Endurance racing as we know it today owes a great deal to the passion and pioneering spirit of Don Panoz. The links between the two races - the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France and Petit Le Mans in the U.S. - are the greatest proof of his success: in 20 years, as many as 15 drivers have won both races.

- In 1998, Ferrari claimed the top step on the podium at the first running of Petit Le Mans thanks to Emmanuel Collard, Wayne Taylor and Eric van de Poele representing Doyle-Risi Racing. In June of the same year, the team gave the Italian marque the final victory of one of its prototypes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

- Don Panoz had the enormous pleasure of seeing one of his prototypes win the race he created. In 1999, Eric Bernard, David Brabham and Andy Wallace triumphed at the wheel of a Panoz LMP1 Roadster. Seven years later, a Panoz Esperante coupe clinched a class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans thanks to Richard Dean (the current co-owner of United Autosports), Tom Kimber-Smith and Lawrence Tomlinson.

- From 2000 to 2008, Audi won nine consecutive victories at Petit Le Mans and eight at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Bentley winning in 2003.

- In June 2015, Porsche added a 17th overall win to its track record at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the 919 Hybrid driven by Nick Tandy, Nico Hülkenberg and Earl Bamber. Three and a half months later, the German manufacturer became to first to secure an overall win with a GT at Petit Le Mans (Nick Tandy, Patrick Pilet and Richard Lietz).

- The win record of five at Petit Le Mans is currently held by Italian driver Dindo Capello (2000, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2008) who also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times (2003, 2004 and 2008).

- Win record-holder (nine) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 12 Hours of Sebring (six), Tom Kristensen only won Petit Le Mans once, in 2002 with Dindo Capello.

- Seven drivers have won the 24 Hours and Petit Le Mans in the same year: Frank Biela (2001), Emanuele Pirro (2001), Tom Kristensen (2002), Dindo Capello (2008), Allan McNish (2008), Nick Tandy (2015) and Brendon Hartley (2017).

- Eight other drivers have won both races but in different years: David Brabham, Andy Wallace, Michele Alboreto, J.J. Lehto, Johnny Herbert, Marco Werner, Neel Jani and Alexander Wurz.

- Seven French drivers have reached the top step on the podium at Petit Le Mans: Emmanuel Collard, Eric Bernard, Franck Montagny, Stéphane Sarrazin, Nicolas Prost, Patrick Pilet and Olivier Pla, but none has won the 24 Hours.

- Peugeot won Petit Le Mans in 2009 (with a one-two at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year), 2010 and 2011.

 

PHOTO: In 2017, New Zealander Brendon Hartley became the seventh driver to win both the 24 Hours and Petit Le Mans in the same year.