For many observers, the fact may well have gone unnoticed but it is indeed a surprisingly rare occurrence – a Pole will be lining up at the 24 Hours of Le Mans! A certain Count Stanislaw Czaykowski was the last Polish national to feature in the list of competitors way back in 1933. “And even he was born in The Netherlands,” Kuba Giermaziak countered, “I’ve done some research on him – he’d never lived in Poland!”

Giermaziak on the other hand is a true native. Born on 9 July 1990 in Gostyń, he is already very popular in his homeland where he carries the hopes of an entire nation with Robert Kubica’s career on the wane. “The announcement that I’d be racing at Le Mans made a lot of noise in Poland and many journalists have come over to follow my debut here” he confirmed last night.

With his five wins in the highly competitive Porsche Supercup (in 2011 and 2014) and a successful drive at the 24 Hours of Zolder 2013 in a Porsche 911 GT3 under his belt, he is a true specialist of the German marque. And yet he will be discovering Le Mans’ magical atmosphere at the wheel of a Ferrari 458 Italia: “I’m getting to know the circuit. Up to the Porsche Curves, everything’s fine… but that’s where the going gets tough. It is an extremely fast section and very unforgiving. One mistake and you’re straight into the wall. It’s very difficult to find the limit. I’m going through a little quicker on each lap and I still don’t know how fast I can go.”

Credited with the eleventh fastest time in the GTE Am class, lapping in 4:00.551, the JMW Motorsport driver is sure he can get better. Whether Giermaziak does improve or not remains to be seen, but at least he knows he will get the chance as last night he fulfilled his final formality – completing the five night laps required of all rookies. He’s now ready to roll in the world’s greatest race! Watch out for him in the yellow No.66 Ferrari.

Julien Hergault – Translated from French by David Goward

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, TUESDAY 9 JUNE 2015. Kuba Giermaziak (centre).