Motorsport. Near Caen, a group of friends are aiming for the 24 hours of Le Mans

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It is the story of a group of friends motorsport enthusiasts. Frédéric Alves and Olivier Lemaire first knew each other through their profession, before discovering this common passion. After several years of leisure practice, they met Gian Carlo Cervellini in 2022. The former Pascarrollo Sport technicianwho also worked with Belmondo Racing, provides them with his advice and experience. After some time, together they created Lemal Racing.

Before meeting Gian Carlo, we were far from imagining that we would one day create our own stable.

On the podium in just four races

The season has just ended with the last race, contested at Le Mans, Saturday November 16, 2024. Of the six races comprising the championship, Lemal Racing only took four starts. Indeed, the team remains amateurs and must juggle everyone’s professional imperatives. “There are five races in France and one in Belgium, at Spa-Francorchamps,” explains Frédéric Alves. We are not professionals and this represents a certain cost. So we only took part in four races, but we systematically finished on the podium. »

During the last race, Saturday November 16, 2024 on the legendary Le Mans circuit, history almost end quickly for the Ligier JS2R of Lemal Racing. An accident after two hours of racing almost ended the team’s hopes. But after a fifteen-minute downtime for repairs, the pilots gets the job done on the track to bring back the points necessary to validate second place in the general classification.

It’s recognition for us. Vice-champions of the Ligier category by taking part in only four races, only two years after our creation. It was strong.

Lemal Racing values

Passion does not prevent us from admitting that motorsport poses ecological issues. To respond to this, Lemal Racing has set up a partnership with a company based in Le Mans: Woodson. Tires and worn car parts are recovered and reused for the creation of original furniture. “We know that we have a responsibility to assume,” explains the co-founder of Lemal Racing. We try to do our part, on our own scale. »

The other value of the stable is sharing the passion for motorsport. Lemal Racing therefore organizes baptism days and offers events for companies to invite enthusiasts to their box during official races. The team also offers technical support for other amateur drivers and teams. But Lemal Racing’s big project is to organize a “Marshall Day”: track marshals’ day. These volunteers, positioned all around the circuit, are essential to ensure the safety of everyone during the race. The team wants to give them back a little of their luck by inviting them to baptisms on the circuit, most of these volunteers never having had the chance to get into a racing car.

One day, during a public baptism, we were talking with commissioners, one of whom was 67 years old. He was passionate about Ferrari, but had never set foot in a racing car. As we had time, we took him for a few tours and he was very moved. Since then, we want to get together, perhaps with other teams, to dedicate a whole day to them.

The dream of the 24 hours of Le Mans

The passion of the group of friends continues to motivate them to reach new levels. After purchasing a Peugeot 208 to enter a second vehicle in the endurance championship, Lemal racing turned to another major project: the 24 hours of Le Mans. Not for the main race, inaccessible for a team made up of amateurs. But around this legendary motor racing weekend, so-called “support” races are organized. “We acquired an alignable prototype for this race,” says Frédéric Alves. Then, you have to go through the selection process, prove that you have taken part in a certain number of starts…”

Lemal Racing, based in Le Mans for the storage and maintenance of its vehicles, knows the environment of this race well. In addition, the profile of this amateur team could attract organizers and encourage them to highlight this kind of group of enthusiasts.

We are aiming for Le Mans 2026, but if it does not happen that year, we will not give up and we will come back the following year. We want to go there with our DNA, our passion.

The Lemal Racing team, supported by the two Caennais, will enter the winter with a mission: repair and prepare your vehicles for next season. A mission with tight timing, with several promotional events planned, before the first race scheduled at Magny-Cours in April 2025.

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