IT'S MORE THAN JUST RACE COMMENTARY - by Andrew Cotton

Michael Glazer may have bought Manchester United, but the high-profile purchase will not have done nearly as much for American interest in soccer as John Hindhaugh’s commentary from the American Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24-hours.

Vast swathes of America are now well up to speed on the fortunes of Hindhaugh's beloved Sunderland AFC and are learning a new language which is not quite Queen’s English, but getting there.

Texans have been heard leaving the circuit singing “Haway the lads…” and pondering the existence of the Coca-Cola Championship and the Premiership after having listened to the circuit speaker system.

Who could forget Hindhaugh’s commentary of the World Cup in June 2002? England beat Denmark 3-0, and the wing-back position re-appeared for the first time in about 90 years as Hindy kept 50,000 Brits (and Danes) informed via Radio Le Mans.

The station has become as much of the Le Mans 24-hours as the zealous car park attendants and the enthusiastic British contingent of campers who habitually start a water fight on Friday night, sometimes involving the local constabulary.

The information painstakingly and professionally gathered by an experienced team is broadcast to a vast audience, both British and American, and performs a vital role in maintaining British interest in a recently German and Danish dominated discipline.

Le Mans is known as Britain’s greatest motor race and it is the likes of Hindhaugh, Joe Bradley, Jim Martin and the others who occupy the radio shack and pit lane, who keep the legions of pilgrims fully up to date throughout practice, qualifying and the 24-hour race.

It is not only the spectators who keep up to speed with endurance racing. A new generation of media is also growing up, spoon fed information throughout the 24-hours to the extent where some cover it from the comfort of their desk in the press room, leaving only for toilet breaks and food.

The radio station has revealed figures previously unknown to the wider public, who were fed snap interviews on the television, or the odd quote in a printed race report. Now, through the fine efforts of the pit crew, the fans are able to get closer to the wonderful personalities in the paddock.

We are always awaiting the next instalment of the Hugh Chamberlain story, the next Christian Pescatori gem (“I am on ‘oliday!”) or the latest update from Paul Trusswell’s lapchart - was that really a scheduled pit stop?

Over the internet, the ALMS has reached beyond the shores of the US with ease. Two years ago, my wife went into labour with our second child while I was at the Sebring 12-hours. Having flown out on Wednesday, I made it back for the birth on Friday thanks to Audi who sorted out a hire car, and Virgin who switched the plane ticket.

I missed the debut of the Bentley in the US, and was devastated so on Saturday I sought and was granted permission to scurry back to my office, switch on the computer, suck down a few beers, and follow the entire event.

Anyone heading to Le Mans, or an ALMS race, for the first time should remember to take their radio with them. Whether you are meeting with friends in the campsite, playing at the funfair, sitting in your tent ploughing through the gallons of beer you have brought, or sitting in the stands watching the race, Radio Le Mans will sit with you for 24-hours, answer all your questions, football related or otherwise, and offers a generous dollop of old Blighty in the heart of rural France.