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.