24h Le Mans
Inter Europol Competition reached the top step on the LMP2 podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Centenary in June, an extraordinary achievement for one of the smallest teams in the category.
Relatively small Polish team Inter Europol Competition secured its most significant win to date at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Centenary. The #34 ORECA 07-Gibson driven by Jakub Śmiechowski, Fabio Scherer and Albert Costa turned the hotly contested LMP2 category on its ear.
The first pit stop of the 24-hour race might have proven disastrous for the team as the left foot of Scherer was crushed by the #33 Corvette C6.R, but the driver persevered. After starting from the 13th spot in the LMP2 field, Śmiechowski took the first stint, successfully navigating wet areas of the circuit. He worked his way up to 7th position after two hours of racing before passing the baton to Scherer then Costa. Heavy downpours followed, with several drivers making costly mistakes and prompting the intervention of the safety car. Excellent strategy allowed the Polish outfit to climb the classification, and less than three hours later, Costa began battling for the lead. Just 60 minutes after tha Śmiechowski snatched P1 in the category for the first time.
During the second half of the race, Inter Europol Competition took on Team WRT's #41 ORECA and Duqueine Team's #30 ORECA. Scherer and Robert Kubica duelled mercilessly, with the Swiss driver executing one of the most impressive overtakings of the entire Centenary, squeezing by Kubica from the outside while braking at the Michelin Chicane. It is thanks to the speed, consistency and the high caliber of its drivers that Inter Europol Competition was able to score the historic win.
For the first time in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Polish national anthem played during the podium ceremony. Jakub Śmiechowski: "It took my breath away, surpassing my wildest dreams. We got to Le Mans kowning we had good speed and that we'd need to avoid trouble. My teammates did incredible work to remain fast no matter the conditions. The strategy and teamwork were fantastic."
LMP2 winner, Inter Europol Competition's #34 ORECA 07-Gibson, reaches the chequered flag. The Polish team pulled off a stunning upset in a highly competitive category without a clear favourite at the start. The car shared by Jakub Śmiechowski, Fabio Scherer and Albert Costa performed well for 24 hours straight, and Scherer showed remarkable tenacity despite a serious injury to his left foot. Inter Europol Competition turned in a flawless race to clinch its historic win the LMP2 category.
