Sir Chris Hoy gets Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 seat
Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy will race in this year's Le Mans 24 Hours after securing a seat with the Algarve Pro Racing LMP2 squad.
Photo by: Algarve Pro Racing Team
The 40-year-old Scotsman will join Andrea Pizzitola and Michael Munemann for the French endurance classic, driving a Nissan-powered Ligier JS P2 machine.
As preparation, Hoy will also contest the first two rounds of the European Le Mans Series at Silverstone and Imola alongside his new teammates.
“In motorsports terms, it’s everything," said Hoy. "The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the pinnacle for me. It’s what I’ve been working for over the past three years.
“To get the news that I have the seat for Le Mans is amazing. I still can’t quite believe it.
“It’s exciting but there are a lot of steps to take between now and then so I’m trying to focus on the short-term. I’m also incredibly excited that I’m going to be starting on the same grid as all these legendary drivers.”
The Ligier JS P2 will be the most powerful machine Hoy has competed in yet, having spent last season racing a Ginetta-Nissan LMP3 car in the ELMS - winning the class title alongside Charlie Robertson.
Prior to that, he contested the British GT championship in 2014 in a GT3-spec Nissan GT-R NISMO, placing 20th.
“The time from my racing debut to getting a Le Mans drive has been short, but many GT Academy athletes have done the journey even quicker," Hoy added.
"It’s incredible what can be achieved with the right support and the right people around you.
“The biggest thing in my motorsports career is Nissan has continued to provide new challenges for me. Just as I was coming to grips with the GT-R NISMO GT3, I was promoted straight away to the LMP3 prototype.
“It has been a continued series of new challenges. But the LMP2 car I’m going to race at Le Mans is the easiest and most intuitive car I’ve ever driven.”
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