RM Racing Cars’ Aussie assault on Ford Le Mans Challenge
Three Australians will represent RM Racing Cars as they take on the world in the Ford Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational.
Supercars rising star Cameron McLeod, plus experienced operators Keith Kassulke and Hadrian Morrall.
Both Kassulke and Morrall will be in the Legends class, while McLeod will test himself in the outright Dark Horse class where he is expected to do battle against high-calibre drivers, including the Ford Performance Junior drivers in equal equipment.
All three boast a range of European endurance experience in addition to teaming up together at the Bathurst 12 Hour.
Just last week McLeod got an unexpected drive at Spa and helped Bas Koeten Racing win a Supercar Challenge at Spa Francorchamps.
Originally, the MSR co-driver had anticipated being a mechanic at the event simply through a connection with the Ajith Kumar team.
He helped score a podium in the Dubai 24 Hour in January, as RM Racing Cars had to pick up some equipment required for Le Mans at the Belgian circuit.
However, Bas Koeten Racing needed a driver, and McLeod stepped up and in the aftermath of that success, a Ford Mustang became available to race at Le Mans.
Ahead of the support event for the FIA WEC showpiece, McLeod has already shaken down the brand-new Mustangs during a test at Lurcy Levis in France.
With a Le Mans 24 Hour start a dream for McLeod, he cannot wait for the opportunity.
“It is so cool to race at Le Mans!” He told Auto Action.
“I love Supercars and international racing and have my foot heavily involved and invested in Supercars at the moment.
“But keeping the path of endurance racing open as one of my dreams is to race the Le Mans 24 Hours.
“For me, the more the better.
“I know and have met a lot of people and teams over in Europe that I have raced for and keep in touch with me when a drive or deal is at hand.
“I do have some people in Australia that back me for some races overseas, which is amazing, and they know who they are.”
It is also a special moment for RM Racing Cars given the team raced at circuits such as Silverstone, Zandvoort and Barcelona as MARC Cars over the last decade.
But Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe was not one of them until now.
Team owner Ryan McLeod was only planning on running a single car in the category, so has been thrilled to see the program expand to three cars.
He has been especially impressed by the effort Ford are throwing in to make it as successful as possible.
“We have gone from running one car to three cars,” he said.
“It is amazing how one thing led to another for Cameron from being a mechanic, to getting a drive at Spa to the chance to race a Ford at Le Mans.
“It has been phenomenal to see the amount of effort and infrastructure that Ford is putting into it.
“It is mindboggling. The amount of brand new cars, shipping, movement, logistics and people on the ground.
“It has been a huge undertaking by Ford and they are putting 100 per cent effort into it.
“Being Ford and Le Mans it is steeped in its own history.”
Two 45-minute races will be held during the Le Mans 24 Hours weekend of June 11-15 and the full entry list will arrive on Monday.
Supercars Perth Super440 (all times AEST)
Practice 1: Fri 14.05-14.35
Practice 2: Fri 15.55-16.25
R14 Qualifying: Sat 11.45-12.15
R15 Qualifying: Sat 12.35-13.05
Race 14 (50 laps): Sat 14.55
Race 15 (50 laps): Sat 18.10
R16 Qualifying: Sun 13.00-13.30
Top 10 Shootout: Sun 15.05-15.35
Race 16 (83 laps): Sun 17.15
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