As when’s the last time you read about somebody
with the initials JK?
These are some of the other “Story lines” that
Peaked my Attenzione regarding this year’s 24 Heurs du Man running. Noting half
of the six current IndyCar drivers competing this year, along with one
fascinating Hypercar entry.
Hypercar
This is probably the most interesting Le Mans
Hypercar entry for Mwah, due to it’s drivers line-up and unknown Italiano manufacturer.
Which Racer’s Marshall Pruett enjoys playfully calling the Flying Franchitti
Brothers entry.
The racecar inQuestionne is none other than the
Isotta Fraschini Tipo C-6, also known as the Tipo 6 LMH-C or LMH Competizione.
The chassis was reportedly designed by Michelotto,
long time Italian Coachbuilder and Ferrari Motorsport partner. With the
Aerodynamics being developed by Williams Advanced Engineering.
It utilizes a HWA 2.3-liter 90 degrees V-6 with
a single turbocharger rated at some 700bhp, albeit I’m Arse-suming that
includes the front axle’s electric motor. Although I thought that horsepower
was rated at a maximum of 680bhp. Or was it 681 “Ponies?”
The single entry is being run by Dequeine Engineering
and it’s drivers features two former Indy Lights racers and a totally unknown
Thai behind the keyboard.
Jean-Karl Vernay, ergo the initials JK. Who won
the 2010 Indy Lights championship for then powerhouse Sam Schmidt Motorsports
is arguably the most heralded of this trio. With Kanuck’ Antonio Sarravall
being a short lived Indy Lights competitor. Whilst I’ve never heard of Carl
Bennett, a Thailand racer who’s made the jump up to Hypercars quickly after
toiling in lower category single seaters. And is overseen by A14 Management,
run by some Smarmy Spaniard named Fred Alonso…
It's hard to believe that I still remember
Jean-Karl Vernay going Head-to-Head with another Hoser from Up North eh! Racing
against thee Mayor ‘O Hinchtown if memory serves me correctly, Eh?
As Vernay’s part of an unasked trivia question.
Being the second of three Indy Light champions to have never raced in Indy
Cars. Having already divulged Steve Robertson, (1994) can Y’all name the third?
Times up, it’s Canadian David Empringham, who
appropriately won the title for Forsythe Racing in 1996…
LMP2
As typical, United Autosports, co-owned by
Richard Dean and McLaren Boss Zak Brown, returns with it’s brace of Oreca 07
Gibson powered LMP2 entries. Running it’s traditional Nos. 22-23, for which I’m
not sure which of these two racecars drivers line-ups is stronger?
The No. 22 has Oliver Jarvis, the 2022 IMSA
SportsCar Prototype champion, plus that year’s Rolex 24 winner! Along with the
totally unknown Bijoy Garg being joined by Indy NXT and IndyCar driver Nolan
Siegel, making His Le Mans debut at the tender age of 19.
Whilst the No. 23 sees former IndyCar driver
Ben Handley, Bad Arse Sports Car Ace Filipe Albuquerque and standout “Gentlemen”
racer Ben Keating at it’s controls.
The #24 Nielsen Racing entry sees Chip Ganassi
Racing IndyCar rookie Kyffin Simpson as part of the driver line-up. Alongside David
Heinemeier Hansson and Favio Scherer.
As previously noted, my sentimental favourite
for the LMP2 Class W’ is the No. 45 IMSA CrowdStrike Racing by APR entry.
As it features perennial Sports Car Bad Arse
Colin Brown, who made His IndyCar debut for Dale coyne Racing at St Pete, along
with the Thermal club “Invitational”, Err Sweepstakes race. With no word on
whether or not He’ll get any moreIndyCar opportunities this season?
Along with former Factory BMW and corvette
driver Nicky Catsburg and Ben Keating’s arch nemesis George Kurtz.
The No. 65 Panis Racing features Mathias Beche
coupled with Yanks’ Scott Huffaker and Rodrigo Sales.
Whilst IMSA GTD Pro Championship winner Ben Barnicoat makes up part of AF Corse’s #183 entry.
