Le Mans 2015 - This weekend - 4 Kiwi's racing

[John B]

Only 6 hours until the start of the 2015 Le Mans 24-Hour!

Bloody excited about watching the whole 24 hours (no TV coverage, but live streaming is available), as this is a rather special year. There are a record number of Kiwis driving, and we are in with a good chance of podium finishes in LMP1 (and overall) plus GTE Pro class...

• Brendon Hartley (LMP1 class) : #17 Porsche 919 Hybrid (red) ... qualified second
• Earl Bamber (LMP1 class) : #19 Porsche 919 Hybrid (white) ... qualified third
• Mitch Evans (LMP2 class) : #38 Gibson 015S Nissan ... qualified 4th in class
• Richie Stanaway (LM GTE Pro): #99 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE ... qualified 1st in class

The previous best years were 1966 & 1996, when there were three Kiwis racing. Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme & Chris Amon in 1966, and Bill Farmer, Greg Murphy & Andrew Bagnall in 1996. It should have been four Kiwi drivers in 1996, as Owen Evans was listed to drive with Bill Farmer, but he crashed at over 200mph in an NZ Land Speed Record attempt just months prior to Le Mans. And coincidentally, Mitch Evans is of course racing this year.

Only two Aussies driving at Le Mans this year - Mark Webber and Ryan Briscoe.

[Grant Ellwood]

Just read a news bulletin that said Ryan Briscoe is out after a practice crash, one of the factory Corvettes I think.

[John B]

Just read a news bulletin that said Ryan Briscoe is out after a practice crash, one of the factory Corvettes I think.

You're absolutely right Grant. Briscoe was meant to be driving the #63 Corvette, but this is the car - with Jan Magnussen driving - that crashed during Thursday’s second qualifying session. The Dane was OK, but the Corvette was too heavily damaged to repair in time for the race. The result - Briscoe is out, and Webber is the only Aussie racing.

Now only 1 hour 22 minutes to go until the start!!!

[Grant Ellwood]

Yep John, scary moment for Magnussen. I watched the in-car camera video of the crash, appears something let go in the drive-line or suspension and he went off on the super fast Porshe curves. Smacked the outside barrier first then back across the road into the inner barrier, uninjured thankfully. Great live coverage here, 25 hours.

[John B]

5 hours to go and Bamber's #19 Porsche 919 leading from Hartley's #17 Porsche 919 second. Excellent live coverage on 'Euro Sports 1'.

[John B]

Fantastic result for Porsche - first and second - with a Kiwi in each car. Very emotional win, and brings back memories of 1966.

Congratulations to Earl Bamber, Nico Hulkenberg & Nick Tandy (first) and Brendon Hartley, Timo Bernhard & Mark Webber (second).

Now it's finally time for bed after 24 hours of non-stop viewing!

[John B]

...also congratulations to Mitch Evans - 10th overall and 2nd in LMP2.

So three out of the four Kiwis who entered this year's Le Mans made it onto the podium. Not a bad result!

[Steve Holmes]

Is Earl Bamber the first Kiwi to be an outright Le Mans winner since Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon since 1966?

[Shoreboy57]

Is Earl Bamber the first Kiwi to be an outright Le Mans winner since Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon since 1966?

Indeed he is. So our third in total (despite RadioSport saying 2nd this morning). Also I understand Bamber and Hulkenburg are the first to win Le Mans at their first attempt since Laurent Aiello in 1998.

[John B]

And Hayden Paddon finished second in the WRC "Rally Italia Sardegna". What a weekend for NZ Motorsport.

[Spgeti]

Fantastic result for Le Mans.....it will take sometime for the result to sink in but is significant in our history. Hayden Paddon's result is very significant. Well done all our young men !!