Five Porsche Carrera Cup GB regulars will make the journey over to the historic Circuit de la Sarthe this week to take past in the Porsche Carrera Cup France race that supports the 24 Hours.
The race is perhaps the biggest Carrera Cup race of the season with over 40 cars expected, representing teams and drivers from all over Europe, all taking place on the formidable eight mile track, consisting partly of public roads, partly of purpose built race track.
Unsurprisingly Tim Harvey has the greatest amount of experience around Le Mans, having raced in the 24 Hours four times, his best finish coming in 1990, when he finished 18th. However, his last '24' was in 1991.
“It's one of my all-time favourite tracks, with the overall speed and sense of history,” he says. “I think we'll be hitting around 185mph three times on every lap and that'll be fantastic. This is a unique chance to race in front of 300,000 spectators and we've got to uphold British honour.”
Harvey is not the only one of the five drivers with Le Mans history, with Pro-Am 1 driver Archie Hamilton racing on the track where his late grandfather Duncan won the 24 Hours in 1953 at the wheel of a Jaguar C-type.
“It's a great opportunity to follow in the family tradition,” said Hamilton. “The whole atmosphere and build up to the race will be amazing. It's a great chance to learn the circuit and I've been flat out on the simulator since I knew we were going to Le Mans. I've never even been there to watch so just being there will be very special.”
His fellow Pro-Am 1 driver Ahmad Al Harthy will also make his own mark in Le Mans history, becoming the first Omani racer to challenge the circuit.
Harvey, Hamilton and Al Harthy will be joined Glenn McMenamin as the four go to Le Mans with Red Line Racing, the team than runs their domestic racing efforts. The fifth driver making the journey, Alex Martin switches from GT Marques to Team Parker Racing for his trip to central France.
“Who wouldn't look forward to racing at Le Mans?” Martin says, you have to believe for all the drivers.
