VIP Pass Le Mans – Behind the scenes with YART at the 24h Motos 2021

The end of the year is approaching. The ideal time to look back on the past FIM Endurance World Championship racing season. Take a closer look behind the scenes of the YART Yamaha EWC Official Team as they took on the challenge of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 2021.

1. Episode 1: Niccolò Canepa and his battle back to fitness
   

   Episode 1 of VIP Pass Le Mans features former Endurance World Champion and current YART Yamaha rider, Niccolò Canepa, and his battle back to fitness after a big pre-season highside during testing in Valencia.

2. Episode 2: Racing around the clock
   

   What does it take to compete at one of the toughest races in motorsport, the 24 Hours of Le Mans? In Episode 2 of VIP Pass Le Mans the YART Yamaha EWC Official riders, Karel Hanika, Marvin Fritz and Niccolò Canepa, together with Team Engineer Christian Unger, explain the critical elements when it comes to racing around the clock, such as the tyre check. Because of the length of the race, there are many different conditions on the track (hot, cold etc). Thanks to our Bridgestone tyres, the riders can perform in any weather condition.

3. Episode 3: The final countdown to the race
   

   The final countdown to the 24 Hours of Le Mans saw the YART Yamaha team hit the French circuit for practice and qualifying. Racing at night is unique to endurance racing, with the riders overcoming reduced visibility, fatigue and disappearing reference points whilst remaining close to lap times set in daylight. And while qualifying may not be so important in endurance racing, it remains a fierce contest as teams compete for the bragging rights that come with pole position. Follow along as YART Yamaha riders Karel Hanika, Marvin Fritz and Niccolò Canepa explain it all during the Le Mans build-up.

4. Episode 4: 24 Hours of Le Mans is on

   The race is on in the final episode of VIP Pass Le Mans. Karel Hanika sprinted across the start-finish straight to get the 24 Hours of Le Mans started from pole position for the YART Yamaha EWC Team. The first hour saw the Czech rider fighting his way through the field from 15th position, before handing over the YART Yamaha R1 and P2 to Marvin Fritz. Everything seemed to be on track as Niccolò Canepa also finished his first stint in P2 but as night fell and YART Yamaha started to close the gap on the leaders, disaster struck!