Sir Chris targets Le Mans 24-Hours 08 | 04 | 2014
SCOTLAND'S FASTEST MAN on two self-propelled wheels, Sir Chris Hoy, will race in this season's British GT driving a factory-backed Nissan. The campaign is part of the six-time Olympic cycling champion's three-year plan to race in the Le Mans 24-Hours.
Hoy has joined the Japanese manufacturer's Academy outfit Team RJN and will be partnered in its NISMO GT-R GT3, predominantly by Alex Buncombe.
Nissan will put Hoy through its advanced Driver Development Programme — currently enjoyed by the winners of the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy competition — fast-tracking his evolution into top-level motorsport.
Thirty-eight-year-old Hoy — who has also racked up 11 cycling world titles — only made his car racing debut last season in the Radical SR1 Cup.
"It's a very exciting project but quite scary too," Hoy — who will be joined on the grid by fellow Scots, defending champ Jonny Adam (Kirkcaldy), Rory Butcher (Kirkcaldy), and Ross Wylie (Dumfries) — said.
"It's a big challenge, but I'm really looking forward to it and can't wait to get stuck in. It's quite intimidating, but I want to do my best and do these guys justice.
"It might sound ridiculous right now, but my ambition in motorsport is to compete at Le Mans. Who knows if it's even remotely possible but that's my dream. I'm in the right place to do it.
Related: Sir Chris gets 195mph Nissan GT-R
“Nissan is already a huge contributor to the British economy with its investment in manufacturing, technology and design – now it is also investing in British sporting success via the Team GB and ParalympicsGB programmes. It’s fantastic for me to be working with Nissan GB on this.
“When we sat down to discuss the relationship, we talked about how we could make things a two-way street. When I learned what had been achieved through Nissan’s Driver Development Programme, I was keen to take my enthusiasm for motorsport to the next level.
"This won’t be easy - but I could not turn down the chance to give it a go. My ultimate ambition is to race at Le Mans. That is the dream, but I’m taking this one step at a time.”
"Sir Chris has already shown he is a very capable driver," he said, "and by combining our expertise in driver development, a great car and an experienced team with his natural ability, drive and determination, this will be a fascinating journey.”
The 2014 British GT Championship gets underway on Easter weekend (April 19/21) at Cheshire’s Oulton Park circuit. Within the Championship rules, Hoy will compete as a ‘bronze’ driver – not a colour he is overly familiar with!
“This makes perfect sense to us,” Nissan’s director of global motorsport, Darren Cox, said. “The Le Mans 24 Hours is the Olympics of motorsport, so who better to take on an epic challenge such as this.”
Related: Nissan sponsors UEFA Champions League
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars
Jim McGill