Le Mans 2013, the official review Duke Video

Duke was at the cutting edge when video tape first brought international endurance racing within reach of almost anybody’s living room — and remains so today.

Its annual Le Mans recipe is familiar enough, with live race footage accompanied by edited commentary taken from both the world TV feed and Radio Le Mans. The words have to be spliced to suit the images, obviously (the highlights package lasts four hours rather than 24), but nothing has been changed since the race, so the coverage retains the feel of a live event (albeit with a few jerky interruptions where significant time lapses occur). Pit-to-car radio messages also feature, as do instructions from World Endurance Championship race director Eduardo Freitas.

It works well enough as a souvenir of the occasion, although Le Mans’ 90th anniversary race — interrupted by uncertain weather and frequent safety car periods — will be remembered for rather more than just another comfortable Audi victory in the face of Toyota’s valiant challenge. Fittingly, these highlights are dedicated to the memory of Aston Martin driver Allan Simonsen, who succumbed to injuries sustained in an accident during the race’s opening minutes. SA

Available from www.dukevideo.com, 116.99 (DVD) or 119.99 (Blu-ray)