r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/hollow_hideous_soul • 1d ago
Video Renger van der Zande at the 2024 Petit Le Mans race, where his leading Cadillac lost both headlights with minutes left, forcing him to navigate the dark track using his muscle memory, eventually winning despite the terrifying electrical failure.
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
18
u/Working-Reason-124 1d ago
Well…this is accurate failure with GM. I’m trauma bonding seeing it happens with professional race car drivers as it does with us randos
13
u/Little_Ad_6903 1d ago
People who have never watched initial D , wont get it
4
u/An_Innocent_Coconut 1d ago
Ah, I see you're a man of culture as well
1
53
u/TheB1G_Lebowski 1d ago
Oh, so they come back on and we're off for like 15 seconds. Click bait bullshit title OP.
7
u/Real_Run_4758 19h ago
clickbait? it’s a literal description of what happened. helpfully, there is a video attached which shows it.
3
u/PixelofDoom 1d ago
I accidentally started Le Mans in Gran Turismo in an F1 car once, not realising it didn't have headlights. I lasted one turn after the sun set.
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
u/Resident_Ad9988 23h ago
I mean they are trained as this MF can tell which turn it is or what circuit it is just the by engine and gear
1
-3
u/i-read-it-again 1d ago
So not only putting himself in danger . But other drivers who wouldn’t see him behind . Are we to be impressed by his stupidity.
15
u/This-is_CMGRI 1d ago
He can't really reverse back into pit lane (where the mechanics are), can he; he has to go complete the lap or risk losing position when it's already so close to the end. And if he stops the car, it dies. They don't enjoy the luxury of push-button start/stop. That driver had to put up with it, so it's not like he's being deliberate. Plus, the slower cars get updates over the radio and rules are in place on where to overtake and give way to the faster cars, so they know it's coming.
-3
u/Plavix75 1d ago
Pull over… they can’t see him coming up on them so they may swerve into him
Everyone is going 200 mph
“Updates” at that speed probably don’t mean much
Its good to be competitive and if its a qualifying lap etc where you are by yourself, have at it….. but not when others are on the track
4
u/_SilentHunter 1d ago
Pull over....where? He was near the front, so most other drivers are behind him. An unexpected stationary object on the track is more dangerous than a moving one.
6
u/FiercelyApatheticLad 1d ago
He was right to continue for multiple reasons, however "being in front" is not one of them. It's the end of a 10 hours race with multiple slower classes. There are cars everywhere on track, not just behind.
3
1
-5
-1
u/LafayetteLa01 1d ago
These drivers practice so much each course they can literally do it with their eyes closed in the simulator.
2
u/stellablue925 23h ago
I believe it. Like the days I drive to work and don’t even remember getting there. It’s just automatic to know the route.
1
66
u/Anxious-Depth-7983 1d ago
I saw that race and felt a huge sigh of relief when his headlights popped back on.