24h Le Mans
In addition to eight Brazilians, three Mexicans and one Argentinian also took the start at the 85th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans this past June 17th and 18th. Two among them reached the checkered flag: Mexicans Memo Rojas and José Gutierrez along with Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa at the wheel of G-Drive Racing's #22 ORECA.
Last year, before first appearing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the age of 35 with Greaves Motorsport in the LMP2 class, Memo Rojas had already established an impressive track record across the Atlantic, winning two great American endurance races - the 12 Hours of Sebring (in 2014) and the Rolex 24 at Daytona (in 2008, 2011 and 2013). This year, his fellow countryman Jose Gutierrez (21 years old), also issue from ladder series and American endurance racing, competed at his first 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Along with Swiss driver Simon Trummer and the Russian Vitaly Petrov at the wheel of the CEFC Manor TRS Racing team's #25 ORECA, Roberto Gonzalez (41 years old) debuted at Le Mans in 2017 as well, but his last name was already known at the 24 Hours thanks to his younger brother Ricardo. The LMP2 winner in 2013 with OAK Racing has finished in the top 10 in the class in all four of his participations in the race. While Ricardo was absent at this year's edition, Roberto was unfortunately forced to retire.
Let's round off this look at South American drivers in the 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Argentinian José Maria Lopez. A three-time World Champion in the WTCC (FIA World Touring Car Championship), he has taken on not one but two disciplines this year, endurance racing with Toyota and Formula e with DS Virgin. Teammates with the Brit Mike Conway and Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi at the wheel of the #7 Toyota TS050 HYBRID in the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), he competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the #9 along with Frenchman Nicolas Lapierre and Japanese driver Yuji Kunimoto. The trio was forced to retire during the night when a fire was caused by contact with another car. Though José Maria Lopez experienced a difficult early season in endurance (an accident at Silverstone, withdrawal at Spa-Francorchamps), in July he claimed his best podium finish at the 6 Hours of Nürburgring, the fourth round of the 2017 World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC).
Click below for the previous installments in this South American series:
When South American drivers spiced up the 24 Hours (1) - Trendsetters and pioneers
When South American drivers spiced up the 24 Hours (2) - 2017, the Brazilians prevail
PHOTO: For his new challenge in Endurance racing with Toyota Gazoo Racing, José Maria Lopez set himself one major goal: to follow in the footsteps of his fellow countryman José Froilan Gonzalez, the only Argentinian driver to win at 24 Hours of Le Mans (1954).
