Last weekend was an important one in the motor racing calendar, with the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500-mile race in the USA and the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in Germany.  

The Indianapolis 500

Two drivers took part in the 101st Indy 500. Mikhail Aleshin, who will be driving the #27 Dallara P217 - Gibson for SMP Racing in Le Mans, finished 13th. Ford LMGTE Pro driver Scott Dixon was less fortunate. In the 53rd lap he had a spectacular accident which spelled retirement although he walked away unscathed.

Takuma Sato (Japan) won the race. Sato is a member of the Andretti Autosport team, a name famous in the USA and beyond, Mario Andretti having raced in F1 and eight times at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His best result in the French endurance race was in 1995 with a second place in the Courage C34 with Bob Wollet and Eric Hélary. Mario’s son Michael followed in his footsteps, coming third in 1983 and his grandson Marco took part in 2010 with Rebellion Racing.

24 Hours of Nürburgring

Fifteen Le Mans drivers took to the track at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Richard Westbrook (with Ford at Le Mans) finished second in the BMW M6 GT3 for Rowe Racing, while Marcel Fässler, due to race with Corvette Racing in France, took third in an Audi R8 LMS. Westbrook took the time to wish Ford Chip Ganassi team owner Chip Ganassi a happy birthday via Twitter. 

In a 24-hour race, the first goal is to finish. Among the finishers were Abdulaziz Al Faisal of Porsche Proton Competiton in LM GTE Am, Darren Turner and Nicki Thiim of Aston Martin Racing and Dirk Müller (Ford). Alex Lynn (Oreca G-Drive Racing), Pierre Kaffer (Ferrari Risi Competizone) Stefan Mücke (Ford) Matteo Cairoli (Porsche Dempsey-Proton Racing) and Dirk Werner (Porsche GT) did not get to see the chequered flag.

The Porsche GT drivers Romain Dumas, Frédéric Makowiecki, Patrick Piet and Richard Lietz were favourites in the 911 GT3 fielded by Mathey Racing. However, they were forced to retire when their car was hit by an opponent. 

With the exception of those in Detroit for the IMSA championship on the same weekend, Le Mans drivers will be in La Sarthe for the 24 Hours of Le Mans Test Day on 4 June.

Photo: Marcel Fässler, three-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours finished third at Nürburgring last weekend. He will be driving a Corvette C7.R at Le Mans this year.