Created in 1905, the Tourist Trophy (not to be confused with the motorcycle race of the same name, another legendary motorsports event, which takes place on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea) has over time become the trophy the most coveted by British race drivers. Only three of them have won both the Tourist Trophy and the 24 Hours of Le Mans: Graham Hill, Derek Bell and Allan McNish. An Italian (Tazio Nuvolari), an American (Carroll Shelby), a German (Jochen Mass), a Dane (Tom Kristensen) and a French driver (Loïc Duval) have also achieved this rare one-two.

For 54 years, Carroll Shelby was the only driver in history to win, in the same year (1959), the Tourist Trophy and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He was joined in 2013 by Allan McNish, the winner at Silverstone with Kristensen and Duval after an insane climb during the last half hour of the race, before winning two months later, with the same teammates, his third 24 Hours. A nod as well to the uniqueness of Tom Walkinshaw. Four-time winner of the Tourist Trophy as a driver, he also won at Le Mans twice as a team owner (and official Jaguar representative) in 1988 and '90, as well as two other times as a constructor: we owe him the chassis of the Joest-Porsche TWR prototype that won at the 24 Hours in 1996 and '97.

Since the 6 Hours of Silverstone marks the kickoff of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the Tourist Trophy is awarded to the winning driver line-up of that race. Who will follow Sébastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson and Nicolas Lapierre, the 2014 winners? The answer on Sunday, April 12th!

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

Photo: TOWCESTER (NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, U.K.), SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT, 6 HOURS OF SILVERSTONE, SUNDAY APRIL 20 2014, PODIUM. One can see in this photo the pride on British driver Anthony Davidson's face (center), winner of the Tourist Trophy along with Sébastien Buemi (at left) and Nicolas Lapierre (at right).
 

Crédit photo: Toyota Racing