“Voices Off Camera” Women, Media, and the Performance of Legitimacy in Motorsports History

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Published: Feb 9, 2026

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Liam Crider
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Abstract

“It’s ground to a halt! And here comes the Porsche! Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! It’s come to a halt, and Toyota have had the Le Mans 24 Hours snatched from them! Snatched from them! And Porsche are going to win Le Mans!”1 The 24 Heures du Mans is the most prestigious endurance race in the world, having first been held in 1923.2 In the 2016 edition, Toyota had the win snatched out from under them in the final three minutes of the race, and John Hindhaugh’s call perfectly encapsulated the emotions of the moment; agony for Toyota, elation for Porsche.3 There have been other memorable moments, Ford beating Ferrari in 1966, the 1955 Le Mans Disaster, the Mazda 787B becoming the first rotary-powered car to win in 1991, and Peter Dumbreck’s flip in the Mercedes CLR in 1999.4 Yet, amid all the iconic moments from the Circuit de la Sarthe, one historical result has faded from public recollection: Odette Siko's fourth-place finish at the 1932 24 Hours of Le Mans, which, to this day, remains the best finish for a woman in the race's history.5 Her achievement received little attention beyond a routine post-race classification, where it was acknowledged in a single sentence.

Article Details

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Vol. 5 No. 1 (2025): Undergraduate History Journal at Illinois
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Articles
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