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Project56 NASCAR outpaces GTs at Le Mans

GARAGE56 NASCAR

By Timothy Neal

The “innovative class” NASCAR Chevrolet Camaro that will feature on the 24 Hours of Le Mans grid has turned heads by topping the LMGTE field.

The specially prepared Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 took to the Circuit de la Sarthe for the first time for a full field test day ahead of Wednesday’s official first practice.

The line-up features the impressive trio of Jenson Button, Jimmie Johnson, and Mike Rockenfeller, with Button having just previously contested a NASCAR Cup Series race at COTA.

Mike Rockenfeller, Jimmie Johnson and Jenson Button

Mike Rockenfeller, Jimmie Johnson and Jenson Button share the Camaro at Le Mans. Photo by Nikolaz Godet / Motorsport.com

After running P4 amongst the LMGTE class over the first session and 44th overall, it was only +0.257s off the fastest GT car, a Ferrari 488 GTE EVO.

In the second session, it put down a 3min 53.761s lap, which topped the LMGTE field by an astounding 2.327 seconds, +24.257s short of the lead Ferrari 499P hypercar, and +13.092s short of the bottom LMP2 ORECA prototype.

Veteran German racer Mike Rockenfeller (a former outright winner of Le Mans – 2010) was behind the wheel at the time of the NASCAR going top, and he gave his comments on the session.

“I think first of all it was so nice to finally be on track in Le Mans in this car after all the work we did,’’ Rockenfeller said. 

The GARAGE 56 NASCAR Camaro charges through the Circuit De La Sarthe. Photo by LAT Images

“The whole team can be proud of today. I know it’s only a test day but I’m happy we were driving without any problems. We were fast and that’s where we want to be. The car looks amazing on track and sounds great.

“We were just doing our work, learning the track, track evolution and making the car faster, trying stuff out. It’s still a long week ahead of us, but I think today we just take that and make the right conclusions. I feel pretty happy with everything.’’

Initial concerns were raised over the size and speed of the car in terms of it impeding the faster Hypercars in traffic, as well as the denser LMGTE traffic that paces behind the LMP2 prototypes.

The team was given specific targets to hit by the ACO, FIA, and Dallara, in order to participate, and those were met.

The addition of NASCAR plays into the historic innovative nature of the world’s greatest around the clock race that this year celebrates a century since the first running. It’s also not the first time NASCAR has entered into Le Mans, with a Dodge and a Torino having taken part in 1976.

NASCAR Project 56 crew chief, Greg Ives, also gave his thoughts on the car’s involvement, and some of the concerns that surrounded the entry.

The #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 of Jimmie Johnson, Mike Rockenfeller and Jenson Button attracts plenty of attention during the 24 Hours of Le Mans test day. Photo by Nikolaz Godet / Motorsport.com

“You can never question the driver lineup that we have in the car, and I get their concerns…the car is unlike any other,” Ives commented. 

“They feel like it’s big, it’s heavy, and may not be able to handle as well, top speed might not be as high. But (race organisers) ACO, the FIA, Dallara, all those people gave us the target that we needed to hit. 

“I think they are happy that we are in that sentence, and that the true meaning of why there’s an innovative car in this paddock right now is to do exactly what we’re doing — bring another form of racing, bring in another form of technology to Le Mans, allow people to see it and maybe learn from it.”

The first official practice session is on Wednesday on June 7 at 1400 local time, with a very quick turn around to set the majority of the grid prior to the Hyperpole at 7 pm that evening.

The Hyperpole then gets underway at 8pm on Thursday June 8, with the race kicking off at 4pm on Saturday, June 10. 

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