Garage 56 – the eclectic history of Le Mans' experimental class

Originally conceived as a submission for the 2012 IndyCar design tender process (which ultimately went to the Dallara DW12, still used today), Bowlby, with backing from Nissan, Don Panoz and Chip Ganassi, changed tack and went to Le Mans for 2012.

With Garage 56 running for the first time, the Deltawing made it into the field, qualifying a respectable 29th with Marino Franchitti, Michael Krumm and Satoshi Motoyama at the wheel – faster than some LMP2 cars.

However, the Deltawing was eliminated on lap 75 at the Porsche curves after colliding with Kazuki Nakajima’s Toyota LMP1 car.

2014 – ZEOD RC

Not to be deterred, 2014 saw the entry of the ZEOD RC, Ben Bowlby’s successor to his Deltawing.

Using a chassis similar to its predecessor, the car was powered by a hybrid electric drivetrain with lithium-ion batteries, with an output of 220kW (295bhp). Accompanying it was a 400bhp three cylinder combustion engine.

The car performed reasonably in qualifying, setting 27th-fastest time, and managed to set a lap using purely electric power in the warm-up. However, a gearbox issue meant the car promptly conked out on lap five of the race.

Panoz and Ganassi sued Bowlby over use of intellectual property, with the matter eventually settled out of court.

Breaking boundaries again, this time the team featured two disabled drivers, Nigel Bailly, a motocross competitor who became paralysed from the waist down after a crash, and Takuma Aoki, a grand prix motorcycle rider who became similarly injured in a crash motorbike crash – both again using an LMP2 car with adapted hand controls.

Completing the team was Matthieu Lahaye who used standard controls.

“All we have been trying to do is to remove the stereotype of guys with disabilities racing,” Bailly told Motor Sport.

“I’m hoping in the future disabled people can race in the ‘normal’ class, but we’ll have to see how the evolution of the sport goes. Myself and Aoki, we’re the only two disabled drivers in racing. We’re doing this with the help of the FIA, but we have to stay humble.”

The SRT 41 team qualified 29th, before 32nd in another impressive performance from a Garage 56 competitor.

2023 – NASCAR

NASCAR, the US’s most popular form of motor sport, celebrates its 75th birthday this year

To mark the momentous occasion, America’s premier stock car championship will enter Le Mans with its new-for-2022 Next Gen car.

The car chosen is the Chevrolet Camaro, run by Hendrick Motorsports – NASCAR’s most successful team.

The American machine has been modified for the stresses and strains of 24 hours running round La Sarthe, including the use of carbon fibre body elements, carbon brakes and bigger wheels.

Driving the NASCAR will be 2009 Formula 1 champion Jenson Button, 7-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and 2010 Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller.

“From the early days of NASCAR, it was important to my father that we played a visible role in international motor sport, and there is no bigger stage than the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” NASCAR CEO Jim France stated.

“In partnering with Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear, we have the winningest team, manufacturer and tyre in NASCAR history. We look forward to showcasing the technology in the Next Gen car and putting forward a competitive entry in the historic race.”