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, here are some of the top dates for Chinese teams and drivers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
2008 - The year of the first participation of a Chinese driver at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With Pescarolo and French drivers Pierre Ragues and Matthieu Lahaye, Cong Fu Cheng finished third in the LM P2 class. It was a result that was nearly as good as a win given huge domination by the Porsche RS Spyders which finished in the top two spots.
2013 - Five years after his LM P2 podium finish, Cong Fu Cheng was also the first (and sole to-date) Chinese driver to take the start at the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the wheel of an LM P1 prototype. He competed along with Mathias Beche and Andrea Belicchi in one of Swiss team Rebellion Racing's two Lola-Toyotas.
2013 - Based in Hong Kong (a Chinese territory again as of 1997), KCMG was the first Chinese team at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a Morgan-Nissan driven by Chinese driver Ho-pin Tung, Brit Matt Howson and Swiss driver Alexandre Imperatori. The following year, KCMG returned with an Oreca 03 chassis.
2014 - Along with David Cheng and Adderly Fong, Ho-pin Tung was a member of the first 100% Chinese driver line-up at the 24 Hours, with a Ligier JS P2-Honda entered with OAK Racing Team Asia. He finished seventh in the LM P2 class (12th overall).
2015 - Benefitting exclusively for the World Endurance Championsihp (WEC) of the new Oreca 05 chassis, KCMG became the first Chinese team to win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, claiming the top step on the podium in the LM P2 class for Nicolas Lapierre, Matt Howson and Richard Bradley, ninth overall.
2016 - For his third participation in the 24 Hours, David Cheng competed for the first time as a team owner-driver with Baxi DC Racing Alpine. But the Alpine A460-Nissan he shared with fellow countryman Ho-pin Tung and French driver Nelson Panciatici was forced to retire.
Click here for our previous installments of this Asian saga:
Le Mans, China and Asia (1) – Towards a new era
Le Mans, China and Asia (2) - Ho-pin Tung and David Cheng, teammates and friends
Le Mans, China and Asia (3) - Thai standouts
Photo: The first Chinese team to win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2015) in the LM P2 class, KCMG returned this year in two different classes: with an Oreca 05-Nissan in LM P2 (pictured here) and with a Porsche 911 RSR in LM GTE Am.
