British Eurosport has complete round-the-clock coverage from the 2014 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one the most iconic and prestigious events in motorsport.
This year’s edition will see the comeback of German manufacturer Porsche, the most successful manufacturer in the event’s history with 16 wins, since their last outing back in 1998, which was a triumphant one.
They will be driving their new 919 Hybrid car and among those behind its wheel will be former Formula 1 star Mark Webber.
Webber headlines this landmark year for the Le Mans event as he, alongside five other Porsche drivers, takes to the field in the prestigious Le Mans Prototype class.
After retiring from Formula One at the end of the 2013 season, Webber now competes for the German team in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The Australian makes his return to Le Mans for the first time since 1999, where, when driving for Mercedes-Benz, he entered and team-mate Peter Dumbreck entered Le Mans folklore with their spectacular identical crashes at high speed on the fast approach towards Indianapolis.
Find out more of Mark Webber’s return to Le Mans in special interview courtesy of Eurosport Australia below.
Elsewhere, fellow German rivals Audi will, as always, be one to beat with their cars having triumphed an incredible 12 times in the last 14 years.
They also have in their ranks nine-time winner and ‘Mr Le Man’s Tom Kristensen,who drove the R18 e-tron quattro to victory last year.
Japanese marque Toyota cannot be discounted either, having returned to the race in 2012 before driving into second place last year.
Le Mans stands with the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500 as one of motorsport’s defining events and this year’s edition of the endurance classic is more enticing than it has been for some time.
British Eurosport will be screening complete live coverage of most prestigious and challenging sportscar race in the world with all 24 hours of the race exclusively live.
Martin Haven once again leads the on-air team, sharing commentary duties with Mark Cole, Jeremy Shaw and Liz Halliday, plus a range of special guests.
British Eurosport’s coverage also includes Le Mans 24 Minutes, a behind-the-scenes live show direct from the pit lane.
The on-site team includes Sebastian Tiffert, who will present Le Mans 24 Minutes, along with journalist Adelaide de Gouvion Saint Cyr, who will conduct interviews.
The show will feature interviews with team directors from the pits and paddock, analysis, all the latest news, behind-the-scenes reports and a daily focus on the likes of Patrick Dempsey, Mark Webber and Fabien Barthez.
Subscribers to Eurosport Player can watch every second of the action online throughout the week.
.
MARK WEBBER INTERVIEW
After 11 years and nine race wins, Mark Webber retired from Formula 1 last year to focus on a new venture in sportscar racing with German manufacturer Porsche.
Now competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship, Webber returns to Le Mans for the first time since 1999 to compete in one of the most prestigious races in motorsport.
Below is an exclusive interview with Mark Webber provided by Eurosport Australia in which he talks about his switch from Formula One to the World Endurance Championship and what it means to race for Porsche.
.
Eurosport: It’s been a very different start to 2014 for you! Testing aside, the first event for you in the new Porsche 919 Hybrid took place the same weekend F1 held their fourth event. How did you adjust your preparation, both mentally and physically, for endurance racing and a later start to the season?
Mark Webber: My last race was in November but to be honest I haven’t noticed a big change with the season preparation. For sure I had an extended break over the winter; I enjoyed spending a little bit more time in Australia in January but I’ve been preparing with Porsche in winter testing.
As far as my physical preparation goes I now actually have a bit more time to enjoy my training more and it’s not as rigorous as my F1 training was. Mentally I need to get into the rhythm of these cars and dealing with the traffic and back markers and there will be more cockpit time, which will help me mentally.
.
Was there always a succession plan for you to keep racing post-F1, or was the opportunity to compete with Porsche a case of good timing?
I’ve enjoyed a good relationship with Porsche over the last couple of years. When I was getting closer to the decision to stop F1 I looked at myself and said I’m still a young guy at 37 and I needed to find something.
Porsche was too good an opportunity to refuse, such a great brand, the most famous sports cars in the world and for me to join their return was a no brainer. It gives me a real nice chance to race for quite a few more years to see how I feel with that.
Porsche are looking after me well which is great, exactly what I need off the back of a long and busy career in F1.
.
This year won’t be the first time you’ve competed at the 24 hours of Le Mans, in 1999 you arrived with Mercedes-Benz but didn’t make the start of the race due to a warm-up incident. Has competing in this event been on your ‘bucket list’, so to speak, since 1999?
When I got involved with Mercedes in the early years, I realised what Le Mans meant for drivers, manufacturers and people in Europe and America. It is such a famous car race and when you go there you realise how big it is and how much preparation goes into it.
Towards the end of my F1 career I then thought, why not, let’s go back and try to win this really tough race. Not many people get to stand there on the top step and especially with Porsche.
The other manufacturers wouldn’t have excited me as much, but Porsche has that lure. It doesn’t matter who you talk to, any guy that has been at the top end knows, that Porsche is something to get excited by.
.
Developing two brand new cars for the LMP1 class is no easy task, having been a part of the development of the 919 Hybrid, are you confident it can contend for overall victory at Le Mans?
I think for 2014 that would be a bit too optimistic but in the future we can certainly challenge for victories there. Le Mans is a hard race to put together. It’s all about consistency and reliability as well as team work.
The car needs to be very strong throughout the whole race. The drivers need to be relaxed, driving very well in a good rhythm and just make it very much a procedural operation, which it needs to be.
.
You’ve won some of the world’s most prestigious Grand-Prix races at iconic venues, including Silverstone and Monaco, what would it mean personally to add a Le Mans title to that list?
I’m extremely motivated to put this race on my CV and to win it with my teammates and with Porsche.
It’s been 16 years since their last win and to win there with Porsche is not like any other manufacturer, that’s clear for any driver.
To win there with Porsche is very unique and that’s what I’m very excited about doing.
.
Follow the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours live on British Eurosport. TV details below:
.
LIVE TIMING ENTRY LIST OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Wednesday 11th June Free Practice 1 LIVE: 5.00pm-7.00pm British Eurosport 2 Free Practice 2 LIVE: 9.00pm-11.00pm British Eurosport Thursday 12th JuneQualifying 1 LIVE: 6.00pm-8.00pm British Eurosport 2 Qualifying 2 LIVE: 9.00pm-11.00pm British Eurosport Saturday 14th June
Warm-up LIVE: 7.45am-8.45am British Eurosport Legends Race LIVE: 7.45am-8.45am British Eurosport LE MANS 24 HOURS 2014 – Start: 14:00 BST LIVE: 1.45pm-10.30pm British Eurosport LIVE: 10.30pm-11.30pm British Eurosport 2 LIVE: 11.30pm-7.30am (Sun) British Eurosport Le Mans 24 Minutes Preview: 1.15pm-1.45pm British Eurosport Update: 11.00pm-11.30pm British Eurosport Sunday 15th June Le Mans 24 Hours 2014 – Finish: 14:00 BST LIVE: 7.30am-8.15am British Eurosport 2 LIVE: 8.15am-2.15pm British Eurosport Le Mans 24 Minutes Update LIVE: 7.45am-8.15am British Eurosport Post Race LIVE: 2.15pm-2.30pm British Eurosport
.
.
