Eric Hélary, 24 Hours of Le Mans winner in 1993, having a great time at Le Mans Classic
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Eric Hélary, 24 Hours of Le Mans winner in 1993, having a great time at Le Mans Classic

Eric Hélary has raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans eleven times, the high point being his 1993 win at the wheel of a Peugeot 905 with Christophe Bouchut and Geoff Brabham. As a lover of vintage cars, this year’s Le Mans Classic was an event he could not miss.

Eric Hélary is the perfect example of a racing driver who simply loves his sport; it is always a pleasure to catch a few words with him. This year, he is racing at Le Mans Classic and is clearly excited to be here. “I love Le Mans Classic but there’s no point coming here with the firm intention of winning or to try and push the envelope. You have to remember that these cars are old. This weekend, I’m driving a 1970 Corvette Chevrolet C3 and a Porsche 935 K3.”

Listening to the former 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, one gets the distinct impression that the two cars offer a memorable driving experience. The Corvette is entered in Grid 5 (1966–1971). “When I brake in the Corvette, I take up almost the full width of the track. It’s also a great car to drive. I can get up to 265 kph and it is fitted with the brakes of a 1960 Fiat 500! It’s quite a challenge!”

In Grid 6 (1972–1981), he is driving a “Porsche 935 K3 which is a superb car outputting almost 800 horsepower. It’s the very definition of pure driving pleasure. It has a four-speed gearbox and when you shift to fourth gear, you can feel the thrust. You get the feeling that it will never stop!”

Hélary nonetheless approaches the event with caution: “The difference with the 24 Hours of Le Mans is that, here, there are a lot of gentlemen drivers who are true amateurs. When I overtake, I have to be extremely careful to make sure that I have been seen. The cars are difficult to drive. It’s more a parade than a race. But Le Mans Classic is nonetheless a fantastic event. And there are almost as many people here as for the 24 Hours!”

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