Photo : D.R. - RACE TO 24

 

Among the 24 contestants, there are three sons of former drivers: Sam, Conor and Jules, respectively sons of David Brabham, Derek Daly and Jean-Marc Gounon.

Sam Brabham – First, there was Sir Jack (1926-2014) then his sons Geoff, Gary and David. Now, Sam Brabham and his cousin Matthew, also born in 1994 and son of Geoff, are emerging as the next line in one of the most prestigious dynasties in the history of motorsport. Sir Jack was the first Formula 1 World Champion to win in a rear engine car (in 1959 and 1960) and the only one to claim victory in a car bearing his own name (1966). Later, Geoff and David added their names to the list of Le Mans 24 Hours winners, respectively in 1993 and 2009.

Conor Daly – 23-year-old Conor Daly made his debut in the United States (most notably in the Indianapolis 500 in 2013 with the AJ Foyt team, victorious in Le Mans in 1967), before trying his luck in Europe in GP3 and GP2. His father Derek, born in 1953, raced in Formula 1 from 1978 to 1982. He took part in the Le Mans 24 Hours three times with Jaguar (finishing fourth in 1988) and Nissan, before moving to the United States where he enjoyed a very successful career commentating on IndyCar single-seater races.

Jules Gounon – Jules was born on 31 December 1994 and, together with Inès Taittinger, is one of two French contestants on “Race to 24”. After taking the X30 international karting title, he turned to single-seater racing in Formula 4 then Formula Renault 2.0. He has also recently been named Porsche Young Driver in the Carrera Cup France 2015. His father Jean-Marc (aged 51) took part in the Le Mans 24 Hours twelve times, achieving his best result in 1997 when he finished second with Pierre-Henri Raphanel and Anders Olofsson, at the wheel of a McLaren F1 GTR for the Gulf-Davidoff team. That team also boasted Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, current President of the Endurance Commission at the International Automobile Federation (FIA), among its drivers.
The winner of “Race to 24” will become the third driver of the Morgan n°43 of Team SARD Morand (LM P2 category) at the Le Mans 24 Hours, alongside British driver Oliver Webb and Frenchman Pierre Ragues, and for the five remaining rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship 2015.

The 83rd Le Mans 24 Hours will take place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June 2015.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO Translated by Clair Pickworth