The 24 Hours of Le Mans winner’s trophy is one the most sought-after awards in motor sport and a clear achievement for fogeys that luxuriate in stood on the pause step of the podium. Three of the main FIA WEC drivers, alongside side two FIA world champions, spoke about what makes Le Mans special for them.
Sebastien Buemi
Reigning FIA World Persistence Drivers Champion has obtained the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice in the Toyota TS050 Hybrid.
What’s your first memory of Le Mans?
“I deem it’s when the Toyotas were main relief in 1998 or 1999. I have in mind the auto getting a puncture in direction of the pause of the urge and I used to be spherical 10-years-outmoded. Then at the Geneva Motor Gift the auto that raced Le Mans used to be there and I have in mind taking a image of it on the Toyota stand. It’s glowing weird and wonderful to deem that more than 20 years later, I obtained Le Mans in generally the granddaughter of this automobile.”
And what’s your favourite memory of competing there?
“Winning Le Mans has to be my favourite memory. The worst one used to be 2016 used to be after we retired all by one of the best lap whereas main and the suitable is 2018 after we obtained for the first time with Fernando [Alonso] and Kazuki [Nakajima].”
Whenever possibilities are you’ll perhaps most likely furthermore lunge relief in time and take to compete in Le Mans on any year, what would it no longer be and why?
“This inquire of is anxious. Obviously, I’d luxuriate in loved to urge in the 60s after that they had Ford against Ferrari. Especially having viewed the movie, Le Mans ’66. I furthermore would luxuriate in loved to urge in 1960 when my grandfather [Georges Gachnang] raced at Le Mans. It’s anxious to evaluate the quite plenty of years. I enjoyed competing against Porsche, Audi and when Nissan used to be alive to. I luxuriate in been very fortunate to urge at Le Mans all by some unimaginable years.”
Alessandro Pier Guidi
Alessandro Pier Guidi and his teammate James Calado changed into the first recipients of the FIA World Persistence GT Drivers Championship title at the pause of the 2017 season. Within the 2018/19 season the Anglo-Italian duo were unable to protect their world crown nonetheless did take a memorable LMGTE Pro victory at the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans for Ferrari.
What’s your first memory of Le Mans?
“It used to be after I used to be a small one and I used to be racing karts. My father and I were fans of F1 and I furthermore have in mind that Le Mans used to be a expansive fixture in the motorsport calendar. Sadly, it used to be more strong to search Le Mans on TV than it is at the 2nd, nonetheless we were consistently attempting to discover news from the tournament.”
And what’s your favourite memory of competing there?
“That’s easy – for sure perfect year after I obtained with James [Calado] and Daniel [Serra]. I wished it so, so vital! We all worked very strong for the grab and I would possibly consistently lift that feeling with me.”
Whenever possibilities are you’ll perhaps most likely furthermore lunge relief in time and take to compete in Le Mans in any year, what would it no longer be and why?
“I’d doubtlessly take the sixties to compete for overall victory in a Ferrari.”
Richard Lietz
The Austrian driver is a worn FIA WEC GTE World Cup winner and is continually at the forefront of any persistence wrestle in the Porsche 911 RSR.
What’s your first memory of Le Mans?
“Easy – the flying Mercedes!”
And what’s your favourite memory of competing there?
“My very first Le Mans relief in 2007, honorable with a French crew in France used to be special. Also working collectively for the first time with anecdote Norbert Singer is one thing that I’d no longer ever neglect.”
Whenever possibilities are you’ll perhaps most likely furthermore lunge relief in time and take to compete in Le Mans on any year, what would it no longer be and why?
“I deem 1998 would possibly maybe most likely well be a appropriate year. The Porsche GT1 is one of my all-time favourite vehicles, working alongside with Norbert Singer and the Porsche works crew would possibly maybe most likely well be my different.”
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