The world’s greatest endurance race awaits reigning British GT champion Jonny Adam this weekend with the Fifer’s debut at the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours.
And although the nation may have missed out on participation in France’s other current sporting spectacle, Adam is one of four Scots – including Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy – with a genuine shot at success in the gruelling Circuit de la Sarthe challenge which annually draws over 250,000 motorsport fans and sees the top prototype cars hit over 200 miles per hour on the 8.3 mile track.
For Aston Martin factory driver Adam, the opportunity is the realisation of a long-held dream and he is relishing a big battle in the GTE Pro category.
“I did 10 laps at Le Mans in the rookie test in 2013, but it was special to set that first flying lap in a Pro class car this year,” said Adam.
“It’s the race I’ve really wanted to do for four or five years and it’s the most important one,” said Adam, whose packed 2016 programme takes in British GT, the Blancpain Endurance Series and the World Endurance Championship which Le Mans is part of.
Knock knock. Who's there? @AMR_Official at @24hoursoflemans is who's there! #LeMans24 #teamAMR pic.twitter.com/OBcm0Z3q7y
— Aston Martin Racing (@AMR_Official) June 13, 2016
Partnering Brazil’s Fernando Rees and Kiwi Richie Stanaway in the #97 Aston Martin Vantage, Adam added: “It’s a car that is reliable and that we know inside out, but at Le Mans it’s all about it all working together for the whole 24 hours.
“Hopefully the homework we have done will pay off, but the one thing about Le Mans is that anything can happen right up to the very end and we know it will be a big fight.”
Class rivals include fellow Scot Marino Franchitti, part of a four-car Ford assault on the race exactly 50 years on from the Blue Oval’s victory with the original GT40.
“The return of Ford on its anniversary is a big story, but we’ve also got Corvette, Porsche and Ferrari in there and they will all be strong,” added Adam.
US-based Ryan Dalziel tasted Le Mans glory in 2012 in the LMP 2 category and will be looking to repeat that feat in the Extreme Speed Motorsports Nissan-powered Ligier JS P2, while six-time Olympic gold medal winning cyclist Sir Chris Hoy will run in the same class with Algarve Pro Racing in what he has described as an “amazing” opportunity.
The race gets under way at 3pm on Saturday.
