Zinédine Zidane to be the Official Initiator of the Le Mans 24 Hours 2024

Zinédine Zidane, recognized as one of the best French footballers and a prominent sports figure, has been appointed as the Official Starter of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). The event will start at 4 pm on Saturday, June 15.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans, the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, will start at 4 pm on Saturday, June 15. Sixty cars will be ready to start when Zidane gives the signal in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators.

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) is honored to welcome Zidane, one of the most important figures in sports history. Zidane has won the World Cup, the European Championship, the Champions League both as a player and as a coach, and has been awarded the Ballon d'Or.

Since 1949, this role has been held by personalities from politics, sports, cinema, and entertainment. Previous starters include Brad Pitt (2016), Rafael Nadal (2018), Alain Delon (1996), French president Georges Pompidou (1972), and Steve McQueen (1971). Last year, during the event's centenary, LeBron James had the honor of starting the race.

Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, expressed his gratitude to Zidane for accepting the role of Starter. He highlighted the global importance of the event and how it has welcomed great figures from various fields throughout its history. He mentioned that Zidane is an inspiring figure for generations of sports fans.

Zidane commented on his excitement to participate in the event, emphasizing its importance for motorsport enthusiasts and his pride in representing France in such a significant race. Although his previous experiences are limited to watching the race on TV or in movies, he felt honored to have the opportunity to be present and play an active role in the event.