Road to Le Mans Review | Youtube | Michael Fassbender

Back in 2019, a brand new racing documentary series made its debut on YouTube . It followed Hollywood actor Michael Fassbender (X-Men Franchise, The Killer, Prometheus, etc.) as he teamed up with Porsche to realise his lifelong dream of becoming a racing driver. Its first season consisted of just six episodes with the longest in duration being just over twelve minutes. Despite the limited runtime however, the series brought a fresh, artistic spin to the world of sports documentaries that captivated both new and old fans of motorsport alike.

If you knew nothing of Endurance Racing, it didn’t matter as you could learn all you needed to know alongside Fassbender as he got to grips with the gruelling but addictive and seductive world of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS). If you were a seasoned fan of motorsport, regardless of which series you ordinarily followed, the series proved to be a fascinating insight into a category that doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it deserves. If you’ve never watched it, seriously do go and check it out.

Fast forward then to 2023, and we’ve just had the release of what appears to be the final chapter of Fassbender’s journey as we see him prepare and compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the second time. The film caters to both first time viewers and fans who’ve watched all of the previous thirty three instalments as it recaps Fassbender’s time in ELMS to date, picking things up in the aftermath of the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans which saw him sadly retire from the race after a tumultuous weekend. While disheartening, it proved once again that the 24 Hours of Le Mans isn’t for the faint-hearted and that it will test you in a way that no other race will. Finishing is its own reward.

But there’s no bs drama here, like there has been in Netflix’s Drive to Survive. There’s no exaggeration of events or elements of flashy reality TV to be found. Instead, it’s just pure storytelling and racing goodness all of the way through with stunning award worthy cinematography, in depth behind the scenes access and a soundtrack that nails each scene.

Every. Single. Time. In terms of quality, this is what future docuseries should strive towards when aiming to tell an authentic, grounded, yet surreal story that anyone can relate to, regardless of how much they’re involved in the world of motorsport. The series and the film simply tell the story as it is – knowing that this is more than enough to pull the viewer in and keep them there. The stakes are other worldly, as they only can be because they exist exclusively in the world of motorsport, so it can be easy to take a step back and be somewhat amused that everything here is taken so seriously.

But this is an asset in itself because it allows for escapism and a desire for these kinds of problems to be the most stressful ones for you to have – and it also takes you into the psychology of an athlete and how they have to operate on an entirely different level if they want to be able to capitalise on the opportunity to succeed – and it does so with an individual at the heart of it that is relatively brand new to the world of being an athlete.

The documentary is ninety minutes long and does indeed fly by like a lap at Le Mans. Whereas before, each episode would take its time to tell part of the story, there’s less fat here for the audience to chew. That’s because on this occasion, Fassbender isn’t in an entire season of racing. One race in Barcelona and some testing is all that stands between him and his second attempt at Le Mans. Before you know it, we’re there and it’s time to rock and roll.

In some ways, the film reminded me of the first Rocky film. For this entire venture, we’ve been witnessing an individual who just wants the chance to prove that he can do something – where the end result ultimately isn’t the main focus. Sure wins and podiums would obviously be ideal but it’s more about going the distance and failing that, giving it your best shot so that when you walk away, you know that you left nothing out there. With that in mind, success is then measured differently from how many of us in the racing world are used to.

If you’re not aiming to win, you’re aiming for the podium. If not the podium, then points. If not points, then to finish. To see this approach not quite turned on its head but not far off is a little jarring because as an audience member, you want the antagonist to win – and with the nature of storytelling, you’re used to it happening.

So for the goalposts to move and for our individual definitions of success to be altered is difficult to grasp at times but gives the film a unique edge that isn’t often explored. Conveniently enough, it shares some thematic similarities with Le Mans ‘66 and that in and of itself is quite a high compliment for me to give it.

I won’t spoil the ending here – I wouldn’t deprive you of watching this excellent film for yourself to find out what happens – but with it being advertised as the final chapter in Fassbender’s Road to Le Mans saga, you can’t help but feel that the book is being shut too soon. It feels more like the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, with the door for more left ever so slightly ajar.

If this was Michael Fassbender’s Road to Le Mans, then surely what comes next should be Michael Fassbender AT Le Mans. If however, this is the end, it’s a respectable one and is satisfying on a number of levels for everyone involved in front of and behind the camera, as well as for the audience. But there’s definitely room for a bit more to this story and I for one hope that we get that, if not in 2024, then in the not too distant future.

Road to Le Mans is available to watch for free on YouTube now.

Author: Thiemo Albers-Daly