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We were very privileged at Classic Le Mans to be invited to take part in the Porsche Parade lap, celebrating 40 years since the 917 first won here, in the capable hands of Richard Attwood.

TwinSpark Racing’s cheeky little 3.0 RSR renegade (Woodstock) was lined up with a bundle of other road and race cars, to do a pair of laps of the full 24-hour circuit. It was terrific to be in the company of so much cracking historic machinery, as well as many of Porsche’s latest track tools.

The video opens with us pulling out of the assembly area onto the main start/finish straight. Around us you can see quite a few 911s: 2.7 RS and 964 RS to the rear, ST up in front. Lots of 356s, and the 904 and 906 ahead.

Porsche were filming the start of the lap from a company Cayenne, with a GT1 and a gaggle Group C cars behind the SUV, all on tickover revs, so it was a waiting game on feathered throttle while they got the shots they wanted. Once the camera car peeled off, we could press on a little. Here’s a shot from the grandstands of our convoy going past:

Favourite bits of footage from our video include the yellow 911 2.7 RS hovering at 11 o’clock along the main straight, the Blue 911S jostling for position, all caught on our rear-facing Go Pro HD video camera.

Drifting past the 356s as we enter the Mulsanne is a good look, as is sliding past the classic streamlined 356 Coupe, and getting on the tail of the trio of vintage Porsche racers, including the 1976 Le Mans winning 936: a real favourite for any Porsche aficionado.

Starting our second lap with the Carrera GT hooning around the outside as we pass under the Dunlop hoarding, and then being passed by a screaming 997 Cup Car says ‘ drive it like you stole it at Le Mans’ all the way. It’s very memorable stuff – what a privilege to be given the opportunity to do this with Porsche.