Part one of a two-part comment piece by DSC’s editor, this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours had plenty to shout about. Here’s a rundown of what went right in the 84th edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours:

1. The spirit of endurance

Sportsmanship was clearly alive and kicking in the wake of the astonishing late-race dramas for Toyota.

The behaviour of Toyota’s competitors was exemplary. Visits to the Toyota area by drivers and team bosses from elsewhere in the paddock to offer sympathy and condolences were amongst the most heart-warming images post-race.

That was reflected too in post race messages from Porsche and Audi which struck a perfectly appropriate tone.

The words of Audi’s Oliver Jarvis in the post race press conference were particularly well delivered.

“I’d much rather not be on the podium to see the Toyota guys up there instead,” he said. “It’s a horrible way to finish. It’s not what anyone wanted to see, they deserved to win. But at the end of the day, it’s a 24-hour race and you have to make sure you make it to the finish.

“It’s a strange feeling. We’re up there on the podium and it’s important for the Championship, it’s a reward for all the hard work, but it’s not the way we wanted to achieve it.

“You always know something can go wrong but you’d like to think that if it’s going to do it, it happens a couple of hours before the end, not three minutes.

“I can’t even imagine how they feel. We were absolutely gutted in the Audi garage and it’s not even our car.

“It’s going to take them a long time to get over that, if ever. Le Mans is a race that you can do 100 times and never win it, and they were so, so close.”

“You have to congratulate Porsche but it was a somewhat subdued podium ceremony. I think the fans felt it, and all the drivers felt it that we were missing three guys who should have been on there,” he added.

“To be honest we were hoping they would ignore the rule, and certainly Audi would have been happy for that to happen.”

The post race comments from Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corporation were massively uplifting too:

“From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank everyone who lent us their incredible support during this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“We of Toyota GAZOO Racing put tremendous pressure on ourselves to break our losing streak at Le Mans and fought so hard to make up for the unfortunate results of the past.

“All of the mechanics, engineers, drivers, suppliers, and everyone else involved with the team made incredible sacrifices and achieved constant improvements to build an even-better car for this year’s Le Mans.

“Just as our dreams began to come true, we all made to burn that moment into our minds even as unbelievable heartbreak unfolded before our very eyes.

“Toyota’s cars have become so fast and so strong. But Porsche grew even faster and they were stronger. Throughout the 24 hours of the race, and indeed, the 30 total hours including qualifying, it is not such an easy thing to continue to drive faster and more powerfully than anyone else on the road at Le Mans.

“When I think of what everyone in the team must be feeling… not to mention everyone who supported us… I honestly do not know what to say. I cannot find the words.

“We at Toyota GAZOO Racing are “sore losers.” We do not compete without knowing the feeling of loss. Having tasted the true bitterness of losing, we will return to the World Endurance Championship arena next year, and we will return to compete in the battle that is the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“For our quest to build ever-better cars… For this, we will certainly come back to the roads of Le Mans.

“I would like to express my gratitude to all of the cars and drivers who fought alongside us on the track at Le Mans; particularly Porsche and Audi.

“We will be back next year, reborn, and ready to take you on with all of our might. Look out for the “sore losers,” Toyota, on the track next year. The fight is not over!”

That is the Spirit of Endurance, others would do well to remember it!

2. The inspiring Frederic Sausset

Garage 56, reserved for innovative technology, has had some hit and miss moments. The popular Nissan DeltaWing and its dramatic accident, the rather less successful Nissan ZEOD RC and the hydrogen-fuelled Green GT H2 (which failed to run when intended but did run demo laps this year.

It is fair to say though that when the SRT41 effort of Frederic Sausset was announced there was some scratching of heads, a recasting of expectations over the meaning of the initiative over ‘New Technologies’

What emerged though was an inspiring story that is destined to become a memorable part of Le Mans history.

Firstly and very importantly, the #84 car finished the race, something no Garage 56 car has previously done.

The combined efforts of the driving crew, pit crew, the industrial grouping that supported the effort, and the huge support from family, friends and a growing band of supporters powered this one through but through all of that the sporting spirit, and the force of human nature that was Fred Sausset

To fight back after the enormous physical adversity dealt to him by illness and mount such an extraordinary endeavour was simply inspirational. On each occasion that this writer has encountered Fred the impression left afterwards has been the same. Taking on a personal challenge of the highest possible magnitude, but doing it to change attitudes on a far wider scale.

If it makes a difference to opening up the sport at other levels for people with physical challenges then that would be ‘mission accomplished’ but if you are looking for a real example of heroism at the Le Mans 24 Hours then look little further than Frederic Sausset.

3. An Era of Real World Relevance

The sight in the paddock, and on the grid, of no fewer than five real Hollywood leading men was actually pretty extraordinary.

Brad Pitt was there to wave the French national flag (though actually did so in a unique fashion due to the race starting under the Safety Car.

Jackie Chan was there as co-owner of Baxi DC Racing, Jason Statham as a guest of Audi Sport… wonder if he said at the start of the race “It ALWAYS rains at Le Mans.”? Keanu Reeves was in attendance all weekend as a guest of Michelin and Patrick Dempsey returned to the paddock with the team that bears his name.

Add to that the long-running story of the calendar clash with the ludicrous European Grand Prix, it’s perhaps notable that Sebastien Vettel asked as the post race press conference began “Who won at Le Mans?” and followed up with a question over Toyota that made it very clear that he had been following proceedings!

A crowd reported as a 2015 equalling 263,500, this despite terrible weather all week, and the picture emerges of a race, and a section of the sport, that is attracting more and more mainstream interest.

The Ford GTE Pro effort was directly aimed at mainstream media impact, though the media impact from their historic win was massively eclipsed by the dramas at the head of the field.

4. Toyota is back!

Putting aside the last-gasp drama they are back, and very much part of the story. The TS050 is a HUGE step forward for the Toyota effort.

Toyota is now serious race by race contenders in the FIA WEC, though the DNF scored by the #5 in the double points totals at Le Mans puts a massive dent in its championship hopes.

5. The circuit changes worked

The raft of safety changes on the Le Mans circuit all proved their worth during race week. Several cars and their drivers had incidents that until recently, would have seen them making heavy contact with the armco.

Giancarlo Fisichella’s night qualifying ‘off’ in the Risi Ferrari for instance would have seen him involved in an accident of major proportions until this year.

On today of all days, the third anniversary of the accident which saw the death at Le Mans of Allan Simonsen, that is to be massively applauded.

The new spectator banks at Indianapolis meanwhile proved hugely popular.

With all that being said, the ACO is proving to be a sensible and pragmatic guardian of the greatest race on earth!