Photo : Olivier BEROUD - VSA

 

Across the pond, Sir Chris Hoy is a real living legend, similar to Sebastian Coe. An expert track cyclist, he is currently the athlete bestowed with the most Olympic gold medals in the U.K.: he won a total of six at the summer Olympic Games in Beijing (2008) and London (2012). After ending his cycling career, he turned to motorsports in 2013. At the official European Le Mans Series tests on March 22nd and 23rd, he effectuated his first roll-out at the wheel of a new Ginetta LM P3 prototype, a new step on the road to his first participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a hope he holds for 2016.

Sir Chris Hoy: "I have always been a motorsports enthusiast, I have participated in 'track days' with my car. After the Olympics in London, someone who was working on a documentary about Colin McRae (deceased in 2007, he was World Rally Champion in 1995, then participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2004 with Ferrari, editor's note) asked me if racing interested me and proceeded to tell me about the single-marque series Radical. Of course, nobody had to twist my arm (laughs). So I raced in 2013 in Radical Challenge and European Masters up against young drivers who had come from karting and I had a lot of fun. It was then that Nissan, a partner of the British Olympic Association, suggested I serve as one of its ambassadors. It was with Nissan this dream of participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans began. So the agenda is as follows: I raced in 2014 in GT3, this year I will race in LM P3 with the new Ginetta in the European Le Mans Series. If all goes well, I will do tests with an LM P2 prototype between now and the end of this season with the ultimate goal of being at the start of the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans. When I was little, I had a mini race track called Dino Scalextric, with namely a Porsche 911. I asked my father why it had headlights and he explained it was because it raced at Le Mans, that is how I first heard of the 24 Hours. Thereafter, I followed the race on T.V., but I never would have dared dream one day that to participate would be possible. I know the road ahead is long…The Ginetta is almost as fast as an LM P2. I love to drive it, it goes so fast and it is really exciting. Through Nissan, naturally I have been able to meet graduates of the Nissan GT Academy, and I have raced with Lucas Ordonez and Jann Mardenborough who also raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They help me make progress and become faster. Since LM P3 prototypes are allowed at Test Day, I will be at Le Mans at the end of May. I also hope to be able to attend the race and see how things work behind the scenes, during the day and at night."

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: LE CASTELLET (VAR, FRANCE), CIRCUIT PAUL RICARD, OFFICIAL EUROPEAN LE MANS SERIES TESTS, MONDAY MARCH 23 2015. On his 39th birthday, Sir Chris Hoy learned how to drive an LM P3 prototype while awaiting the start of the 2015 European Le Mans Series season.