24H du Mans | 1959

24H du Mans, 1959, by Michel Béligond

This dynamic poster brilliantly captures the dramatic "Le Mans start" of the legendary 24 Hours race. Against a vibrant blue background, Michel Béligond depicts a driver in black and white racing attire with a distinctive red helmet dashing towards his red sports car. The scene shows the iconic moment when drivers sprint across the track to jump into their waiting vehicles at the start of the race. In the foreground, sleek racing cars in red and blue await their pilots, while in the background, a packed grandstand filled with spectators stretches across the top of the image, adorned with numerous international flags representing the competing nations. The bold white typography "24H du MANS" dominates the upper right corner, with the date "20 et 21 JUIN 1959" appearing in a smaller font at the bottom. The artist's signature "BELIGOND" is visible on the right edge of the poster, and the printer's information "A.A.T. THIVILLIER KLE 79-11" appears in the bottom right corner.

This poster advertises the 27th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of motorsport's most prestigious endurance races, held on June 20-21, 1959. The event that year proved historically significant as it marked Aston Martin's first and still only overall victory at Le Mans, with the British manufacturer achieving a remarkable 1-2 finish. The winning car was a DBR1 driven by American Carroll Shelby and Britain's Roy Salvadori, who crossed the finish line one lap ahead of teammates Maurice Trintignant and Paul Frère in another Aston Martin. The race featured an intense battle between Aston Martin and Ferrari, with the leading Ferrari of Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien suffering engine trouble less than four hours from the end after leading for much of the race. The poster notably depicts the famous "Le Mans start," a tradition that began in 1925 where drivers would run across the track to their cars, start the engines, and drive off. This dangerous practice, which sometimes resulted in drivers racing without properly securing safety harnesses, continued until 1970 when it was finally discontinued for safety reasons.

Michel Béligond (1927-1973) was a French artist and automotive designer who specialised in racing car illustrations and posters during the golden age of motorsport. Working primarily during the late 1950s and 1960s, he developed a distinctive style characterised by dynamic compositions, bold colours, and an ability to capture the excitement and speed of motor racing. Béligond created numerous iconic posters for prestigious racing events, particularly Grand Prix races and endurance competitions like Le Mans. His work for the 1959 Le Mans poster is considered one of his most significant pieces, showcasing his talent for depicting both the human element and mechanical beauty of motorsport in a single, powerful image.