Photo : ADRIEN CLEMENT/XTREM PICS

 

Aged 23 to 26, (the new World Champion Sébastien Buemi's age in 2014), the nine drivers highlighted below each marked the prototypes season, mainly in LM P2.

Alex Brundle (24 years old), Jann Mardenborough (23 years old) and Mark Shulzhitskiy (25 years old) – At the wheel of the new Ligier JS P2, which debuted at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the two Brits and the Russian driver put on an impressive show at the head of the LM P2 class, with 240 laps completed in the lead, or more than two-thirds of the race, before encountering issues that pushed them back to fifth position. The trio wears Nissan's coulours and should well figure on the list of drivers that will be a part of the Japanese manufacturer's return to LM P1 in 2015.

Paul-Loup Chatin (23 years old), Nelson Panciatici (26 years old) and Oliver Webb (23 years old) – The trio of the Alpine A450b demonstrated a remarkable consistency in the European Le Mans Series, with one win and four top 5s in five races, giving them the driver title as well as the team title for Signatech Alpine. A personal satisfaction for happy owner Philippe Sinault, who has always worked toward the success of young drivers and has followed his protégé Paul-Loup Chatin for a decade. Will they claim more podium finishes with Alpine in the World Championship in 2015? We shall see.

Harry Tincknell (23 years old) – From British Formula 3, he was one of the spearheads for the Jota Sport team, with a snatched win in the LM P2 class with the Zytek-Nissan as of his first participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the running for the European Le Mans Series title up until the last round, he was one of the 2014 season's revelations. To be followed very closely in 2015…

Richard Bradley (24 years old) – Also British, he was a part of the Chinese team KCMG increased momentum in the World Championship, with three victories in LM P2. On the heels of this great season, KCMG intends to intensify its efforts...and a successful future awaits Bradley.

Brendon Hartley (25 years old) – Last but not least, the exception to the rule: the New Zealander went straight into LM P1 upon entering endurance as a Porsche factory driver. He immediately felt at home in the discipline, with a podium finish as of his first race at Silverstone, then a first pole position at the closing round of the season in Sao Paulo. His first win shouldn't be too late in coming in 2015…

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

Photo:  LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), DOWNTOWN, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, FRIDAY JUNE 13 2014, DRIVERS' PARADE. The Alpine trio figures among the new generation of endurance drivers. From left to right: Paul-Loup Chatin, Nelson Panciatici and Oliver Webb.