Breaking news
WEC
Montoya says Le Mans attempt “would be cool”
Two-time Indy 500 winner and former F1 star Juan Pablo Montoya is open to an attempt at the Le Mans 24 Hours, but says he would only do so with a potentially race-winning team and car like the factory Porsche squad.
Charles Bradley
Edited: Nov 22, 2015, 2:34 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Speaking after he tested the WEC championship-winning Porsche 919 Hybrid at Bahrain on Sunday, Montoya would not commit himself to trying the French sportscar classic, but admitted he has the desire to race there in the future.
“I think it would be a cool race, it would be something to do and to get the win there would be cool,” said Montoya. “If I have the opportunity to do it, why not?
“To be honest, we haven’t even talked about it. I don’t know, I’m really happy with IndyCar where I am with the team and everything.
“I think a lot of people assume because I’m doing this test I’m doing Le Mans, but there’s not even talk about it.
“At some point I think it would be cool to do it. I’m a guy who’s raced everything, I think it would be a cool experience. But if you do Le Mans, it has to be in a car like this. I’m not interested in doing Le Mans in a GT or smaller car.
“For this, the whole experience and being in fast cars, yes, that would be cool. At this point today, I couldn’t tell you – I’d be lying to you if I told you I had any idea.”
Different to Daytona
Montoya has raced seven times in the Daytona 24 Hours with Chip Ganassi Racing, winning the American endurance classic three times. He said that the LMP1 car was in a different league to the Daytona Prototype he raced.
“Daytona was easy,” he said. “This car is very different to the Daytona Prototype I used to drive – I used to tell people, not in a bad way, but it was like an indoor kart. It had a bit of torque, and you could get it sideways and it was predictable, but it was hard because the GTs kept getting better, so it was really hard to pass people."
Open to fulltime WEC switch
When asked if he would consider a fulltime switch to the World Endurance Championship when he was finished with IndyCar racing, he replied: “I don’t know, if they wanted me – maybe.
“It’s one thing what you want, and another thing that you have. Ask anybody in GP2 what they want to do and 70% would say F1 and 30% would say this.
“At some point, if this was available in the future, then it’s something you can look at.
“At this point in my career, I do it because I love it, I don’t have to be racing. I like to win and beat the hell out of people, and that’s it. Simple.”
F1 car ‘with a cockpit’
Montoya added that the high performance of the Porsche 919 has impressed him, and likened it to an F1 car with an enclosed cockpit.
“If you think today what’s the most advanced-technology car, it’s this,” he said. “I think it’s ahead of Formula 1 in technology and everything.
“When you look at the car without the bodywork and everything, people talk about Formula 1 and the cockpits – if you want a cockpit on a Formula 1, you have it here. You really do. It’s pretty unbelievable.”
Read Also:
- Montoya: Porsche LMP1 is so good “it’s shocking”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Montoya: Porsche LMP1 is so good “it’s shocking”
Next article Lynn says first LMP1 experience "a bit special"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Charles Bradley
Mika Hakkinen on his darkest day in F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mika Hakkinen on his darkest day in F1
Dillon: Spotter was “wrong” to shout “wreck him!” before Hamlin clash
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Richmond II
Dillon: Spotter was “wrong” to shout “wreck him!” before Hamlin clash
Hamlin: NASCAR stripping Dillon of win would be “warranted”
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Richmond II
Hamlin: NASCAR stripping Dillon of win would be “warranted”
More from
Juan Pablo Montoya
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
IndyCar
IndyCar
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Williams tipped for "huge step" forward at Azerbaijan GP with major upgrade
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Williams tipped for "huge step" forward at Azerbaijan GP with major upgrade
More from
Porsche Team
Antonio Felix da Costa defends Jaguar, says Pascal Wehrlein took Jake Dennis out “on purpose”
Formula E
Formula E
London ePrix II
Antonio Felix da Costa defends Jaguar, says Pascal Wehrlein took Jake Dennis out “on purpose”
Pascal Wehrlein: Jaguar wanted to "destroy my race” in controversial London finale
Formula E
Formula E
London ePrix II
Pascal Wehrlein: Jaguar wanted to "destroy my race” in controversial London finale
Pascal Wehrlein responds to Porsche’s team tactics after dominant London win
Formula E
Formula E
London ePrix I
Pascal Wehrlein responds to Porsche’s team tactics after dominant London win
Latest news
LIVE: F1 Mexico GP updates - Can Kimi Antonelli seal the title?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
LIVE: F1 Mexico GP updates - Can Kimi Antonelli seal the title?
What does Yamaha’s shock MotoGP boycott mean for F1 in Qatar and Abu Dhabi?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Qatar GP
2 h
What does Yamaha’s shock MotoGP boycott mean for F1 in Qatar and Abu Dhabi?
Valtteri Bottas "pretty confident" of staying for F1 2027 amid Colton Herta rumours
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
4 h
Valtteri Bottas "pretty confident" of staying for F1 2027 amid Colton Herta rumours
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe