SEBRING, Fla. – NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports have teamed up in an effort to join the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year with a modified version of the new Next Gen car.
The collaborative effort announced Thursday at the Sebring International Raceway seeks to find the entry Garage 56, created in 2012 as a special one-time entry for innovative cars. The Garage 56 entry allows for the experimentation of new technologies, creativity and innovation without requiring a place on the traditional starting grid.
NASCAR still needs an invitation from l’Automobile Club de l’Ouest, the organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but it looks to be a form based on the magnitude of Thursday’s announcement. Pierre Fillon, president of ACO, attended the event along with Jim France, president of both NASCAR and IMSA.
“The Garage 56 is a special opportunity at Le Mans as the race has led the automotive industry in process technology throughout its nearly century of existence,” said Fillon. “Once ACO received an application for the Garage 56 program, we started by talking with designers, team partners and suppliers to establish performance parameters so that the program could be successful. public for everyone involved.
“We will continue to work with NASCAR and all of their partners as they work towards the proposed 2023 Garage 56 project.”
NASCAR last competed at Le Mans, the world’s most prestigious motorsport race, in 1976 when chain founder Bill France cut the contract to send two cars to the newly built Grand International endurance race. establish. Hershel McGriff both owned and drove a Dodge Charger to the race, while Junie Donlavey sent a Ford Torino driven by Richard Brooks and Dick Hutcherson.
The 2023 entry will be a modified version of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Next Generation race car. NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet, IMSA and Goodyear have all worked on the project, with technical elements of the vehicle and team drivers expected at a later date.
Next Gen debuts this season as NASCAR’s newest Cup car.
Jim France said: “From the early days of NASCAR, it was important to my father that we played a clear role in international motorsport, and there is no bigger stage than the 24 Hours. of Le Mans,” said Jim France.
“Partnering with Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear, we have the most winning teams, manufacturers and tires in NASCAR history. We look forward to introducing technology in Next Gen vehicles and offering a competitive entry point.” in the historic race.”
France in 2020 is part of an announcement between IMSA and ACO about new specifications for the flagship prototype category that will make IMSA’s flagship class eligible for competition at Le Mans in 2023.
Hendrick Motorsports, meanwhile, last year started a team racing four endurance races on the IMSA schedule. Chad Knaus, winner of seven Cup championships and currently Hendrick’s vice president of competitions, will be Garage 56 program director.
Rick Hendrick said: “To be part of one of the truly iconic events in motorsport and to represent NASCAR and Chevrolet on the world stage. “Jim deserves great credit for his vision for the project and we thank him for trusting us with the responsibility of our organization.
“Although Garage 56 is ‘class of one’, we are competitors and have always intended to put a bold product on the track for the fans at Le Mans. It was a humbling opportunity – an opportunity that will present an interesting challenge compared to the next 15 months – but our team is ready.”
