24h Le Mans
Every year, the 24 Hours of Le Mans reflects a stunning map of the world. The 2015 edition was no exception to the rule, with namely two firsts for the Chinese and the Russians.
For two weeks, the 24 Hours of Le Mans serves as a virtual crossroads of the world, but the diversity spills over off the track as well. The official DVD of the 2015 edition, available since November 26th, pays tribute to the British marshals and a trio of Italian spectators (Ferrari supporters, naturally!), who witnessed in each of the classes the triumph of teams and drivers from around a dozen difference countries.
-The four classes were won by teams from four different countries: Germany (Porsche in LM P1), China (KCMG in LM P2), U.S. (Corvette Racing in LM GTE Pro) and Russia (SMP Racing in LM GTE Am). KCMG and SMP Racing won with a French (Oreca 05) and Italian (Ferrari 458 Italia) car, respectively. KCMG's Oreca 05 was powered by a Japanese engine (Nissan).
-Within the winning driver line-ups figured four Brits (Nick Tandy in LM P1, Richard Bradley and Matt Howson in LM P2, Oliver Gavin in LM GTE Pro), two Americans (Tommy Milner and Jordan Taylor in LM GTE Pro), two Russians (Aleksey Basov and Victor Shaytar in LM GTE Am), a German (Nico Hülkenberg in LM P1), a New Zealander (Earl Bamber in LM P1), a French driver (Nicolas Lapierre in LM P2) and an Italian driver (Andrea Bertolini in LM GTE Am).
-Among the previous overall winners at the start were three French drivers, (Romain Dumas, Loïc Duval and Benoît Tréluyer), two Germans (Timo Bernhard and André Lotterer), a Swiss driver (Marcel Fässler) and an Austrian (Alexander Wurz). They have 12 wins at Le Mans between them. Pole position the 2015 24 Hours was clinched by a Swiss driver (Neel Jani, at the wheel of the No. 18 Porsche 919 Hybrid).
-Thanks to KCMG and SMP Racing, the Chinese and Russian national anthems played at the podium for the first time in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY JUNE 13 2015, RACE. The 83rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans included the first victory for a Russian team. Winner in the LM GTE Am classs, SMP Racing raced an Italian GT: the Ferrari 458 Italia.
