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“My 24 Hours of Daytona”

06. Feb 2023 
by Christine Beckers
4131 views

Christine Beckers (known as ‘Christine’), born on 4 December 1943 in Uccle, Belgium, is a Belgian racing car driver who starred in touring cars and in sport-prototypes, but also in rallye, hill-climb and even in Nascar in 1977.

She participated eleven times in the 24 Hours of Spa and entered four times the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1973 and 1977 where she won her 2-litres class in 1974 with Marie Laurent and Yvette Fontaine, in the Seiko Chevron. Also a journalist, she has followed with great attention the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona, where she has raced a few times, and shares with us exclusively her impressions:

CB: In front of my screen, stupefied, I discover the new lay-out of the track. I scream: “They have put chicanes everywhere! And the Mickey Mouse corners in the Infield have grown like Pinocchio’s nose!” Me, who had sent a message to my friend Sarah (Bovy): “The banking flat out”, now I look stupid. In 1977 (I know, you were not born), we were flat-out through Banking 2 at 325 km/h… I remember nearly hitting another competitor who had lifted!

When the 61 cars climb the Banking at the start, this atmosphere fascinates me, and I surprise myself by shedding a few tears, these cars are so beautiful! But am looking for one in particular: The Lambo of the Iron Dames (picture below). The commentator sometimes mentions them, and I can feel her admiration. There are 7 women at the start, a similar situation as at Le Mans in 1974, where all 6 female participants reached the finish.

Am sorry to witness the Porsches in trouble, but am consoled by Pagenaud who takes the lead, followed by Bourdais. My dislike for the chicanes is tempered by the fact that all the accidents end without anybody at the hospital ! Most of the time, with 4 drivers in a car, team mates can rest without the stress Lella Lombardi experienced when I had my accident. The idea to race in Nascar came when I told my story to Bill France, but that’s another story!

The images at night are also spectacular with scores of LMP2 and LMP3 fighting it out with the (not always) faster GTP cars, while the GTD Pros try to stay out of the way of these monsters. And ‘my’ girls are crashed into, and have multiple problems… one thing is certain, they gained experience, and they can say “We did it”. But finishing the 24 Hours, it’s always a victory!

The #60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura, driven by Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun, Hélio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud, took overall win, while the ‘Iron Dames’ finished well down the field, but finished.

Source: DR

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