Racecar client who has won and being the leading player in just about every championship he has competed in - continues to show he's the real deal. The 18 year old was FOUR SECONDS quicker than the sister car with Max Chilton, Alex Buncombe and Tsugio Matsuda at the wheel. He was also quicker than some of the LMP2 drivers. Great to see a driver progress with some real talent - opposed to the usual pay driver fodder. Keep it up Charlie!
PR below:
- Scottish teen sets LMP3 standard four seconds clear on debut at Circuit de la Sarthe
- Ginetta-Nissan driver aiming for 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours race seat after faultless test run
Highly rated sportscar racer Charlie Robertson produced a typically outstanding performance on his maiden outing at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France on Sunday, 31st May, during the official test day for the globally renowned Le Mans 24 Hours.
Invited to take part in the annual precursor to the most famous race in world motorsport as part of his regular Team LNT squad from the European Le Mans Series, the Whyteleafe driver was joined by Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy and Ginetta Cars Chairman Lawrence Tomlinson to share driving duties in the No.74 Ginetta-Nissan LMP3 car.
Although the ‘P3’ cars are ineligible to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours itself, taking part in the test day enabled Charlie and team-mate Sir Chris to both qualify for participation in the twice-round-the-clock encounter – which is their collective aim for 2016 in the higher LMP2 Class.
Gaining vital experience of the challenging and unique 13.629-kilometre track in both wet and dry conditions, 18-year-old Charlie completed 41 laps and impressively broke the four minute barrier in the afternoon with a time of 3m58.308 seconds (205.9 km/h average).
Lapping a remarkable four seconds faster than the best time managed by the sister LMP3 car, which was shared by four drivers including ex-Formula One pilot Max Chilton and fellow Nissan ‘works’ LMP1 racers Alex Buncombe and Tsugio Matsuda, Charlie also out-paced several drivers of more powerful LMP2 machinery leaving no doubt as to his potential for a 2016 race berth in the 24 Hours.
“It was such an awesome experience to drive Le Mans for the first time”, said the Investigo and Curo supported racer, “It started off wet and I just wanted to complete my 10 obligatory laps first to qualify – it was good to get that box ticked. It dried out for the second half of the day and everything just clicked, the circuit was amazing and to break the four minute barrier was something special.
“The car ran faultlessly, the team did a great job and I think I proved my worth. What we were able to do all bodes well for 2016 if I’m able to make my Le Mans 24 Hours race debut then. I’d love to be back next year with Sir Chris in a Nissan powered LMP2 car – that’s the dream!”
Hitting speeds approaching 200mph in his LMP3 car on the famous Mulsanne Straight, the experience of driving at the Circuit de la Sarthe certainly left a lasting impression with the BRDC SuperStar and he is determined to return in a racing capacity sooner rather than later.
“Driving flat-out down the Mulsanne is a pretty cool feeling and it’s an unbelievable experience when the LMP1 cars come past you – they’re crazy fast”, he added, “ When you watch the P1 cars trackside you’re amazed by the sheer speed but when you’re actually on track among them, it really is something else. It’s been an incredible opportunity.”
Next on the motor racing schedule for Charlie will be round three of the European Le Mans Series at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on 11th/12th July.
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