Michel Vaillant, the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a driving force

In recent years, Michel Vaillant is becoming more and more present in the paddock of 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2017, the comic book hero's tricolor logo was displayed on the Rebellion in LM P2. Rebelote in 2022 with TDS Racing in the same category, and in 2023, for the Centenary edition, still with TDS Racing as the operating team behind Tower Motorsport.

Michel Vaillant is also unmissable in the village of Le Mans, with four stands housing various derivative products to the glory of the timeless driver as well as the presence of a Vaillante Grand Défi. This vehicle has some distant links with AUTOhebdo ; in fact, the sports car is based on a Hommell tray base, named after the founder of the magazine, Michel Hommell.

🏎️ @MichelVaillant_ at the 24 Hours of Le Mans!

To mark the double centenary of the 24h of Le Mans and Jean Graton, a magnificent Michel Vaillant stand will be open non-stop in the 24h Village until Sunday June 11 at 18 p.m. 🎊

✔ Complete program: https://t.co/8fHdtIFmdB pic.twitter.com/Z4JNjJQEUp

— Jean-Louis Dauger (@JLDauger) June 6, 2023

This Thursday, June 8, at the start of the free trials, the queue to sign the last volume of the New Season by Michel Vaillant, “La Cible” was unmissable. In this book, available since June 2, Michel Vaillant reunites with his friend Steve Warson to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans... with a Hypercar managed by TDS Racing.

Jean-Louis Dauger, Director of Brand Development Michel Vaillant, explains the latest news about the comic book hero. “My driving force is to make people dream, he told us. I think the Michel Vaillant brand has reached a level that allows motorsport enthusiasts to bring their love and interest for Vaillant and Le Mans to life. »

Indeed, if you appreciate these two racing institutions, you are served. The La Cible album is available in bookstores, as well as a 100-page “125 Years of Le Mans” file, including various interviews, extracts from old albums and a recap of the Centenary of the Le Mans event.

And for the most nostalgic fans, a beautiful book is in preparation on the destiny of the patriarch, Henri Vaillant. The first part is already out, with several goodies and a limited edition inside a box set including the first 54 pages of this comic biography.

🏎️ 24 Hours of Le Mans

You've all been waiting for it... The unmissable event of the year for all car fans is making a comeback! 🏁

On the program: a week of madness in the colors of Michel Vaillant! 🎊

✔ Discover our complete program: https://t.co/8fHdtIFmdB pic.twitter.com/giRmfZb4ZX

— Jean-Louis Dauger (@JLDauger) June 3, 2023

Without wanting to reveal the outcome of the album “La Cible”, the return of Michel Vaillant takes place in an eventful manner. The start of this Centenary, in the real world, is of the same ilk. During the first free practice session, gentleman driver Steven Thomas hit theAston Martin of D'Station Racing accident in the Esses before Tertre Rouge.

Chassis out of order, a new Oreca hull was assembled during the night and on Thursday morning by a... valiant team of mechanics made in TDS Racing. The tricolor Oreca adorned with the No. 13, oh so evocative in the mythology of Michel Vaillant since the end of the 1950s, returned to the Le Mans track during free practice on Thursday afternoon.

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