News and notes heading into qualifying at the Le Mans 24 Hours
- The class of 2018 of 180 drivers includes ten former winners – Lotterer, Fässler, Dumas, Bernhard, Bamber, Lammers, Rockenfeller, Duval, Tandy and Jani – who have 17 victories between them. Racing Team Nederland driver Jan Lammers is celebrating his 24th Le Mans and the 30th anniversary of his win. The 60 teams are divided into four classes with 10 in LMP1, 20 in LMP2, 17 in LMGTE Pro and 13 in LMGTE Am.
Driver Collective, Le Mans 24 Hours, Circuit des 24 Heures, Le Mans, Pays da la Loire, France
- There is the Le Mans 24 Hours this weekend and the F1 race next weekend in France – Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, organiser of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (16-17 June): “Some people might expect rivalry between two events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the French Grand Prix, held just one week apart. I see it more as a two-pronged opportunity to highlight the values of motor racing through two of its biggest disciplines. It is a chance for us, as the organisers, to assert our commitments and our beliefs at a time when the motoring sector is undergoing major change. This celebration of motorsport will thrill many French fans and give our projects an international platform.”
#98 Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Vantage: Paul Dalla Lana, Pedro Lamy, Mathias Lauda, #97 Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR: Alex Lynn, Maxime Martin, Jonathan Adams, #95 Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR: Marco Sorensen, Nicki Thiim, Darren Turner, Public Scrutineering , Le Mans 24 Hours, Place de la Republique, Le Mans, Pays da la Loire, France - Ever the gentleman, Martin Birrane managed to integrate his keen passion for motorsport into his business activities. He competed in many disciplines in a career spanning more than forty years. He raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans ten times between 1973 and 1988, winning the GT class at the wheel of a BMW M1 in 1985. In July 2007, his final competition saw him drive a Lola T70 MK3B.
This car was particularly dear to him as he became the boss of Lola Cars in 1997. His company was a shining light in the automotive world. He had also been the immensely proud owner of the Mondello Motor Racing Circuit in Caragh, in his country of birth – Ireland. This FIA-approved track is home to British Superbike, British Touring Car Championship and FIA Sportscars events. - The 24 Hours of Le Mans attracts stars from all over the world and our guest of honour this year is none other than Michael Fassbender. His passion for motoring is not role-play.
Michael Fassbender, who has played roles in Alien, Inglorious Basterds and X Men and whose portrayal of Steve Jobs earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor, loves racing. The Automobile Club de l’Ouest is therefore delighted to say that he has accepted our invitation to be guest of honour at the 86th 24 Hours of Le Mans. We will be proud to show him how we prepare for the race behind the scenes and to help him savour every minute of the action.
—Words from PR, photos from Paul Foster
