Michelin and the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) have joined forces to produce the first online strategy game based on the Le Mans 24 Hours. The next step is for players to compete to become part of the French endurance race’s legend by winning the inaugural virtual Le Mans 24 Hours (Les 24 Heures du Mans, la course virtuelle).

The growing success of online strategy games means that many of the world’s highest-profile sporting showpieces today have their virtual double, from the Olympic Games, soccer’s World Cup, world class tennis, the Tour de France, the Dakar, etc. The latest virtual Vendée Globe yacht race attracted more than 100,000 would-be skippers, while a recent motor sport-focused study revealed that today’s audiences place the accent on entertainment and prefer to be actors rather than ‘mere’ spectators.

Les 24 Heures du Mans, la course virtuelle (‘the virtual Le Mans 24 Hours’) was initiated by Michelin, in collaboration with ACO, and was developed by ManyPlayers (VirtualRegata, VirtualRally) based on actual data collected during the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours (lap-times, speeds, circuit layout, etc.).

Les 24 Heures du Mans, la course virtuelle is a multiplayer online strategy game that anyone can play. There is no driving involved, however, since players take on the role of team-manager. This entails putting together their respective teams (choice of drivers), selecting their car (open- or closed-cockpit prototype, colour, race number, etc.), specifying an aerodynamic set-up and working out tyre choices, stint durations, refuelling stops, etc.

Strategies are decided before the start, although the keenest players will be able to fine-tune their parameters as a function of real-time weather conditions at Le Mans provided by Météo France.

The standings (overall classification and MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge) will be posted every six hours. The winner of the inaugural virtual Le Mans 24 Hours will receive an invitation to experience the 2011 race from behind the scenes and at the heart of the action with the teams and Michelin’s own specialists.

Les 24 Heures du Mans, la course virtuelle will be available in two languages (French and English), is free of charge (although it will be possible to purchase certain comfort options) and requires no downloading. To give players time to familiarise themselves with the interface, the game will go online a week ahead of the race. It will remain playable during the race itself and for the next six days to provide the best chance of winning the 2010 virtual Le Mans 24 Hours.

It will be possible to find the game on the Le Mans 24 Hours and Michelin Group websites – www.lemans.org, www.michelin.com/corporate, www.lemanslive.com, www.michelin.fr, www.viamichelin.com, www.michelingreenracing.com – and on the websites of France Television Interactive, Eurosport, etc.).

24 Hours of Le Mans, ACO, jeu, Michelin