Force India driver wins endurance classic at first attempt, becoming first contemporary F1 driver to take victory since 1991
Monday 15 June 2015 15:50, UK
F1 stars past and present were quick to send congratulations to Nico Hulkenberg after his success in the Le Mans 24-hour race at the weekend.
Together with team-mates Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber, Hulkenberg took victory for Porsche on Sunday – the German marque’s 17th win in the classic event and its first since 1998.
It also came in what was Hulkenberg’s very first visit to Le Mans, after Force India had agreed to let him race ahead of this weekend’s Austrian GP.
Although F1 drivers once regularly raced in the legendary event, Hulkenberg was the first contemporary to take part since 2009 and the first to win since Johnny Herbert and Bertrand Gachot triumphed in a Mazda back in 1991.
“Congratulations to @NicoHulkenberg @NickTandyR @earlbamber welcome to the Le Mans winners circle. Great job all round @PorscheRaces,” Herbert tweeted on Sunday.
Martin Brundle, who co-drove the winning Jaguar in 1990, reserved special praise for Tandy, who became the first British winner since 2013.
“Well deserved LM24 victory for @NicoHulkenberg @earlbamber and particularly pleased for @NickTandyR Spectacular performance from Porsche,” he said.
Porsche returned to competition in the leading LMP1-H category last year and had taken a one-two-three in qualifying.
A sister 919 Hybrid driven by Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard finished second, with last year’s winners Andre Lotterer, Marcel Fassler and Benoit Treluyer third for Audi.
Audi have dominated at Le Mans in recent years, winning 13 out of the last 15 editions.
"Cannot express how proud I am of this incredible result team from the weekend. Porsche wins for a record 17th time," Webber tweeted on Monday.
“Once again #24hLeMans & all the competitors putting on a great show. Congrats 2 all the winners especially fellow F1 driver @NicoHulkenberg,” added Jenson Button.
Like a number of F1 drivers, Button has expressed an interest in racing at Le Mans and Porsche had been keen to field McLaren-Honda team-mate Fernando Alonso, who served as honorary starter last year.
Team bosses have been reluctant in allowing their star turns to take part in recent years - until, that is, Force India's Vijay Mallya relented. “Nico @NicoHulkenberg becomes the first active formula one driver to win Le Mans after a gap of 24 years. All of us @ForceIndiaF1 delighted,” he said on Twitter.
Hulkenberg, Tandy and New Zealand’s Bamber completed a total of 395 laps, or 5383.46 km, in all – the equivalent of over 17 Austrian GPs.
"I'm speechless right now, to be honest," said Hulkenberg before lifting the winners’ trophy with his team-mates.
"It's amazing to come here, first attempt. Super happy...we wrote history today," added the 27-year-old, whose best F1 results so far are a pair of fourth places – yet who is generally seen as having the talent worthy of a seat at a leading team.
"I couldn't think of two guys I'd rather share the car with," added Tandy, who has raced Porsches in a variety of categories.
"I could retire from racing tomorrow and look back on today and I am sure I would be happy for the rest of my life."
