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English reading practice -Le Mans 24-Hour race (B1/B2 intermediate level English)

The Le Mans 24-Hour race is an exciting and important event in the world of motorsports. It takes place in the beautiful town of Le Mans in France. One of the most special races was held in 1929.


The race happened on this day 15th June and 16th June 1929. The track where it took place is called the Circuit de la Sarthe, and it is a very challenging 13.492-kilometre (8.3 miles) circuit. It has long straight sections, difficult corners, and a famous straight called the Mulsanne Straight. The track tests the skills of the drivers and the capabilities of their cars. Le Mans is already famous for its history in cars, so it is a special place for car racing fans from all over the world.


In 1929, there were 33 teams and drivers who participated in the Le Mans race. Famous car manufacturers like Bentley, Bugatti, Alfa Romeo, and Chrysler were part of the competition. Each team wanted to win and be remembered as having built the best car.


1929 Bentley By Sfoskett~commonswiki - the Ralph Lauren collection on display at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=119971


When the race began, the Bentley team quickly took the lead. They had powerful and reliable cars. The Bentley Boys, a group of brave British drivers, showed their amazing skills as they drove through the challenging track.


But then something surprising happened. The French team driving an Alfa Romeo who had some problems with their car at the beginning of the race, slowly climbed up the rankings. The competition between Bentley and Alfa Romeo became very intense, and it kept the audience on the edge of their seats.


As the day turned into night, the race became even more challenging. The drivers had to drive in the dark, and it was not easy to see the track. They were tired, and it was a big challenge for them. But they had a chance to win a great reward if they could finish the race.


In the final hours of the race, Bentley and Alfa Romeo were fighting for the first place. In the end, Bentley was lucky. They never gave up and kept going until the end. The Bentley team won the race and took the top four positions.


Bentley's victory showed how skilled British car engineers were. It also made Bentley a famous name in Le Mans history. The race in 1929 showed how important endurance racing is. It tests the abilities of both drivers and cars. It paved the way for more amazing Le Mans races. 2023 celebrates the 100th year it the race with many more to come.


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