Zinédine Zidane named official starter of the 24 Hours of Le Mans | OneFootball

Zinédine Zidane has been named official starter of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Two of France’s greatest sporting institutions will meet on Saturday, June 15, when the former Ballon d’Or winner will wave the Tricolore flag at 4pm, unleashing the 62-car field at Circuit de la Sarthe. Since his departure as Real Madrid head coach in 2021, “Zizou” seems to have taken a profound interest in motorsport. The 1998 World Cup winner is an Alpine ambassador and has been seen attending a host of Grand Prix, including the Miami GP recently.

Zidane joins a long list of high-profile celebrities to be named official starter of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Previous official starters include American actor Brad Pitt (2016), tennis legend Rafael Nadal (2018). Last year, for the Centenary event of the day-long race, NBA great LeBron James waved the France flag. “The 24 Hours of Le Mans is beyond compare”, Zidane said. “It’s an iconic race for anyone who loves motorsport, for people all around the world. It’s a source of immense pride for France. My head is full of images of the race, the legendary drivers, the amazing stories… although these are images from TV or movie scenes! To actually be there will be a first for me and needless to say, I’m extremely honored to take on the role of starter. I can’t wait to be at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 15 June!”

Automobile Club de L’Ouest – the organizing entity of the 24 Hours of Le Mans – president Pierre Fillon suggested that Le Mans could not have hoped “for a more prestigious starter“, describing Zidane as an “icon“, “a sportsman whose talent has inspired generations of fans.“

GFFN | Bastien Cheval