Luca di Montezemolo Will Start the 24 Hours of Le Mans

This year's 24 Hours of Le Mans will have a surprise high-profile starter. Ferrari's CEO Luca di Montezemolo was confirmed to wave the starting flag for most important endurance race in history, reaching its 77th edition in mid-June this year.

Given that 60 years ago Ferrari was taking its first win at Le Mans – through Luigi Chinetti and Lord Selsdon, on a 166 MM – Di Montezemolo was invited by Automobile Club de l’Ouest President Jean-Claude Plassart to celebrate the event. Throughout the last 6 decades, Ferrari went on to clinch 8 other wins in the prestigious race.

“I am delighted to be given the opportunity to start a race that has made motor racing history and has such strong links with Ferrari. Our Scuderia has delivered some unforgettable achievements on this circuit,” said the Ferrari Chairman.

“The Le Mans 24 Hour Race is synonymous with technologically-advanced sporting competition and has always been a focus of great attention on our part,” added the Italian official, who will be joined at the Le Mans event by Ferrari F1's team principal Stefano Domenicali. The latter, however, will be coming to Le Mans only as a guest.

This is the second time a high-profile official from FIAT will start the 24-hour race, as the very president of the Italian group - the late Gianni Agnelli – did the same back in 1968. The Italian manufacturer will have 10 Ferrari F 430 GTs lined up at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, all competing in the LM GT2 category for 8 different (private) teams.