24h Le Mans
The 2014 endurance season proved that Asian teams, drivers and manufacturers are gaining momentum.
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Photo : Arnaud CORNILLEAU / ACO
While the Asian Le Mans Series season was dominated by the French team OAK Racing, Asian drivers and teams still managed an impressive record throughout the 2014 season.
Kazuki Nakajima, a pole position for the legend – On Thursday, June 12, 2014 at midnight, the driver of the No. 7 Toyota TS040 Hybrid became the first Japanese driver to clinch the pole at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Toyota-Audi duel – Though the Japanese manufacturer was beaten by Audi in La Sarthe, Toyota achieved a fantastic season nonetheless in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC): five victories and two world titles - drivers and constructors.
KCMG, from Asia to the world – First Chinese team to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 2013, KCMG has been remarkably successful in its transition from the Asian Le Mans Series to the FIA WEC. For its first international season, it finished third for the FIA Endurance Trophy for LM P2 Teams, with three wins in the class.
Three Chinese drivers enter history – At the wheel of the No. 33 Ligier JS P2-Honda, Ho-Pin Tung, David Cheng and Adderly Fong comprised the first 100% Chinese team to pass under the checkered flag at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in seventh place in the LM P2 class (12th overall).
Nissan from 2014 to 2015 – In tandem with preparation for its arrival in LM P1 in 2015, Nissan solidified its domination over the LM P2 class with Signatech Alpine's title in the European Le Mans Series and SMP Racing's title in the FIA WEC.
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, THURSDAY JUNE 12 2014, QUALIFYING. It was at the wheel of a Japanese prototype - the Toyota TS040 Hybrid - that Kazuki Nakajima became the first citizen of his country to clinch the pole at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
