Le Mans 24 Hours: Brad Pitt to start race by waving the Tricolor - and no one knows why

The Hollywood actor will attend the Le Mans 24 Hours in June to wave off the drivers at the start of the race

Jack de Menezes
Friday 13 May 2016 14:32 BST
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Brad Pitt will start the Le Mans 24 Hours
Brad Pitt will start the Le Mans 24 Hours

The Le Mans 24 Hours will have a special guest starter after it was confirmed that Hollywood star Brad Pitt will wave off the 60 cars when the 84th instalment of the historic race is held next month.

The prestigious event – held near the town of Le Mans since 1923 – sees some of the best drivers competing to be crowned the kin of endurance racing, with Porsche looking to defend last season’s victory secured by Nick Tandy, Earl Bamber and Formula One driver Nico Hulkenberg.

As is tradition, the start of the race will be signalled by the waving of the tricolor, although this year will see the star of Fight Club, Snatch and many other Hollywood blockbusters waving the flag.

ACO president Pierre Fillon announced the news on Twitter, with just over a month to go until the through-the-night race takes place.

He wrote: “I’m proud and happy that the start of #LeMans24 will be given by #BradPitt! We look forward to share this legendary race with him.”

However, motorsport fans were left somewhat bemused by the news, given that Pitt had not hinted at any involvement with the Le Mans showcase.

Pitt’s interest in motorsport is well known, with the actor narrating the 2015 MotoGP documentary Hitting the Apex, a film that followed riders Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Marco Simoncelli, Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez.

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