Photo : LAURENT CARTALADE / VISION SPORT

 

Though the young, 26-year-old Brit discovered the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, he had already performed well at the finale round of the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the Bahrain circuit. With Greaves Motorsport (Zytek-Nissan), along with Wolfgang Reip and Björn Wirdheim, Jon Lancaster finished on the third step of the LM P2 podium behind G-Drive Racing and OAK Racing. A conclusive experience with a prototype at the highest global level, boding well for his momentum in La Sarthe.

"Jon will do his first 24 Hours of Le Mans this year so I am going to guide him in everything about the event, such as the circuit, the traffic. He will be very fast, that's certain, it's to me to keep him focused so he can perfectly use his speed at the right time and place," said Franck Mailleux about his young teammate who was familiarizing himself with the Oreca 03R and the 24 Hours circuit at the Test Day on June 1, 2014. Sixth in the LM P2 class after that day in 3:39:568, the Franck Mailleux-Michel Frey-Jon Lancaster driver line-up confirmed its performance level during qualifying right in the middle of a highly competitive class (5th in 3:39:993).

During the race, the three men - including the very efficient Mailleux - did everything possible to remain at the forefront prior to a series of mechanical issues, the fuel pump and the starter, managed to delay them cruelly after their excellent performance since the start. At the finish of his first experience in La Sarthe, Lancaster happily made it to the checkered flag in 18th place overall and in 8th in the LM P2 class, without making the slightest mistake and at a fantastic pace.

For someone who has raced in the highest caliber single-seaters championships, like the Formula 3 Euro Series, the Formula Renault 3.5, the Auto GP, the F2 and GP2 Series, that 82nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans was an opportunity to measure himself against extrememly fast drivers during a grueling and particularly instructive race. In a world where entry into Formula 1 is rare if not impossible, the challenge of the FIA WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans may prove to be an excellent alternative for racing especially fast cars.

Pierre-Yves Riom / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO