2019 Classic 24 at Daytona get under way in all‑American style

It might be something to do with being a country born of revolutionary war, or it might just be that events of the last ten years have made everyone over here enjoy the chance to come together every now and then rather than fighting. But the combination of the slowly, and emotionally sung Star Spangled Banner, military escorts for the Stars and Stripes, and a heartfelt hand on heart from all watching does add up to stirring stuff.

Then of course you get the words that start every race over in America, calling on those in their cars to fire up each motor. Cutting the patriotic ferver with a dollop of combustion. In this case from a huge field of LMP and GT racers. America does things like this differently, but they know exactly how they want to do it.

Photography by Pete Summers.