Sure, the 24 Hours circuit is in part made up of public roads, but it's usually on circuits that one will find Eric Hélary. This time, the Parisian who will turn 50 this year, went down a county road at breakneck speed at the wheel of a Nissan GTR to try and outrun a bobsled launched at full speed on the La Plagne track.

The only bobsled and luge track active in France, the La Plagne track, considered as one of the most technical, was used for the Albertville Olympic Games in 1992, the year before Hélary's first participation at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Having come up via karting and single-seaters like most drivers, Hélary shifted his career to endurance after mixed results in F3000, a lead-in to F1 in the 1990s and 2000s. Noticed by Jean Todt, Peugeot team manager, the Parisian debuted at the wheel of the 905 at the last round of 1992 season of the Sports Car World Championship, predecessor to the current World Endurance Championship (WEC), at Magny-Cours along with another newcomer, Christophe Bouchut. The debuting duo scored second place, and the future FIA President decided to give them a chance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans the following year.

Supported by experienced Geoff Brabham, son of Sir Jack Brabham and brother of David Brabham, winner at Le Mans in 2009 with Peugeot, Hélary and Christophe Bouchut won at their very first participation, even allowing Peugeot to achieve a historic one-two-three. Though he never reached the top step on the podium again, Hélary did claim a podium finish three other times, the last time in 2006 with Pescarolo Sport, along with a certain Sébastien Loeb, nine-time World Rally Champion.

It was to rally, but historic, that Hélary turned with his team, Still Racing, which enters cars in races like the Tour Auto and the Le Mans Classic. The French driver, test driver for the show "Automoto," did however take the wheel of a current Nissan GTR for the two days of filming. In your opinion, which was faster?

Cécile Bonardel / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

PHOTO: LA PLAGNE (SAVOIE, FRANCE), WEDNESAY & THURSDAY FEBRUARY 17-18 2016. Eric Hélary, at left, with the film crew and Laurent Boch, bobsled driver.