24h Le Mans
A round of the Asian Le Mans Series is set to take place 10-12 January 2020 at the Australian circuit known as The Bend. Here's a look at the country's connection to endurance racing, in particular the wins secured by Australian drivers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
On 10-12 January 2020, Australian endurance racing fans will get the chance to attend a round of the Asian Le Mans Series at The Bend, a circuit located 100 kilometers from Adelaide, during the 2019-2020 season of the championship.
Australia has been an impressive source of top endurance racing drivers internationally and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Three drivers from Down Under have won the legendary race. Vern Schuppan was the first back in 1983 at the wheel of the Rothmans Porsche team's Porsche 956 shared with Hurley Haywood (Grand Marshal at the 2019 edition) and Al Holbert. Geoff Brabham followed in 1993 with the Peugeot 905 Evo 1B fielded by Peugeot Talbot Sport. His teammates that year were Christophe Bouchut and Eric Hélary. Sixteen years later, the French marque won the 24 Hours once again with an Australian driver, none other than David Brabham (Geoff's younger brother), at the wheel of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP shared with Marc Gené and Alex Wurz.
Among the other Australian stars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mark Webber is a standout. He represented Mercedes in 1998 and 1999 at the race before making the move to Formula 1 (nine wins, 13 pole positions, 42 podium finishes), then returned to the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in 2014 with Porsche. Webber became World Endurance Champion in 2015 with the German manufacturer, then retired at the end of the 2016 season, with as best result at the 24 Hours of Le Mans a second place finish in 2015 with Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley at the wheel of a Porsche 919 Hybrid. He also served as Grand Marshal in 2017.
Last year, four Australians drivers took the start at the 86th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: James Allen (G-Drive Racing's #40 ORECA 07-Gibson), Ryan Briscoe (Ford Chip Ganassi Team USA's #69 Ford GT), Matt Campbell (Dempsey-Proton Racing's #77 Porsche 911 RSR) and Alexander Davison (Gulf Racing's #86 Porsche 911 RSR).
PHOTO: Australian driver Mark Webber represented Porsche in the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 2014 and 2016.
