24h Le Mans
For many years, Japan was the main standard bearer for Asia at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, especially with Mazda’s 1991 win and the pole positions achieved by Nissan and Toyota. However, the popularity of endurance racing in China and other Far Eastern countries is stronger now than ever before. As we await the 2016–17 Asian Le Mans Series curtain-raiser in Zhuhai (China) on 30 October, we look back at the long-standing partnership forged by drivers Ho-pin Tung and David Cheng.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is renowned for its legendary driver line-ups. The most famous crews include Olivier Gendebien/Phil Hill, Jacky Ickx/Derek Bell, Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro/Tom Kristensen, Dindo Capello/Allan McNish/Tom Kristensen, and Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer. Between them, they total thirteen Le Mans victories.
Close teamwork can sometimes lead to genuine friendships off the track. For example, this year Ho-pin Tung and David Cheng paired up at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the third year running. Ho-pin and myself bonded very well and at this point we know exactly how each other thinks and this helps up make the important decisions very easily, says David Cheng. Not only in racing but we know we can help and rely on each other in our personal lives as well and this really makes our teamwork very strong.
Tung and Cheng made history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014 when, together with Adderly Fong, they became the first ever all-Chinese team to finish the race. They came seventh in the LM P2 class and 14th overall at the wheel of a Ligier JS P2-Honda HPD. It was a great moment, remembers Ho-pin Tung. It was my second start at the legendary race but after retirement on my first attempt, it was the first time I finished. Crossing the finish line in front of a large crowd, the Chinese media, fans, sponsors and of course teammates and the team was a very special moment.
The Chinese pairing are now a regular entry in LM P2, but they took things to another level in 2016 when they drove the #35 Alpine A460-Nissan. The car was entered under the Baxi DC Racing Alpine name, where the DC stands for David Cheng, now team owner as well as a driver. The car is operated by French team Signatech, which this year dominated the category at Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship, with their other car driven by trio Nicolas Lapierre/Gustavo Menezes/Stéphane Richelmi. For us we really consider the entire operation as one team, explains Cheng. We share our data and all the drivers interact very closely to try to help and get the maximum we possibly can for each other. The spirit between the two cars is very open.
When the Asian Le Mans Series 2016–2017 opens in Zhuhai (China) on Sunday 30 October, Cheng and Tung will achieve another historical first with a double entry in both the LM P2 and LM P3 classes. Their team has been renamed Jackie Chan DC Racing to mark the partnership with the Asian movie star who came to cheer on his countrymen at Le Mans this year.
Catch up on the first instalment in our series on the Asian connection with the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Photo: In 2016, David Cheng raced his first 24 Hours of Le Mans as team owner, at the wheel of the #35 Alpine A460. He teamed up with Ho-pin Tung and Frenchman Nelson Panciatici. The latter was replaced by Paul-Loup Chatin at the 6 Hours of Fuji.
