The Most Beautiful Cars of Le Mans

The 24 Hours of Le Mans was first held in 1923 and within a few short years it became the ultimate marriage of sport and business. Here's a look back at some of the most beautiful machines ever to conquer the Circuit de la Sarthe.

France 'auto-phobic', says Prost

Four-time world champion and former team owner Alain Prost says he is saddened by Renault's decision to sell its remaining shares to Group Renault because it reflects badly on his country's commitment to Formula One

Alonso wins Bahrain grand prix

• Exhaust failure thwarts early leader Sebastian Vettel• Felipe Massa completes Ferrari 1-2, Schumacher finishes sixthFernando Alonso led a Ferrari one-two on his debut for the team as they made a stunning start to the Formula One season.Alonso produced the defining move of a dull Bahrain grand prix two-thirds of the way through, passing the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel, who was struggling with exhaust trouble.Felipe Massa also took advantage, meaning a Ferrari one-two. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton came third but his new team-mate, the world champion Jenson Button, could only manage seventh on his debut. Michael Schumacher finished sixth on his return after three years' absence.Vettel had led all the way until suffering the exhaust problem, eventually finishing an unhappy fourth.It was Ferrari's first one-two since the French grand prix in June 2008, and Alonso's first victory since Japan the same year when he was with Renault.The race was not the spectacle supporters had hoped for, with new rule changes appearing to have done little for the show.In the build-up to the race the drivers and team principals said the sport was venturing into the unknown, that there would either be plenty of thrills or it would be a procession. As it turned out, there was little excitement, save for a handful of moves involving the lower-placed cars.Many had also anticipated mayhem at the first corner, with all cars carrying large fuel loads following the decision to ban in-race refuelling.Instead the field virtually tip-toed their way around the right-hander, led by Vettel. But for his team-mate Mark Webber sending plumes of smoke billowing behind him, the opening turn would have been incident-free.Instead, blinded by white cloud, Renault's Robert Kubica and Adrian Sutil in his Force India both spun from their ninth and 10th positions but remarkably neither was struck as the traffic found a way round.The most significant move on that opening lap saw Alonso move past Massa into second, but beyond that little happened up until the first round of pit stops.Formula OneFerrariFernando AlonsoLewis Hamiltonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Plug pulled on French GP project

Organisers of a new venue for the French Grand Prix have pulled the plug...  

Todt points out ''importance'' of French GP

During a meeting with French Prime Minister Francois Filion on Monday, FIA President Jean Todt pointed out the "importance" of putting the French Grand Prix back onto the Formula One calendar...  

British GT announce 2010 race details

The Independent-backed Avon Tyres British GT Championship today revealed an exciting eight-date, 14-race calendar for the 2010 season, the highlights of which are a season-closing 'into the night' race at Donington Park and a two-hour race on the Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone. There will also be a return to the former French Grand Prix circuit of Magny-Cours, last visited by British GT in 2006.