24h Le Mans
Autosport International in Birmingham kicked off yesterday and will come to a close on Sunday evening. Like every year, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is represented through drivers who have competed in the race, as well as cars exhibited or up for sale at auction.
Yesterday United Autosport, winner of the LM P3 class title in the 2016 European Le Mans Series, presented as a preview the Ligier JS P2 with which the team will honor its automatic invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, while Onroak Automotive's new Ligier JS P3 reigns at Ligier's stand.
As for the drivers, Jacques Villeneuve, who finished second at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans with Peugeot, will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his F1 World Champion title on Sunday, after Allan McNish, three-time winner at Le Mans, shares a review of 2016 and regales the public with anecdotes about the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Darren Turner, official Aston Martin driver with two class wins at Le Mans in 2007 and 2008, graced the racing car show with his presence yesterday, as did Martin Brundle, winner at the 24 Hours in 1990 with Jaguar. The Brits will leave the stage the following days to Derek Warwick, president of the BRDC (the British Racing Drivers Club) and winner at Le Mans in 1992, and Johnny Herbert, who a year before him claimed the top step on the podium at the 24 Hours.
Lastly, two cars that took the start at the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be sold at an auction organized by Coys on Saturday: a Porsche 996 that competed in the race in 2000 for the M1 Club-Renstal Excelsior team (24th overall and fifth in GT) and a Deep Sanderson 301, forced to retired at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1963.
Photo (Copyright - United Autosports): The United Autosports team's Ligier JS P2 with, from left to right, team co-owners Zak Brown and Richard Dean, and the drivers who will compete in the ELMS in LM P2, Hugo de Sadeleer and Will Owen.
