24h Le Mans
At the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans, Team WRT opened its doors to pupils with learning difficulties in the clear belief that everyone has something to bring to the motorsport table.
The two-day event gave a class of pupils with special needs the opportunity to witness a facet of the 24 Hours of Le Mans that few spectators get chance to see. Thanks to racing driver Maxime Robin, his association Framework 24, and go-kart expert Gabin Léger, they experienced the very essence of the event with Team WRT. The pupils were treated to karting sessions and garage tours and were introduced to team members. Team WRT set out to show that motorsport is a team sport, in which everyone has a role to play.
Day 1 was at the go-kart track. But it wasn’t all about driving. The young participants were encouraged to work as a team, to take turns, and to make progress together – a direct experience of endurance racing values. To some, taking the wheel of a go-kart was a challenge in itself. Others learned to trust their teammates or step outside their comfort zone.
Just like at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, speed was not the only key to success. It was based on mutual aid, perseverance and individual contribution to a collective goal.
Gabin Léger took part in a similar Team WRT initiative last year. This year, he recounted his career history to the pupils, sharing his love of go-karting and the challenges he has overcome as he pursues his life goals. This real-life illustration impressed Team WRT’s point.
Day 2 was a discovery of the behind-the-scenes operations at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The group took a tour of the Team WRT Hypercar and LMGT3 garages, watching mechanics and engineers at work, and observing an array of less well-known roles. Communication, logistics, catering, management and coordination are all indispensable to the day-to-day running of and endurance racing team.
The immersion was the perfect way to convey the message that there is more to motorsport than meets the eye. Behind every 24 Hours of Le Mans entry there are dozens of people contributing to the race effort.
The young visitors left with fresh perspectives. Some can now see themselves in a workshop, others in a design bureau or in event organisation roles. All are convinced of the wide range of jobs available in motorsport.
Team WRT CSR Manager Léa Dumoulin: “The project aims to incite vocations. We set out to show that motorsport is a whole ecosystem, built on teamwork and perseverance and that there are manys ways in. If we convince just one pupil that they have a role to play here, then we’ve succeeded.”
The initiative is part of of a wider Team WRT scheme to promote inclusion and transmission. The team also hosted trainees from the Garage École du Mans in their Hypercar and LMGT3 teams, offering them hands-on experience in a pit lane box.
Team WRT won this year’s LMGT3 24 Hours of Le Mans Sustainable Endurance Award by DHL.
