It's the job that comes in.
For his first outing on the legendary Le Mans track, Michael Fassbender sent his car into the safety rail this Wednesday in qualifying.
A seemingly violent but fortunately harmless accident for the Irish driver, the most publicized rookie of this edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
His Porsche 911 well restored for the start this Saturday (3 p.m.), the 45-year-old actor will finally discover a legendary race for which he has been preparing for more than four years.
Read alsoWhy the 24 Hours of Le Mans remains the most prestigious race in the world
“
I think that four more years would not have been too much
,” joked the person concerned on the 24 Hours website, as prophetic before his accident.
"
Michael was very patient and he prepared in the right way,
" notes Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO).
We do not enter this race on a whim.
Guest of honor at the 2018 edition, where he came as a spectator with his father, the two-time Oscar-nominated actor had satisfied his passion for motorsport for the first time.
“
He loved
it, remembers Pierre Fillon.
He then rose through the ranks.
From his debut in the Ferrari Challenge in 2017 to his regular freelances in the European Le Mans Series since 2020, Fassbender has done everything possible to participate in his first edition of the 24 Hours, where he will be entered in the GT category with the Proton Competition team.
A studious preparation staged in the series
Michael Fassbender: race to Le Mans.
A summary of the new life of the native of Heidelberg (Germany), with two careers ultimately not so far apart.
“
There are similarities between playing and driving
, assures the interpreter of Magneto, in the saga X-Men
.
It's about storing a whole lot of information without thinking about the past or the future.
We need to stay focused on the present moment while being relaxed.
It's a very addictive feeling.
»
Read alsoSébastien Ogier, a rookie attacking the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Inspired by Steve McQueen
Similarities which have led other actors to play the leading roles at the start of the biggest race in the world, starting with the American Patrick Dempsey (4 participations), also team boss (Dempsey-Proton Racing), whose Fassbender is near.
“
Patrick didn't give me that much advice
,” tempers the man who will team up with the much more experienced Matt Campbell, who will be making his fifth start at Le Mans.
"
Matt will guide me for my first, his great experience will allow me to rely on him
," predicts Fassbender, whose second teammate is also a rookie, in the person of the American Zach Robichon.
Michael Fassbender and his co-drivers will drive the number 93 Porsche 911. THOMAS FENETRE / PANORAMIC
But it is on the side of the relays of the German-Irish actor that the eyes will be trained at the start.
A Hollywood star is an event in its own right.
"
It's also a great story for us to have actors on the grid
", welcomes Pierre Fillon, aware of the bridges between Hollywood and the Sarthe race.
A legendary race already successfully transposed to the screen, as recently with Le Mans 66 (2019), directed by James Mangold.
Brilliant in their roles, Matt Damon and Christian Bale portrayed Ford's efforts to break Ferrari's hegemony at the time.
Like Steve McQueen before them, in
Le Mans
(1971), directed by Lee Katzin and John Sturges.
A source of inspiration for Fassbender: "
I had to see this movie three times.
I don't think a film has ever managed to transcribe the feeling of driving at this speed, it was revolutionary.
»
Read alsoWhy Peugeot is not participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year
In turn, the one who was nominated for an Oscar in the category of best actor for his interpretation of Steve Jobs (2016) hopes to engrave his name in the beautiful common history between the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the cinema.
Before resuming his main career more seriously.
“
When the racing season ends, I will become an actor again,
promises the interested party
.
It's important to differentiate between the two, because running requires a lot of attention and commitment.
And when I do something, I always do it 100%.
»
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