page_title: Standing start
section_title: Le Mans
hierarchical_section_title: Standing start / Le Mans
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Le-Mans-Start zum 1000-km-Rennen 1965 auf dem Nürburgring, Spurt zu den Wagen
context_page_description: A standing start is a type of start in auto racing events, in which cars are stationary when the race begins.
context_section_description: A Le Mans-style start was used for many years in various types of motor racing.  When the start flag dropped, drivers had to run across the track to their cars which were parked on the other side, climb in, start the car, and drive away to begin the race.
  Such starts were very unsafe, with drivers possibly rushing the process of fastening their safety equipment. Britain's RAC prohibited the use of the Le Mans start in English racing in late summer 1962 precisely for this reason. In 1969, Jacky Ickx, who always considered this type of start to be dangerous, decided to walk to his car instead of running. Taking the time to secure everything made him effectively start in the last position but nevertheless, he went on to win the race. This staged protest, and the death of John Woolfe in the first lap, at the Maison Blanche curve, precisely because he didn't fasten his seat belt, led to the running start be abolished the following year. As a result, they are no longer used in any motorsport except for endurance motorcycle racing, such as the Coke Zero Suzuka 8 Hours and the 24 Heures Moto, bicycle endurance races, Kinetic Sculpture Races and due to their vulnerability to flameouts, in nitro powered radio-controlled racing, except they are held above ground until start by its mechanics whilst the drivers remain in their stand.
  A Le Mans start variation called a "land rush start" is used at short course off-road races at Crandon International Off-Road Raceway where the vehicles start lined up side-by-side on a wide part of the track.  The "land rush start" is based on the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans start, and is used in historic races at Le Mans in some situations. However, unlike the true Le Mans start, engines are already running and the drivers are already sitting behind the wheel, wearing their safety belts, when the starting signal is displayed.
  A second variation is used in the Australian GT Championship invitational Highlands 101 at Highlands Motorsports Park in New Zealand. It integrates both the Le Mans start and the Land Rush start.  The drivers are behind the wheel already, but the co-drivers are equipped with flags approximately 250 metres (0.25 km; 820 ft) from their cars on the entrance to pit lane.  At the signal, the co-drivers run the 250 metres (0.25 km; 0.16 mi) and hand over a flag that signals to their team the car is cleared to start.  The driver then starts the car.
caption: Le Mans-style start at the Nürburgring in 1965.
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