:58:12 > 0:58:14I was brought up just to give it your best shot.
0:58:14 > 0:58:18And it's not about the winning, it's... Genuinely, it sounds like a cliche,
0:58:18 > 0:58:20but doing the best you can possibly do.
0:58:20 > 0:58:23CHEERING