Photo : Christian VIGNON - A.C.O. Nikon

Intercontinental Le Mans Cup - 1000 km of Zhuhai

The ILMC is preparing to conclude its first season in style with its first visit to China two years after the first participation of a Chinese driver in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

The Italian pioneer Marco Polo left his native Venice In 1275, and travelled east to China by the Silk Road. In June 2008, Cong Fu Cheng landed at Le Mans to make a different kind of pioneering journey, he was the first Chinese driver in the 24 hours of Le Mans. Entered by Jacques Nicolet in a team that was at that time called Saulnier Racing. Born on 15th August 1984, he started in karting and then moved on to British Formula 3, and made his first podium for Team China in the (now defunct) A1 GP series.

His first participation at Le Mans was conclusive. The LM P2 car was 28th on the grid, but the young Chinese driver and his team mates Pierre Ragues and Matthieu Lahaye reached a podium position shortly before the halfway point. They passed the chequered flag in third place, despite a spin and a collision with a GT2 after a tyre pressure problem. Preceded in LM P2 only by the two Porsche RS Spyders of Van Merksteijn Motorsport and Team Essex, the Franco-Chinese trio achieved a superb result, considering the two German prototypes were practically unbeatable that year.

Since his coup at Le Mans, Cong Fu Cheng joined the DTM. Pierre Ragues drove the 2010 24 hours in a Lola Aston Martin prototype for the French team Signature Plus, while Matthieu Lahaye remained loyal to Jacques Nicolet, and his team that has since been renamed OAK Racing.

Jean-Philippe Doret - Translated by Dave Davies